OMAC choir jointly presented hymns with the All Saints choir

This is my first blog as a member of the OMAC blog group to report on this year’s special events.

January 25, 2009 marked the first time since 2007 that our OMAC choir jointly presented hymns with the All Saints choir. After accepting the cordial invitation from Reverend Rhondda MacKay of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Sandy Hill, the OMAC choir undertook some practices by itself and practised with the All Saints choir to sing the following hymns:

· One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All (Common Praise #73, Anglican Church of Canada)

This is the main hymn presented at the event as we share the One Bread during the Communion, belong to One Body, and believe and serve the same One Lord of All. The significance of unity is exemplified here as every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is the Lord of All Nations and Peoples.

· Holy Holy Holy (Hymns of Life #5)

As the All Saints congregation came forward to receive the Bread and the Cup, the OMAC choir sang the hymn in Chinese. The hymn is a continuation of the commitment and the belief that we all share – to praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in all languages.

· Your Hand, O God, Has Guided (Common Praise #444, Anglican Church of Canada)

This is the recessional hymn that everyone sang along before the benediction of Pastor Paul Chen. It is the hope from us that as God’s hand has guided his flock from age to age, He will still guide each one of us to the following week as we come together to the end of the service under one church, one faith, and one Lord.

Before the benediction, Rev. MacKay took the time to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year and provided Pastor Paul Chen the opportunity to give the benediction in Chinese to the congregation. With the faces smiling from the congregation and the unified voice from both choirs, I guess some of us must have got a little taste of what will be like in singing praises in Heaven...

Thanks to Rev. MacKay and All Saints Music Director Sarah Brooks for their invitation. May His Name be Glorified in all languages.

In Him,
Ko-Yung