20 Feb 2025, 17:44Adina Lupu / SM CommunicationsGlasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland, United Kingdom
Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir Delivers Joyful Performance at Care Home
This article covers the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir's concert at a local care home, highlighting their dedication to serving the community through their musical gifts and the positive impact of their performance on residents' well-being.
“To His Glory, sing a psalm of joy; To His Majesty, a hymn of praise” are the uplifting lyrics of one of the songs cherished by the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir. Formed during the 2024 outreach initiative of Glasgow Church — Impact Glasgow — the choir has resumed rehearsals this January and, under the direction of Maestro Samuel Santos, performed a heart-warming concert for elderly residents at a local care home on Sunday, February 16.
This visit was part of a broader outreach initiative, For His Glory, through which Glasgow Church aims to make a lasting impact on the community in 2025. The project seeks to reach diverse groups, sharing the Gospel message through music. Comprising nearly 40 members, ranging in age from 12 to 75, the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir is dedicated to providing moments of spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being through a series of concerts throughout the year.
Recognising the unique needs of elderly care home residents, Maestro Samuel thoughtfully crafted a programme to deliver a message of hope and reassurance in God’s love. During rehearsals, he emphasised the importance of this visit, noting that it could be the final opportunity for some to hear about God’s love. The concert held deep meaning for choir members, as they witnessed first-hand the profound effect their music had on the audience.
Some of the songs in the performance allowed residents to actively participate, using tambourines and maracas provided by the choir. The selection of familiar songs helped create a connection, evoking cherished memories. While the primary goal was to share a spiritual message in a non-invasive and creative way, the concert also fulfilled other essential needs — offering emotional connection, social interaction, and even light physical activity through gentle movement with instruments. Care homes strive to provide opportunities for emotional and physical well-being alongside daily care, and the choir’s visit extended its impact beyond the concert itself, offering moments of joy and connection that supported residents’ overall well-being.
Following the performance, an elderly gentleman, moved to tears, shared that he used to attend a local Protestant church and firmly believes that Jesus is coming back. Another resident, also tearful, expressed, “This morning, I was very sad, but you made me so happy. I love God. I used to go to church. I am a Mormon and used to sing in church too. Please come back again.”
Even the care home staff engaged in the experience, with the nurse in charge expressing her gratitude for the visit, noting its positive impact on the residents, and extending an invitation for the choir to return.
For Glasgow Church members, initiatives like these create opportunities to serve in unity, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills and talents God has given them for the benefit of others. A mission-focused church is one that thrives, and the Glasgow community of believers is committed to expanding their outreach, with another concert already being planned for Mother’s Day.
Reflecting on the event, Maestro Samuel Santos described the concert as a deeply impactful experience for the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, emphasising that "wonderful" does not fully capture it. He highlighted the joy of praise, worship, and connection with the elderly residents and the community, noting that the choir's mission extends beyond music to include care and sharing. Their aim is to spread the Gospel through their performances, creating memorable moments filled with love and friendship.
Pastor Claudiu Popescu echoed this sentiment by emphasising the well-documented link between music and well-being. He stated, “Academic studies support what people have always known instinctively: music can lower blood pressure, help manage pain, ease depression and anxiety, and, for individuals with dementia, even enhance cognitive capabilities.” He firmly believes that the church has a ‘pastoral mandate’ to promote well-being through music within the community. He expressed his gratitude to Glasgow Church, particularly the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, for wholeheartedly embracing this mission by fostering meaningful relationships and spreading joy through the gift of music.
This article covers the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir's concert at a local care home, highlighting their dedication to serving the community through their musical gifts and the positive impact of their performance on residents' well-being.
“To His Glory, sing a psalm of joy; To His Majesty, a hymn of praise” are the uplifting lyrics of one of the songs cherished by the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir. Formed during the 2024 outreach initiative of Glasgow Church — Impact Glasgow — the choir has resumed rehearsals this January and, under the direction of Maestro Samuel Santos, performed a heart-warming concert for elderly residents at a local care home on Sunday, February 16.
This visit was part of a broader outreach initiative, For His Glory, through which Glasgow Church aims to make a lasting impact on the community in 2025. The project seeks to reach diverse groups, sharing the Gospel message through music. Comprising nearly 40 members, ranging in age from 12 to 75, the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir is dedicated to providing moments of spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being through a series of concerts throughout the year.
Recognising the unique needs of elderly care home residents, Maestro Samuel thoughtfully crafted a programme to deliver a message of hope and reassurance in God’s love. During rehearsals, he emphasised the importance of this visit, noting that it could be the final opportunity for some to hear about God’s love. The concert held deep meaning for choir members, as they witnessed first-hand the profound effect their music had on the audience.
Some of the songs in the performance allowed residents to actively participate, using tambourines and maracas provided by the choir. The selection of familiar songs helped create a connection, evoking cherished memories. While the primary goal was to share a spiritual message in a non-invasive and creative way, the concert also fulfilled other essential needs — offering emotional connection, social interaction, and even light physical activity through gentle movement with instruments. Care homes strive to provide opportunities for emotional and physical well-being alongside daily care, and the choir’s visit extended its impact beyond the concert itself, offering moments of joy and connection that supported residents’ overall well-being.
Following the performance, an elderly gentleman, moved to tears, shared that he used to attend a local Protestant church and firmly believes that Jesus is coming back. Another resident, also tearful, expressed, “This morning, I was very sad, but you made me so happy. I love God. I used to go to church. I am a Mormon and used to sing in church too. Please come back again.”
Even the care home staff engaged in the experience, with the nurse in charge expressing her gratitude for the visit, noting its positive impact on the residents, and extending an invitation for the choir to return.
For Glasgow Church members, initiatives like these create opportunities to serve in unity, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills and talents God has given them for the benefit of others. A mission-focused church is one that thrives, and the Glasgow community of believers is committed to expanding their outreach, with another concert already being planned for Mother’s Day.
Reflecting on the event, Maestro Samuel Santos described the concert as a deeply impactful experience for the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, emphasising that "wonderful" does not fully capture it. He highlighted the joy of praise, worship, and connection with the elderly residents and the community, noting that the choir's mission extends beyond music to include care and sharing. Their aim is to spread the Gospel through their performances, creating memorable moments filled with love and friendship.
Pastor Claudiu Popescu echoed this sentiment by emphasising the well-documented link between music and well-being. He stated, “Academic studies support what people have always known instinctively: music can lower blood pressure, help manage pain, ease depression and anxiety, and, for individuals with dementia, even enhance cognitive capabilities.” He firmly believes that the church has a ‘pastoral mandate’ to promote well-being through music within the community. He expressed his gratitude to Glasgow Church, particularly the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, for wholeheartedly embracing this mission by fostering meaningful relationships and spreading joy through the gift of music.
