The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

UNDER the theme “A Crib, A Cross, A Crown”, the Bahamas Christian Chorale is inviting sacred music lovers to attend its annual Lenten presentation of readings and chorale selections focusing on God’s plan of salvation for fallen mankind.

This year’s presentation, to be held at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church on Farrington Road, will be staged on coming Good Friday at 7.30pm, with a repeat presentation the following Friday, April 10 at 7.30pm at St Matthew’s Anglican Episcopal Church on Shirley and Church Streets.

Guests will be treated to music from Mozart, Handel as well as servings of contemporary Christian and gospel music forms.

The Bahamas Christian Chorale was born out of the one-night Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusade staged here in New Providence in November 1982. 

The choir that was assembled was prepared by Harold Hostetler, assisted by his wife, Brenda, and Sonny Walkine, all teachers at the Bahamas Baptist Bible Institute, School of Music, at the time.

Following the service, Mr Hostetler was moved to keep the group together, thus forming what he called the Bahamas National Choir.

This group dedicated itself to presenting excerpts from Handel’s “The Messiah” during both the Christmas and Lenten seasons. Mr Hostetler, a Southern Baptist music missionary, left the Bahamas in the late 80s, but the work was continued by Mr Walkine.

The choir’s name was also amended to the Bahamas Christian Chorale and later the group would concentrate on presenting during the Lenten season only, as the two seasons proved to be too taxing.

Mr Walkine, who is still the group’s director, told Tribune Religion this Easter is the group’s 31st year of rendering the programme; alternating between presenting Handel’s “The Messiah”, Stainer’s “The Crucifixion”, Maunder’s “Olivet to Calvary”, amongst others.

“We are proud of our longevity and the opportunities to present the message of salvation through music. The presentation seeks to set out God’s plan of salvation through appropriate readings and choral music.

“God created man, gave him a command, man disobeyed, fell from favour, driven out of garden and God providing a way to bring man back to Him,” said Mr Walkine.

Explaining year’s theme, Mr Walkine said they asked the question, ‘What is God’s salvation plan?

“His only Son, Jesus, would take on human form – be born of a woman – which explains the ‘Crib’. He would sacrifice His life at Calvary – therefore the ‘Cross’, and He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, will come again to reign as the ‘King of Kings’, hence the ‘Crown’,” Mr Walkine said.

“Through the readings and the choral renditions, attendees can clearly trace the plan God Himself devised for the redemption of fallen man and hopefully they are challenged to examine themselves to see if they have embraced God’s provision while at the same time appreciating an eclectic offering of fine sacred music.”

He is looking forward to an appreciative audience and a well-deserved break after a half a year’s practice season.

The Chorale is made up of members of the Christian community, predominantly Anglicans and Baptists.

The Chorale, however, welcomes persons of all mainstream Christian faiths to join in to witness the love and redemptive power of God through the presentation of cherished music of the church.   

The practice season runs from the first Saturday in October to Good Friday when the annual presentation is performed.