Page 8 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

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5. Delegates to the New Delhi Assembly (Cont ’d)
In each of its meetings, the Assonbly has felt called to consider
anew the meaning of the Gospel that both constitutes the Church and forms
its message. To the earlier union of "Faith and Order" and "Life and Work"
in the WCC, was now at New Delhi joined the International Missionary Council,
thus uniting the spheres of unity, service and witness, the three basic
concerns of the ecumenical movement. These three themes of unity, witness
a n d service are in the last resort not three but one. There was abundant
and eloquent testimony that new understanding of the life and mission of the
Church is needed if the churches are to speak with relevance to the needs of
men in our time.

When these participants came back they were asked by various member
churches and Christian groups to give reports or impressions of what they
had heard and seen, thus strengthening our common.task - Unity in the Truth.
(It is hoped that still more may be done by them in this way).

6. Ecumenical "Fall-out"
During the New Delhi Assembly period, there were some 60 ecumenical
leaders who visited Hongkong either en route to New Delhi or on their way
home after the 3rd Assembly! Our Council had set up a booth at the Airport
to welcome them. Many of them visited the Council’s office, and we were
happy to be able to be at their service, and to provide them with information
required.

7. Writing the Paragraphs on the work of Hongkong Protestant Churches for
the Government's Annual Report:
The Council’s English Secretary was asked by the Government Information
Service to write some paragraphs on the work and activities of the Protestant
Churches and Organizations of the year.

Through the cooperation of member churches and organizations, informa-
tion regarding the work being done at present, or planned in the near future
was provided.

The information compiled is now appearing in the Government’s Annual
Report for reference.

8. The ’Messiah’ in the City Hall - Witness to Christian Unity
On April 12th and 13th at 8:00 p.m. an interdenominational Christian
Choir gave performances of Handel's Messiah in the City Hall. The choir
was drawn from all the major Churches in Hongkong, Roman Catholic, Anglican,
Methodist, Church of Christ in China, Baptist and others; it mustered
about 225 voices. The orchestra was the Hongkong Philharmonic; the City
Hall organ was used; and we were very fortunate in finding, from a wealth
of talent, four excellent local soloists. The performance was conducted
by Sir Thomas Armstrong, the Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in
London.

This concert was sponsored by the Very Rev. Dean B. Till. Proceeds of
the concert, after deduction of expenses, was given to charity - the Hong
Kong Society of Rehabilitation - but the primary purpose of the concert was
not to raise money, but to bear witness to Christian Unity. For this reason
the price of the tickets was kept down to a maximum of ten and a minimum of
two dollars so that as many people as possible could enjoy the oratorio.

This was a major undertaking in the musical life of Hongkong. The
idea was that a combined Christian Choir should give one of the first, if
not the first, "local talent" concert after the opening of the City Hall,
as a witness to Christian Unity, and as a sign of our Christian involve-
ment in the total cultural life of the city. There were full houses, and
encouraging words were received from both church leaders and members of
the public.