The Everlasting Gospel Choir
Ian's vision for this singing group brought Richard occasionally to The Branches in late 2004 to help establish it. Maureen and he are proceding slowly with the taking of "raw talent" - without formal musical training - and encouraging their latent abilities to harmonise by ear.

This is just a handful of people at the moment, and while Ian's vision was for wider community participation, the way it has developed into a potential public outreach is interesting. The surpising thing is that the group is predominately male, which is extremely unusual for a "church choir".

The group has been singing, standing together in the middle of the body of believers, on a number of occasions. This unusual way of doing things was developed to encourage the concept of unity within the body of believers.

At easter 2006, we presented a series of songs on the "Resurrection Sunday".

Most of the people involved had exposure to singing in public at two old-peoples' facilities around Christmas 2005, presenting real carols linked to the gospel story. The trio of Ann, Maureen, and Richard had developed these two carols venues over a number of years.

Here are four snaps taken just before Christmas 2005, at the Elderly Citizens' Homes at Walkerville, with two views of the gathered residents (taken by me), and two (of six) taken by a visitor; only these two of the latter came out :)

the last picture... from the left... Rose, me, Andrew, John, and Ian