JourneyOnline
The Synod celebration held on Saturday evening, 19 May, was an extravaganza complete with pyrotechnics showcasing talented young people from three Uniting Church schools (Calvary Christian College, Moreton Bay College, and Forest Lake College).
To celebrate the 30th birthday of Uniting Church the stage was decorated with brightly coloured banners displaying the Synod theme: “Dare to discover, dream, design, and deliver”.
Opening with a full throttle version of Ancient of Days led by the Calvary Christian College worship band, the celebration featured music and dance students from the three schools.
Music was led by choirs from Moreton Bay College and Forest Lake College, accompanied by the Forest Lake College orchestra.
One of the highlights of the evening was the Moreton Bay College dance troupe who performed precisely and passionately for the audience.
Uniting Church President Gregor Henderson gave the message and spoke of the great things that have been done when congregations dared to dream. He made particular mention of St Albans Uniting Church in Melbourne and Horn Island Uniting Church near Thursday Island who have both gone in recent years from dwindling elderly congregations to overflowing with families and people of all ages.
Prayers were lead in three different languages and in English, interspersed with a multi lingual version of Amazing Grace.
A sign language translator was also onstage throughout the evening.
Rev Dr David Pitman, Moderator of the Queensland Synod, congratulated staff and students of the three participating schools and made particular note of the dedicated teachers who were present on the evening. He also thanked and congratulated Rev David Fender, minister at Oxley Uniting Church, who organised the event.
Rev Dan Skippen said he thought the worship was brilliantly done.
“If we wanted our young people more into the church we should do more of that and get them out their leading worship.”
Youth worker Louise Edwards said the celebration was “absolutely fabulous and awesome. It was a great celebration of thirty years!”
While very appreciative of the program and the young people, numerous attendees expressed disappointment at the loudness of the music.
The celebration was aptly concluded with a burst of streamers.
