Easter Sundays

We had two Easter Sundays in our church this year. At the afternoon service in Portuguese on the 12th, our church choir sang an Easter cantata, Hallelujah, What a Savior!, which was translated into Portuguese. Abbie also included a couple of songs in English from another cantata in the middle of this one.

Then, last Sunday, we sang the same cantata again, but in the English service in the morning. It was Easter, again: on the Orthodox Church calendar and therefore in Russia and Ukraine, so Svetlana, who is from the Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, was especially glad to sing Easter songs that day. Although there weren't many present in the morning service, in the afternoon service the week before, the chairs were full and there were people standing outside.

Here are a few pictures of the recent services:

Our "International" Choir

In the above picture there are 6 Portuguese (1 born in Madeira, but who was raised in Zimbabwe (formerly, Rhodesia) and lived in Australia; 1 born in South Africa; 1 born in Angola; and 3 Madeirans); 4 Brazilians; 2 Americans; and 1 Russian.

Sunday morning, April 19

As some of the people in the English service would not understand the Portuguese portions of the cantata, English translations were projected during the cantata. This was only the 2nd Sunday we had the system up and operating. We had to take up the podium to run the cables, so we took advantage of the opportunity to put in a new carpet to match the chairs we got a little over a year ago.

Lord's Supper Celebration

José Carlos is assisting me in the Lord's Supper. He helps in many areas of the church ministry, including teaching and leading Bible studies. His wife, Marcia, had cancer a couple of years ago and had chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Doctors say there are no signs of cancer now.

The latest addition: an "orchestra"

Abbie has worked hard for years to encourage members to be involved in the music ministry. The church is currently paying the music studies for two of the young girls of the church. Sara is studying piano, and Vitoria is learning to play the violin. Because Vitoria's mother could not afford to buy a violin, the church decided to buy one for her to learn on. The arrival of Stephen and Allison from England has been an added boost. They both play the violin, and he also plays the flute. On this morning, they are playing violins; Sandra and Orlando, guitars; Sara and Susana, recorders; I, the harmonica; and Abbie is at the piano. Our first number as a group: Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.  And we do.