United across generations

Posted Oct  5, 2016 in Faith

On Saturday 15 October, Mount Barker Uniting Church will hold the fourth annual All Generation Concert. In this article, Nova Tattersall identifies the unique opportunities provided by this event and how it first came into being.

My only lasting memories of going to church as a child are of the songs we sang in Sunday School – especially the old ones. I can still remember these songs today.

The tradition of singing in Sunday School does not appear to have continued – at least, not in the churches I have visited in recent times.

I felt the urge to do something to bring back all those old songs, to share them with younger generations who can pass them on to others.

This is what gave me the original idea for the first All Generation Concert.

Well, it must have been God’s plan because everything started to fall into place! My friend Rhoda Hockam from Mount Barker Uniting Church is a mother of three and a church choir leader. Along with our children (my two added to her three), she and I created a singing group called “Voices of Praise” and created the first All Generation Concert.

Although this annual event highlights old Sunday School songs, its true aim is to create an opportunity for people from all generations to join together and praise God – and that’s where its name comes from. The event also includes songs to appeal to young adults and adults in both modern and traditional styles.

We have received an overwhelming response to the concert every year that it has been held. It has created new memories and taught new songs to children, while bringing back memories of childhood for others. People outside the Mount Barker Uniting Church community have attended this event, including people from different cultures, backgrounds and denominations.

The All Generation Concert chooses a different theme for each event – this year’s is “We are One”. This theme has informed our song choices, and represents our passion to see people united. We believe this idea is at the heart of Uniting Church; we believe God calls us to be united.

The All Generation Concert may have arisen from a desire to see old songs resurrected, but it has become much more. It reminds us that we are the Body of Christ – “One heart, one spirit, one voice to praise You”.

For more information about the 2016 All Generation Concert please click here.

This article has been edited from a longer piece by Nova Tattersall.

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