CHRISTMAS CONCERT FROM 14 COUNTRIES

Several thousand watched BCC’s online Christmas concert, which was centered around the Christmas message. Brazil, USA, South Africa, India and Germany were just some of the 14 countries that contributed musical elements and Christmas greetings from their part of the world.


By Johanne Reiersrud – Photo: BCC

The Christmas concert brought together friends and congregations across national borders and brought out the international diversity that characterizes BCC. Children and young people participated with songs from the beaches of Pará in the Amazon, as well as musicians and choristers in a wintery Norway. “Jingle Bells” by the children’s choir in Detroit spread American Christmas spirit, and singers from India performed their Christmas song in Farsi.

The Christmas concert was built around the Christmas message, which characterized many of the elements. Almost 500 volunteers from 15 countries participated in the production, with many high-quality contributions.

The church in South Africa submitted the song, “To the people who once walked in darkness there has shine forth a glorious light”:

 

“For this Christmas concert, we wanted to get contributions from all over the world. We have also had very good experiences with that at online conferences earlier this year. The international perspective enriches us, and for the children here in the northern regions, it can be exciting to hear about those who celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer, and see what Christmas traditions they have, and vice versa,” says Astrid Hauptmann, editor in BCC Media.

A children’s choir from many countries opened the broadcast

The concert was broadcast from the main studio at the Oslofjord Convention Center in Vestfold, Norway, but also featured numbers submitted from around the world. In the studio, singers, musicians and a small children’s choir set the tone, from the evocative opening to the last number, the Scandinavian carol, “Deilig er jorden” (“How Beautiful is the Earth”).

Astrid Hauptmann explains that the idea was that those who watched the concert could use the opportunity to get together with family and friends for a pleasant evening, where music, good food and the Christmas message were part of the ingredients. This was also reflected on social media, where many members posted photos and film clips from the evening.

Here you can see “The Angels’ Song” (in Norwegian) with the children’s choir, which opened the broadcast:

Jesus came to earth as a little child

BCC leader Kåre J. Smith also sent a Christmas greeting, in which he spoke about Jesus, who came to earth as a little child:

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6.)

“It is He the whole world longs for, who can truly create peace. This little child, who had no thoughts about Himself, but who grew and became strong in His God and Father. Through Him we also have peace and forgiveness for our sins, and through His life we ​​can also be saved, so that the little child can develop and grow in us; in His life and being, in His virtues,” he said.

Swipe to see photos from the concert: