4 Apr 2025, 13:16Blandine Damtse, Edited by SM CommunicationsGlasgow City, Scotland, United Kingdom
Glasgow Church Hits the Right Notes with Praise and Mother’s Day Celebration
Glasgow Church's "Glasgow in Praise" event on 29th March brought together over 200 attendees for a powerful day of music, worship, and fellowship, culminating in a special Mother's Day luncheon to honour the women of the church.
Glasgow Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church was filled to capacity on 29th March, as over 200 attendees gathered for the special ‘Glasgow in Praise’ musical Sabbath. The event saw musicians, soloists, instrumentalists, and the congregation come together in exalting the name of the Lord through hymns, gospel songs, praise choruses, orchestral performances, spoken words, testimonies, and contemporary worship music.
The programme featured a range of talented groups, including the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, the Crieff Orchestra, the King Advent Messengers, the Glasgow Adventist Melodies, the Glasgow Chorale, the SDASA, and more. Congregational praise and worship played a significant role throughout, with musicians taking turns to perform during the uplifting service that was filled with inspiring music, heartfelt praise, and joy.
Missionary volunteer Samuel Matheus delivered a thought-provoking sermonette, highlighting the power of praise during times of trouble. Drawing from 2 Chronicles 20, he reflected on King Jehoshaphat’s response to threats from his enemies. Matheus explained how, instead of seeking military strategies, Jehoshaphat first sought the Lord through prayer and praise, and was met with divine intervention. Matheus shared five key applications of worship: worship as an act of faith, its power to shift our focus to God's strength, its invitation for God’s presence, its ability to bring peace even in trials, and its transformative effect on circumstances. “Let’s choose to worship not only when we receive blessings but also in the midst of battle, as praise brings God’s presence and His direct intervention,” he concluded.
The event was a true blessing for many attendees. “The blend of cultures, the joy on people’s faces, the variety of music, the clapping, the drums, and the beautiful voices make me think of heaven,” said Maestro Samuel Santos, who travelled from Portugal to support the musical Sabbath. “When Jesus comes, He will take us all, without distinction of race, age, culture, or gender. I was particularly impressed by the three-year-old girl who performed in front of the entire assembly without fear. The church should continue to encourage children to use their talents for God’s service,” he added. Santos, who is the maestro of the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, is also preparing the choir for a concert at the Dundee SDA Church on 12th April 2025. For more information, visit https://adventist.scot/news/events/gospel-concert
Another highlight of the day was the Crieff Orchestra’s performance. Dressed in traditional Scottish attire, the orchestra delivered a stunning performance with instruments including the cello, piano, flute, and violin. Olivia Wiech, the orchestra director, shared her gratitude for the opportunity to participate: “We play to bring joy and spread the gospel. As we performed ‘This is My Father’s House’ and ‘You Raise Me Up,’ we gradually increased the tempo and rhythm to convey God’s peace, power, and strength.”
The event also served as a form of spiritual therapy. Patience, a member of Musselburgh Church, reflected on the experience: “The message was inspiring and the music was incredible. When I fall down, my hiding place is in the music. That’s where I experience peace and find strength again.” She was also deeply moved by Maestro Samuel’s testimony of overcoming a life-threatening illness with the support of the church’s prayers.
Ebube Nwarunma, the local Praise and Worship Director, expressed gratitude for the success of the event, Glasgow in Praise, highlighting it as a much-needed extended praise and worship experience. He also thanked all those who contributed to the event and announced another musical experience – a hymnal Sabbath – scheduled for September.
The musical event also coincided with Children’s Day, during which the children, led by church elder Phelomen Mukangiliye, blessed the congregation with Bible recitations, special songs, and a play.
To conclude the day, the men of Glasgow SDA Church organised a heartfelt fellowship lunch for the women in celebration of Mother’s Day, which fell on 30th March. The hall was beautifully decorated, with a diverse buffet, special Mother’s Day cakes, floral bouquets, and personalised cards. The men, who prepared and served the meal, also took care of the clean-up. Church elder Calvin Ndlovu, leader of the Glasgow Men’s Ministry, expressed, “Women are the backbone of the home, and we always appreciate the hard work they do for the church. We organised this special lunch to show love and appreciation to the women, and to thank them for their unwavering support at all levels.”
Reflecting on the day, Pastor Claudiu Popescu shared how overwhelmed he was by the positive feedback from the event and praised the exceptional talent of the praise and worship team. "I truly believe that Glasgow Church has found its right tune. It’s amazing to witness how powerful, contagious, and transformative music can be. In just two years, God has transformed Glasgow Church into a house of prayer and praise through music," he said. He concluded by quoting Martin Luther, stating, "I wholeheartedly agree with the German reformer, who said, ‘Next to the Word of God, music is the greatest treasure in the world.’"
