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Gorleston carol service 2018 7

Gorleston Carols and Coffee event boosts local foodbank

2018: Around £800 was raised for the Great Yarmouth Food Bank with a bucket collection at the end of Cliff Park Community Church’s annual carol service which broke new ground at Gorleston Pavilion theatre on Sunday morning.

 
For the first time the popular Carols and Coffee event was led by a full youth orchestra and choir, the Orchestrate! Project and Norwich Young Voices founded and conducted by John Stephens, a member of the church. It meant fitting around 40 musicians and singers on the stage, including timpani, drums and a keyboard. The service also saw the Pavilion’s new drop-down screens and projectors in full use which had been installed on an extensive lighting rigging only three days before.
 
Opening with the favourite Once in Royal David’s City the choir and orchestra led six carols for the full house to enjoy as well as playing as the audience arrived. Other pieces included Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, a lively version of Jingle Bells and a finale of Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride complete with all the sound effects.
 
Cliff Park minister the Rev Mike Simm gave the talk and Duang Weston spoke about her own faith journey and the impact of taking part in an Alpha course. Teenager Alistair Wyllie read the lesson and church reader Tracey Mayne led the prayers. Louise Bullen, manager of the Bridge Project at St.Mary Magdalene Church, gave the appeal for the Food Bank with several young people organising the bucket collection as people left.
 
Tony Mallion, who hosted and organised the service, said afterwards: ‘Holding this on Advent Sunday makes a great start to the Christmas period and all the opportunities there are to share the real meaning of Christmas. Having the orchestra and choir really added to this and it was wonderful that people responded so generously to the appeal for the Food Bank. We are so grateful to the Pavilion and their staff for whom nothing is too much trouble and who make this such a great event for the whole community.’
 
Cliff Park’s Carols by Candlelight will be held on Sunday December 9 at 4 pm at Cliff Park Junior School; Carols on the Green (open air on The Mews) on Sunday 16 at 5 pm and a Christingle family service on Christmas Eve at 4 pm.
 
The photo above is courtesy of Jenny Mallion.
 
To read our previous story about this event, click here.
 



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. 


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