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AGAPÉ - Singing For The Lord
| Who is this singing group Agapé? In the 1980’s a
group of young people, encouraged by Bill and Gwynneth Indian, formed
a Mission Band to visit Churches in the Chester-le-Street Circuit.
Most were choristers in the Church choir and so during visits they
would sing a variety of religious songs. They were so happy singing
together that in 1988 they asked Bob Watson, organist at
Chester-le-Street, to direct them and to enlarge the variety of
music sung to include religious and secular choral music. Thus Agapé
came into being. The name Agapé means love which is of and from God,
and in every concert the meaning of the group’s name is explained.
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Agapé now has twelve singers , five being part of the
original group, and concerts always include at least six specially
arranged modern religious songs, together with other music which
includes extracts from popular musicals. A great help at concerts is
Joan Evans, famous for her humorous recitations including ‘The
Messiah’ and ‘The Sample’. Each year concerts are given at venues
all over the North East, this year at Crawcrook, Chester-le-Street
with the NASUWT Riverside Band, Blucher, Ladies’ Forum, Denton Burn
and Roker, and an annual concert at Chester-le-Street. The group have
appeared on TV, on Radio Newcastle, and take part in Sunday morning
worship. |
| The group does not aim to make any profit, but
donations from concerts bring in sufficient funds to buy music any
surplus going to Church funds and to various charities; £5,950 being
donated over the past nine years. This year charities which will
benefit include Grace House, Youth for Christ (North East) and
Arthritis Research.
Agapé have just completed a recording of their third CD, ‘Sing To
The Lord’, a compilation of twenty Christian songs and includes four
of Joan’s poems. These are now on sale, price £6.50.
If you would like Agapé to perform at your church or for your
organisation, please contact Chester-le-Street Methodist Church, Tel:
0191 3881313; there is no fixed charge, only a donation is requested.
December 2009 |
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Director: Bob Watson
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