Dec. 8, 2008 issue
Song Fest features three languages
Bay Shore Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Fla.
By Jean S. PfeifferSeven ladies attended the Ladies Fall Inspiration Day held this year at College Hill Mennonite Church in Tampa. Ladies came from about a dozen churches, some of them non-Mennonite. Mrs. Roy Williams, the pastor’s wife, was the main speaker. Our hostesses graciously waited on us during the meal.
Our biennial congregational retreat was held at Lakewood Retreat Center. There were 143 participating, about half of our usual Sunday attendance. On Saturday night there was a talent show. “Jerry (Stutzman) the Jester” made us laugh. There were several solos and duets, as well as skits. Sunday morning Rocky Miller led in a baptismal service. Three young women were baptized: Kirsten Miller, Shavonne Mullet and Vanessa Witmer. Miller’s baptism was especially poignant because her grandfather, David Kniss, assisted. Jennie Mayer was received into fellowship as a transfer from another church.
On Oct. 26, we hosted the annual Song Fest. Ten churches were invited; seven participated in the program. The Bible reading was done by seven pastors in three languages. Congregational songs were alternated with performances. The song leaders were Mary Ann Lederman of Bay Shore, Glen King of Ashton and Larry Diener, minister of music at Bahia Vista.
Several times we sang the same song in three languages simultaneously: English, Spanish and French. At one point Larry Diener had the attendees from the New Jerusalem congregation sing alone so we could experience their enthusiasm. They sang in French.
The lively quartet, New Life Sound from Bahia Vista, was well-received. The two Hispanic churches both sent their worship teams. They were Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church) and Seguidores de Cristo (Followers of Christ). Someone said it was a foretaste of heaven.
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