Combined Choirs Ecumenical Hymn Festival
St. Margaret's United, Kingston
Nov.16, 2003
A Hymn Festival featuring the theme, "Love Divine", was held at St. Margaret's United Church, Kingston, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003 and was sponsored by the Royal School of Church Music, Eastern Ontario Branch.
Rehearsal was called for 3:30 p.m., following was a wonderful Pot Luck supper and the Service took place at 7:00 p.m..
Contingents from 4 church choirs took part:
St. Margaret's United, Kingston
St. Peter's, Gananoque
Strathcona Presbyterian, Kingston
Trinity United, Napanee
There were also other visiting individuals taking part in the choir.
Conductor for the evening was Dr. Robert Hunter Bell. Organists were Stan Stinchcombe, organist at St. Margaret's United, Kingston and Donald Findlay, organist from Northwestern United, Ottawa.
Stan Stinchcombe accompanied the hymns on the organ and the anthem on the piano. His organ offertory selection was "St. Peter's" by Stewart.
Donald Findlay performed the organ Prelude, Chorale and Fugue by Healey Willan and the Postlude, Trumpet Tune in D Major by C.S. Lang.
The choir rendered superbly, under the expert direction of Dr. Robert H. Bell, the very beautiful anthem, I will Sing With the Spirit, by John Rutter. This anthem is based on the RSCM motto, "I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also."
One of the hymns was a beautiful arrangement of the hymn from Voices United, Great is Thy Faithfulness, sung by all, with a glorious descant soaring above on the third verse and refrain.
Hymns were interspersed with Scripture readings and Prayers.
One prayer was the RSCM Choirs' Prayer: "Bless, O Lord, us your servants who minister in your temple: Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives; through Christ Our Lord, Amen."
The Rev. David Iverson, minister, at St. Margaret's, gave a very inspirational meditation on "Life in a White Water Society", expressing how we white water raft through a society of constant social changes, stating that the rules for white water rafting may be applied to life:
rest in the calm spots for there are more rapids ahead
when heading for a rock, lean in to it, not away from it
never stop paddling
when worse comes to worse, let go of everything except the life jacket
Here in the church is a calm spot in the presence of the living God
The closing Reflection by Rev. Iverson was a very meaningful explanation of the Beatitudes.
Fraser Carr expressed thanks, on behalf of the RSCM Eastern Ontario Branch, to Stan and St. Margaret's for hosting this event, highlighted a few of the Branch's activities and expressed regrets from our Branch Chairman for his not being able to attend the Service due to a very bad cold.
Stan Stinchcombe expressed his thanks to all who helped in this event.
For pictures, click on, Kingston Hymn Festival, Nov.16,2003
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