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> Story 86 - Musical Meditations in Mission
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Story 86 - Musical Meditations in Mission
By Suzie Abramian in conversation with Nicola Gerrard from Lymm Baptist Church, Cheshire.
To hear more about Nicola’s story leading a pioneering ministry from Lymm Baptist Church in the village of High Legh please see story 81 ‘Mission on your Doorstep’ in stories of Missional Adventure).
Picture a beautiful 16th century chapel standing empty and locked up in a beautiful Cheshire village. In my visionary mind, this place needed to be used for the glory of God. I gained permission from the owner to provide an Advent Musical Meditation which consisted of a 45-minute programme of live flute playing, interspersed with inspiring reading delivered by husband. This initiative has been going for about 10 years now and over the years it has attracted people who wouldn’t normally go to church but would go to a classical concert. We found over time that local villagers were coming and then inviting their neighbours and friends.
The music consists of a mixture of Baroque, Classical and Contemporary Christian music. I begin each event by playing an improvisation which is my way of inviting the Holy Spirit to come and do his work, hovering over people and awakening their hearts. As the music is always solo flute, including the alto and baroque flute, it provided different tones and timbres. Occasionally I will use backing tracks specially created for me to provide variety.
The chapel is extremely cold with little to no heating, which makes the whole venture quite a challenge but, in some ways, it adds to the occasion. Over the years my husband and I have become bolder with bible readings and prayers, and in this environment, it has been well received. I have adapted the meditations over the years with the minister of Lymm Baptist Church (Jonathan Bramwell) accompanying me on the piano and playing on the ancient organ housed within the chapel. My daughter, who is training to be a professional ballerina, has even danced on occasions.
It is amazing to see how God can open up people’s hearts who would profess to have no faith. Music offered to God in this way can unlock the hearts of those who would otherwise dismiss the existence of God.
The Lord has given us much favour in the village over the years and I have been able to do a Sunday afternoon concert series and a series of musical meditations for Holy Week. We have seen this as a way of ministering to the people in our community and blessing them with the Lord. It has become very much part of our life here and I hope that in the future we will be able to do it again in his strength.
We have never really known what the Lord has done through these events but with comments from time to time it has become obvious that God has been doing what only he can do, and it is not for us to question it. Praise to his name.
Video of Nicola playing ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’ as a musical meditation in the Chapel in High Legh village.
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One Hundred Stories
missional adventure
Stories
Story 89 - Tiny Garden Church
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 88 - Sally Mann (Podcast Episode 18)
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 87 - Community Ministry
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 85 - Red Letter Christians
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 84 - Missional Community in the Tyne Valley
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 83 - Barney and Sara Barron (Podcast Episode 17)
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 82 - Boldy Going...
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 81 - Mission on your doorstep
Posted:
01/03/2021
Story 80 - First stages of Pioneering
Posted:
02/02/2021
Story 79 - New Lubbesthorpe
Posted:
02/02/2021
Story 78 - Pioneering on a Self-Build Development
Posted:
02/02/2021
Story 77 - Ella's
Posted:
02/02/2021
Story 76 - Justin Kennedy (Podcast Episode 16)
Posted:
01/02/2021
Story 75 - Responding to the coronavirus
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01/02/2021
Story 74 - The Wave Littleham
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01/02/2021
Story 73 - Christmas Outreach 2020
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01/02/2021
Story 72 - Pioneering in Kidderminster
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01/02/2021
Story 71 - Ross Maynard (Podcast Episode 15)
Posted:
01/02/2021
Missional Adventure Stories 71-80
Posted:
01/02/2021
Story 70 - Update - Ilfracombe Baptist Church
Posted:
30/01/2021
Story 69 - Update Mind the Gap Ministries
Posted:
30/01/2021
Story 68 - Erica Bowler (Podcast Episode 14)
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 67 - Jesus Our Victory
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 65 - The Garden at the Surgery
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 66 - Kingdom Breakthrough Ministries
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 64 - John Good (Podcast Episode 13)
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 63 - 'Yarn - Bombing'
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 62 - Pioneer Minister-in-training
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 61 - The Wren Bakery
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 60 - Clayton Baptist Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 59 - Seaton Baptist Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 58 - The Olive Branch Coffee Shop
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01/12/2020
Story 57 - Crossgates, Leeds
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01/12/2020
Story 56 - Gaynor Hammond (Podcast Episode 12)
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 55 - Connect Church
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01/12/2020
Story 54 - Mindful Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 53 - Renewing Stocky
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 52 - Peter Dominey (Podcast Episode 11)
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 51 - Art in Mission
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01/12/2020
Missional Adventure Stories 51-60
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 50 - Growth in Lockdown
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 49 - Sean Carter (Podcast Episode 10)
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 48 - Connecting in Leeds
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 47 - Pioneering in the Forest of Dean
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01/11/2020
Story 46 - Renew Cafe
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 45 - Nick Graves (Podcast Episode 9)
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 44 - Genuine Relationships
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 43 - Embracing Adventure in Mission
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 41 - Westbourne Park Baptist Church
Posted:
01/11/2020
Missional Adventure Stories 41-50
Posted:
01/11/2020
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