A large church in Guangdong formed an "iCloud choir"to present praise during the Holy Week and Easter.
The "choir" of Guangzhou Guangxiao Church began rehearsal two weeks ahead of this year's Passion Week in preparation for daily online evening services during the special week, said Rev. Zhang Chengtao, the church's senior pastor.
While the "iCloud" choral songs received positive feedback from the congregation, the "choir" faced many challenges in online practice. However, a womens' choir comprised of elderly female believers successfully presented a hymn called The Nail Scarred Hand after overcoming software difficulties.
Sister L, a co-worker in the church, shared the moving story behind the "iCloud" choir.
"Some of choir members repeatedly recorded the song until later than 12 am every day. A 78-year-old woman started recording after having just been discharged from hospital; one member insisted on appearing in the choir despite suffering from measles and recently recovering from cancer; a woman waited for her daughter to come back home from work so that she could have two smartphones for the recording. The aged conductor was busy with taking care of many things... Every sister was dressed elegantly for the performance. After each of them went through more than dozens of recordings, the choir finally finished the challenging choral ministry. They gave special meaning to a very special time!"
Rev. Zhang added that the "iCloud" choir was also an opportunity to bring together the members toward the fulfillment of a common goal.
In fact, during the past months when forced to provide online ministry for their congregation, the pastor and other co-workers have realized that the one-way support ministry needs to be updated. Feeling a sense of urgency and innovation, they are devoting themselves to making the new online ministry more targeted and effective.
- Translated by Karen Luo
耳目一新！广州光孝堂“云献唱”迎接耶稣复活
今年的圣周和复活节，广州市基督教光孝堂安排了一系列丰富的线上聚会活动，其中献唱环节采用“云献唱”方式，令人耳目一新。
据该堂主任牧师张成涛牧师介绍，诗班提前两周开始排练预备，为的是在圣周每晚的聚会中，使弟兄姐妹更深进入到主耶稣的受难历程中。
云献唱视频发出之后，受到很多弟兄姐妹的好评，而诗班线上练习的过程却有相当多的挑战。更为难能可贵的是，由老年姐妹组成的妇女诗班对网络软件操作不熟悉，最终却克服了种种困难，呈现了恩典满溢的云献唱《搀主钉痕手》。
该堂同工L姐妹感恩妇女诗班为主摆上，靠主得胜，勇于于高龄挑战电子设备的高端操作。她分享了妇女诗班云献唱背后的故事：“她们中有反复录制至每天深夜12点多的、有78岁高龄刚出院就坚持录制的、有癌症愈后出麻疹仍不受影响坚持出镜的、有每天翘首企盼女儿下班回家可以集齐手机录制的（录制现场至少需要两部手机设备）、有高龄指挥周围询问忙前顾后的……每个姐妹都仪容端庄。她们每个人都经过至少几十次的反复录制，最终完成了这次特殊时期极具挑战、又极富特殊意义的献唱侍奉！”
张牧师认为，云献唱是特殊时期的探索和挑战，也是锤炼弟兄姐妹品质的机会，使大家学会为了一个共同目标不懈努力，直到成就。
实际上，疫情至今两个多月的云牧养过程中，张牧师及同工们已经意识到，单一方式单向的牧养方式已不能适应这个时代。他们带着紧迫感和使命感不断创新，使云牧养更加有针对性、有果效。
A large church in Guangdong formed an "iCloud choir"to present praise during the Holy Week and Easter.
The "choir" of Guangzhou Guangxiao Church began rehearsal two weeks ahead of this year's Passion Week in preparation for daily online evening services during the special week, said Rev. Zhang Chengtao, the church's senior pastor.
While the "iCloud" choral songs received positive feedback from the congregation, the "choir" faced many challenges in online practice. However, a womens' choir comprised of elderly female believers successfully presented a hymn called The Nail Scarred Hand after overcoming software difficulties.
Sister L, a co-worker in the church, shared the moving story behind the "iCloud" choir.
"Some of choir members repeatedly recorded the song until later than 12 am every day. A 78-year-old woman started recording after having just been discharged from hospital; one member insisted on appearing in the choir despite suffering from measles and recently recovering from cancer; a woman waited for her daughter to come back home from work so that she could have two smartphones for the recording. The aged conductor was busy with taking care of many things... Every sister was dressed elegantly for the performance. After each of them went through more than dozens of recordings, the choir finally finished the challenging choral ministry. They gave special meaning to a very special time!"
Rev. Zhang added that the "iCloud" choir was also an opportunity to bring together the members toward the fulfillment of a common goal.
In fact, during the past months when forced to provide online ministry for their congregation, the pastor and other co-workers have realized that the one-way support ministry needs to be updated. Feeling a sense of urgency and innovation, they are devoting themselves to making the new online ministry more targeted and effective.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Guangzhou Church Invents “ICloud Choir” to Welcome Easter
