Service honours Billy Graham
ST DAVID’S Presbyterian Church is hosting a special city-wide song service this Sunday at 6pm.
It will feature the great hymns of the Billy Graham crusades with inspiring musical accompaniment.
Everyone is welcome at the event located at 46 Mary St in Mt Lofty and there is no charge.
“There are many people in Toowoomba with fond and profound memories of the Billy Graham Crusades a generation ago at the Exhibition Grounds in Brisbane, Randwick Racecourse in Sydney or the MCG in Melbourne,” St David’s minister Rev Andrew Clarke said.
“Some locals were present at the same life-changing services held in other famous venues around the world.
“We want to give people the opportunity to gather and give thanks for the blessing they have received directly or indirectly through the ministry of Rev Billy Graham.”
America’s most famous preacher passed away on February 21, aged 99.
“He has a special place in thousands of Australian hearts,” Rev Clarke said.
“His influence transcends denominational bounds, because he focused on the central truth of the gospel.”
A key feature of the crusades were the songs, old and new, that were sung by vast choirs and congregations.
Cherished favourites including How Great Thou Art, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, plus And Can It Be are to be included.
“Of course, we will end with the deeply moving Just As I Am as Rev Graham’s crusades did,” Rev Clarke said.
The initiative for the service came from Jason Pelcher, a local organist whose gifts are valued at Middle Ridge Uniting Church and elsewhere.
Mr Pelcher was originally from South Africa where the Billy Graham crusades in 1973 led to the creation of a popular youth movement that Mr Pelcher was personally involved in organising.
“When Jason came to me with his proposal for the service, I knew immediately it was a marvellous idea,” Rev Clarke said.
“He is very talented at combining hymns into medleys, and he is organising other instrumentalists including his wife Carien on piano and Alan Skerman on trumpet.”
Mr Pelcher is also arranging an impromptu choir to feature in the service.
Anyone who would like to be part of it is invited to a rehearsal at St David’s tonight at 6pm and again on Sunday at 4pm prior to the service at 6pm.
“We ask that people who plan to participate in the choir come to both rehearsals,” said Rev Clarke.
“We will be able to gauge the numbers by those who are there at the rehearsal on Wednesday, and then on Sunday a light dinner will be provided for choristers in between the rehearsal and the service.”
The service will also include some video tributes from the Billy Graham crusades and a united prayer of thanksgiving.