It was 1.30pm on
the very rainy afternoon of March 3rd when members of the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR
gathered in the small weatherboard Church in Thomas Street for warm-ups before
their participation in the 2.30pm service to celebrate St David's Day at
Blackstone's historical United Welsh Church.
The fellowship and
camaraderie among the small congregation told of some long standing and loyal
members of this 129 year old church, members who for as long as they can
remember, have celebrated their heritage and their ministry to God every Sunday
morning in a little wooden Church whose walls speak of the memories of the
generations of Welsh families who were drawn by the prospect of wealth to this
tiny part of Queensland all those years ago.
And so amid an
appreciative congregation who, being of good Welsh stock, love their singing,
the sounds of the Choir soared to the wooden rooftop. They even had a good crack at the Welsh
pronunciations during some rousing singing of the hymns led by the Church's
organist, Eirys Jones. Prayers and
readings were delivered in the beautiful Welsh language understood only by the
Welsh, but here their meanings were all-encompassing and touched every heart.
Following the poignant sermon by the Guest minister, Rev. Trevor Foote, on 'what defines a Church' and the
mellifluous singing by the Choir including the sweets sounds of Emily
FitzGerald's solo in Agnus Dei, everyone gathered for a delicious afternoon tea provided by the
ladies in the Church's anteroom.
It is the singing
that anchors us all amid any turbulence and only cancellation of the day's
Service due to flooding would have prevented the honoring of the kind
invitation by Rev. Goodacre to be a part of the St David's Day
celebrations. The Esk Community Choir
members would sincerely like
to thank the Blackstone United Welsh Church for their welcoming fellowship and
wonderful hospitality.
