N O R TH N S W CO N FE R E N CE N E WS
DEC
2012 Hunter Valley Gardens
High point for Hymns A neutral venue, and the appeal of a popular journalist and broadcaster has delivered a music program produced by an Avondale lecturer its biggest audience. About 1000 people attended Hymns & Songs of Praise at Panthers Newcastle on Saturday, 3 November. While the program has an eight-year history at Avondale College, musical director Dr Lyell Heise — also a senior lecturer in the School of Ministry and Theology at Avondale — moved it to reach a new audience. He also collaborated for the first time with the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference. “Hymns & Songs in a leagues club — that’s Newcastle,” says Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the NNSW Conference, who recommended the venue. “It’s a workingclass city, so we needed a working class venue.” Pastor Lawman describes Hymns & Songs as making “an important statement. It builds so many bridges with members of the community — they get to know us for who we are rather than just for what we believe.” Inviting Geraldine Doogue, host of the religious program Compass on ABC TV and the political program Saturday Extra on ABC Radio National, to compere also sent a message. “One of mutual validation,” says Dr Heise, who co-produced the concert with Valmai Hill in their roles as Director and Assistant to the Director of the South Pacific Division’s Institute of Worship. The program featured traditional and contemporary music, “from hymns by the prolific Isaac Watts to songs by the prolific Chris Tomlin,” says Dr Heise. The 50-piece Institute of Worship Orchestra provided the accompaniment for the congregational singing and for Avondale vocal ensembles Avondale Singers, the Contemporary Choir, The Promise, soprano Marian Maroney and tenor Albert Mataafa. Dr Heise also vacated the podium during the program for three other conductors — Aleta King, the music strand convenor at Avondale; Benjamin Milis, a music specialisation student at Avondale; and Daniel Brinsmead, a young alumnus of Australian National University’s School of Music. The world premiere performance of his arrangement of an orchestral score of “We Shall Behold Him” added to the song’s poignancy. The performance featured Benjamin on piano. This song and another — “As The Deer,” featuring children Maegen and Georgia Craig on piano, and Zara and Jayden Lynch on violin and cello — were examples of the institute’s “conscious attempt to mentor the next generation of leaders and musicians,” says Dr Heise. “We’re keen to stand as an interpreter of the past to help children and young adults better understand their heritage, and as an interpreter of the future to reassure older adults it’s possible to be thoroughly Adventist, thoroughly contemporary and thoroughly relevant.” — Brenton Stacey (with Adele Nash) Photos courtesy of Ann Stafford
In this issue:
Page 2: From the President: Staffing Page 4: myCHURCH plant grows as community of faith Page 7: Avondale Memorial Church’s year of outreach Page 9: Beyond at Blue Haven
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