Howick Baptist has a Merry Christmas

Posted on December 16

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Nearly 200 people enjoyed an evening of carol-singing, performance items and joyous fellowship during the inaugural "HBC has Christmas" celebration. Held on 14th December in a packed Clarkson Hall, church members showcased their God-given talents and gifts to an appreciative audience of HBC family and friends.

From the sounds of The Tokens’ "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" wafting through the Howick Village air to drama presentations highlighting the real meaning of Christmas, a wide variety of items were presented to the church body. Singing lyrically-rich Christmas carols also helped to redirect the focus onto Jesus Christ, the real reason for the season.

Pam Crooks brought the house down with her performance of "Silent Night, Holy Night" and "O Holy Night" – the ethereal and haunting sound of the musical saw reverberated through the hall, sending shudders down many a spine! The evening also featured a guest performance by keyboard teacher Craig Myers, who played the 3rd movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31.

Other notable acts included: the 2014’s faultless singing of "Light of the World"; Luke Somervell playing What Child is This” on the trumpet, Joshua Choe and Nnedima Umeano’s tuneful violin playing; a set of carols from the “Bold as Brass” group; and Mark Somervell playing "We Three Kings" on the piano.

Jon Scanlan reprised his "Scarfunkel" performance from Church Camp with a heartfelt rendition of Steven Curtis Chapman’s "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" to close the night.

Many thanks must go to the decorating and hosting team led by Shirley Borlase and Nathalie de Wet, who transformed the Clarkson Hall into a yuletide wonderland; the musicians who led the carol-singing, and all those who helped with preparing the supper and make it a memorable and blessed night!