The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

The Sunrise Choir and friends at St Matthew’s Anglican Church will celebrate their 10th annual Christmas production next week.

Organisers say it will be a delightful evening of song, drama and dance filled with humour, beginning 7pm on two night - Friday December 11 and Saturday December 12 - at the church grounds on Shirley Street.

“You will laugh, reflect, meditate, relax and be enveloped in the warmth and love of Christmas as once again acts like Bulla, Titta the children and the others along with the choir bring this festive season to life. It promises to be and evening you’ll never forget,” Choir Director Marjorie Knowles told Tribune Religion.

She said the church will be beautifully transformed to portray, in the best way possible, the Christmas holiday spirit.

Ms Knowles is excited to host the event for the tenth time. She said there are times when persons start initiatives and just allow them to fall by the wayside but after ten years she is happy to say the event is getting stronger each year.

“The bond between the members makes it one big family where everyone just pulls together and makes the show a great success. When people come to the event, we always want them to leave with the feeling of wanting to come back the next year. It is so relaxing, enjoyable and exciting.

“Yes, they come and listen to the same Christmas carols but when you put those carols in different genres and styles, it makes it better. We have the song ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ as a Jazz piece, and when we do things like that they sound new,” said Ms Knowles.

Reflecting on the inspiration for the event, Ms Knowles remembers her 33-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with leukaemia in the final stages when only three. She said doctors were certain that her daughter was not going to live much longer.

“After the doctors tested her, they told me her bone marrow was totally destroyed and it wasn’t anything they could do for her at this point. We anointed her, prayed for her and my daughter had a miraculous healing. She was kept in the United States for eight days because they could not figure out the change or what happen. They sent her home where she was good for a month.

She had to have a bone marrow transplant and survived,” said Ms Knowles.

After it all, from the financial costs to the anxiety, Ms Knowles said her heart went out to persons in the Bahamas who had serious medical challenges. From then on she made up her mind to do what she could to help, hence starting the Christmas concert with part proceeds going to people with medical challenges in the country.

“It was very small at first and it just grew. We really helped people in positions like this. We hope to continue every year because people with serious medical problems have really benefited from us and we see this going on for years to come. I am looking forward to a full house next weekend with people enjoying themselves,” said Ms Knowles.

Above all, she said the concert promotes the gift of hope, saying that even though life throws unfortunate and serious curve balls, it is important to know that there is still hope.

“In this time, so many things are happening and the event shows you that you can actually enjoy the Christmas season. With all the negative things that are happening, God has something special set up for us.

“So as we celebrate God, the praises will go up and the blessings will come down. Not only it gives more hope, it helps you to realise that Christmas is not all about food and drinks, it is a time to celebrate God,” she said.