Glasgow Church's "Glasgow in Praise" event on 29th March brought together over 200 attendees for a powerful day of music, worship, and fellowship, culminating in a special Mother's Day luncheon to honour the women of the church.
Glasgow Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church was filled to capacity on 29th March, as over 200 attendees gathered for the special ‘Glasgow in Praise’ musical Sabbath. The event saw musicians, soloists, instrumentalists, and the congregation come together in exalting the name of the Lord through hymns, gospel songs, praise choruses, orchestral performances, spoken words, testimonies, and contemporary worship music.
The programme featured a range of talented groups, including the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, the Crieff Orchestra, the King Advent Messengers, the Glasgow Adventist Melodies, the Glasgow Chorale, the SDASA, and more. Congregational praise and worship played a significant role throughout, with musicians taking turns to perform during the uplifting service that was filled with inspiring music, heartfelt praise, and joy.
Missionary volunteer Samuel Matheus delivered a thought-provoking sermonette, highlighting the power of praise during times of trouble. Drawing from 2 Chronicles 20, he reflected on King Jehoshaphat’s response to threats from his enemies. Matheus explained how, instead of seeking military strategies, Jehoshaphat first sought the Lord through prayer and praise, and was met with divine intervention. Matheus shared five key applications of worship: worship as an act of faith, its power to shift our focus to God's strength, its invitation for God’s presence, its ability to bring peace even in trials, and its transformative effect on circumstances. “Let’s choose to worship not only when we receive blessings but also in the midst of battle, as praise brings God’s presence and His direct intervention,” he concluded.
The event was a true blessing for many attendees. “The blend of cultures, the joy on people’s faces, the variety of music, the clapping, the drums, and the beautiful voices make me think of heaven,” said Maestro Samuel Santos, who travelled from Portugal to support the musical Sabbath. “When Jesus comes, He will take us all, without distinction of race, age, culture, or gender. I was particularly impressed by the three-year-old girl who performed in front of the entire assembly without fear. The church should continue to encourage children to use their talents for God’s service,” he added. Santos, who is the maestro of the Glasgow Adventist Gospel Choir, is also preparing the choir for a concert at the Dundee SDA Church on 12th April 2025. For more information, visit https://adventist.scot/news/events/gospel-concert
Another highlight of the day was the Crieff Orchestra’s performance. Dressed in traditional Scottish attire, the orchestra delivered a stunning performance with instruments including the cello, piano, flute, and violin. Olivia Wiech, the orchestra director, shared her gratitude for the opportunity to participate: “We play to bring joy and spread the gospel. As we performed ‘This is My Father’s House’ and ‘You Raise Me Up,’ we gradually increased the tempo and rhythm to convey God’s peace, power, and strength.”
The event also served as a form of spiritual therapy. Patience, a member of Musselburgh Church, reflected on the experience: “The message was inspiring and the music was incredible. When I fall down, my hiding place is in the music. That’s where I experience peace and find strength again.” She was also deeply moved by Maestro Samuel’s testimony of overcoming a life-threatening illness with the support of the church’s prayers.
Ebube Nwarunma, the local Praise and Worship Director, expressed gratitude for the success of the event, Glasgow in Praise, highlighting it as a much-needed extended praise and worship experience. He also thanked all those who contributed to the event and announced another musical experience – a hymnal Sabbath – scheduled for September.
The musical event also coincided with Children’s Day, during which the children, led by church elder Phelomen Mukangiliye, blessed the congregation with Bible recitations, special songs, and a play.
To conclude the day, the men of Glasgow SDA Church organised a heartfelt fellowship lunch for the women in celebration of Mother’s Day, which fell on 30th March. The hall was beautifully decorated, with a diverse buffet, special Mother’s Day cakes, floral bouquets, and personalised cards. The men, who prepared and served the meal, also took care of the clean-up. Church elder Calvin Ndlovu, leader of the Glasgow Men’s Ministry, expressed, “Women are the backbone of the home, and we always appreciate the hard work they do for the church. We organised this special lunch to show love and appreciation to the women, and to thank them for their unwavering support at all levels.”
Reflecting on the day, Pastor Claudiu Popescu shared how overwhelmed he was by the positive feedback from the event and praised the exceptional talent of the praise and worship team. "I truly believe that Glasgow Church has found its right tune. It’s amazing to witness how powerful, contagious, and transformative music can be. In just two years, God has transformed Glasgow Church into a house of prayer and praise through music," he said. He concluded by quoting Martin Luther, stating, "I wholeheartedly agree with the German reformer, who said, ‘Next to the Word of God, music is the greatest treasure in the world.’"
