Here in the Caribbean we delight in our quiet and usually uneventful days and nights. Yesterday evening was a wonderful exception. We had just settled down for a barbecue, enjoying the night sky and the glorious smell of grilling sirloin over natural charcoal. In the distance we heard singing and assumed it was a practice of some sort at one of the nearby houses. Just then cars began collecting at our driveway. With the arrival of the last one, all at once we were facing about fifteen people – young, old and in between. Explaining quickly that they had left a note about their program, they broke into song. The group was from a little church in a nearby village called Lower Friths, just up from the small town of Salem on the eastern side of Montserrat. Not knowing what to expect, we put on our smiles and prepared to enjoy the show. And, indeed we did.

Choral Group of New Carmel Seventh Day Adventist Church, Montserrat, West Indies 2005

The group comes from the New Carmel Seventh Day Adventist church. Each year in January they begin their annual Harvest and Gathering campaign serenading at private homes in the area’s neighborhoods raising funds in support of their welfare program. In past years, funds from their serenades and other church activities have been used in support of the local Meals on Wheels Program, for Grenada hurricane relief, for educational programs and to finance equipment for the hospital and overseas medical care.

It is ususal for churches to have fund-raising events for special projects, but in doing so this small church also gives a unique gift to the larger community. How so few people could sing such complex and beautiful choral arrangements is still surprising to us. We learned only later that Kathleen Greenaway, Montserrat’s Director of Education, is in large part responsible as the group’s main organizer. Remembering that evening fondly and looking forward to next year’s performance, we congratulate them for finding this wonderful outlet for their musical talents and wish them all success in their fund raising.

Choral Group of New Carmel Seventh Day Adventist Church, Montserrat, West Indies 2007

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