Hymns and Worship songs. 3pm Sunday 9th June 2024 All Saints Church Matamata New Zealand was a perfect venue in which to celebrate Music Sunday on 9th June 2024. It was presented as a ‘Big Sing’ of Hymns and Worship songs in the church. Two hundred people gathered in the church to sing a wide selection of 17 hymns and worship songs. The Vicar, Rev Andrew Evans, who is also Chaplain of RSCM Waikato was the MC, and provided interesting information about each hymn and song, as well as providing guitar accompaniment for many of the songs. Accompaniment was also provided by organist David Brookes on the 2 manual Croft pipe organ, and pianist Clare Hitchcock on the digital piano, with additional enhancement of the melody by flutist Abigail Evans.
Members of the church had been asked previously to name their favourite hymn or Worship Song, many of which were included in the programme. Three people also spoke on why they made their choices. Also included in the programme for the afternoon was a Guest Choir- Matamata Christian School choir, conducted by Rika van der Linde. This was the second participation recently of the school choir at All Saints, who once again enthralled all with their enthusiastic and splendid singing with the presentation of the Maori song ‘Tuhia’, and the spiritual ‘Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel’ with percussion. They also led the singing of the action song ‘Long, wide, high deep’.
Instead of the usual cash donations (Koha) people attending were asked to bring an item of food for the Matamata Food Bank. This provided a large amount of food to assist families who are struggling through financial hardship. The food was placed on and around the Nave Altar as people came into the church. Some people contributed bags of food.
This afternoon achieved many things, the main one being that everyone present were unified in music- singing and fellowship. It also involved again a local school choir in church music, which the Director of the RSCM- Hugh Morris has stressed as being vital for the continuance of music in churches in the future.
David Brookes. ARSCM, Organist: All Saints Church Matamata NZ & Chair: RSCM Waikato NZ
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