Concert for Romania
On Saturday 9th May, the Grange School held a fundraising concert for CCM and the work in Romania. For those of you who usually sit in dread of school concerts with your minimal expectations being dashed, I have to say that this was a completely different experience all together.
Last year was the first concert I had been to at the Grange and was overwhelmed by the standard. The choir sang Immanuel, God is with us and I confess I sat there with tears rolling down my face completely blown away by the brilliance of the choir and of course the message they were delivering. This year’s concert was just as good. It all proved to be quite nostalgic for me as I used to play the flute in my school orchestra and local youth band. I know from firsthand experience what hard work goes into such a concert. Not only is there individual practise sessions but there is the section and full orchestra rehearsals as well. All of that is extra on top of regular music lessons and practises, school work and revision and sitting of GCSEs and A Levels. It was clear for all to hear just how much hard work had been put into the evening but it was also clear to see the how much passion everyone had for the music and how much enjoyment they got from performing.
These students had spent hours pouring over the music, practising it, running it through their mind, comprehending it, feeling it, playing it. Having done that, they are so deeply immersed in the music; their own emotions come through as they perform. Is that not the same for us in our Christian life? Do we not immerse ourselves in the Word, in spending time with God the Father, praying, seeking Him, praising Him and worshipping Him? Do we not develop our relationship so that the Christian life is our life? Do we not live our life showing our passion and letting the love of God show for all to see? Perhaps that should be, do we or do we not...? The plan is for us to do all these things; that we do let the love of God that is so deeply entrenched within us shine out for all to see but the reality is that sometimes we do not do these things. We do not spend the time with God, we do not read the word, we do not give Him the praise He is due and the result is a life that is empty of the passion and joy of the Lord, a life that does not show Jesus within us for all to see. That’s not the life for me and I try to live the life God has for me; I still make mistakes, I still get it wrong but I have a gracious and loving Father, waiting with loving arms.
A big thank you to the orchestras, string ensembles, swing band, choir, teachers, parents and everyone involved in the Concert at the Grange School. Their hard work and efforts have been much appreciated by us all at CCM and have raised £783 for Emanuel Children’s Home.
Dawn Appleton, CCM Charity Support Manager
A double CD of the choir ‘Cantores Raborienses’ is available to purchase at £10 (with £2 being donated to CCM) plus £1 postage. Please contact the office on 01606 782244 or office@ccm-international.org. |
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