Music Ministry

1. INTRODUCTION

Year 2023 was a peaceful and progressive year for us in the Music Ministry. This would not have been possible without the backing of our Heavenly Father who is ever faithful with His abundant blessings, showered on us. Thus, we return all thanks to Him for a successful year altogether.

2. OUR MISSION is to minister through songs for every individual to have a total restoration of peace from God.

3. OUR MOTTO is, “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

4. THE MEMBERSHIP of the Church Choir and the Our Saviour’s Voices is open to talented and spirit-filled singers who are confirmed and duly registered members of the Church. You are welcome to join us to lead the congregation in worship and praise to God; with classical and contemporary music.

5. THE YEAR 2023 ACTIVITIES:

• • Passion Cantata: The Choir had her Passion Cantata on Good Friday, the 7th of April, 2023. At the 12 noon to 3: 00p.m service, the “Seven Last Words of Christ” were rendered and other musical pieces by different composers; portraying the death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Choir Festival:
    • It’s with great delight that we report the success of our Choir Festival of songs for the Year 2023 on Sunday the 24th of September.
    • The festival was tagged, “Open the Floodgates of Heaven.” The festival proper commenced at 4: 00 pm with our distinguished Choir Patrons, Guests of Honour, Invited Choirs, ever encouraging Congregants and our indefatigable Priests, all present.
    • The Church auditorium was agog with chants, hymns, native airs, classical pieces and contemporary music to God’s glory.
    • Our Guest Preacher, The Revd. Canon Bimbo Aduroja from St. Andrew’s Church, Apapa, Lagos, urged everyone to keep faith with our Unchanging God, to shower His blessings on us all.
    • Special renditions were done by:
      • The Choir of St. Andrew’s Church, GRA Apapa
      • De Melody Beats Chorale
  • Christmas Carol:
    • The Christmas Carol took place on Christmas Eve and everyone in attendance could testify to the glorious and uplifting event. It was an evening service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
    • The event was colorful with a spread of love in the air as the Choir and congregants sang their hearts out in celebration of the birth of Christ.
    • There were awesome classical and contemporary renditions by the Choir but the event was heightened with all the solo ministrations rendered that evening.
    • Our Soprano solo on,” Akpata” was quite thrilling and the guest soloist, who was once a part of the Choir, had a powerful rendition of, Mary Did You Know” to the glory of God.
    • The tradition of the Choir in Candle Light procession helped to make the event more beautiful as it significantly made us all see Christ as the light to lighten our darkness.
  • Advent/ Diocesan Carol: Our Choir was fully represented at these carols and were a force to reckon with at these events.

6. New Members in the Choir: Within the year in view, we had some new members who had been well assessed and deemed fit to join the Choir team. These are:

1. Mr. Olufemi Kafisewon – Tenor
2. Mr. Jide Omidiran – Bass
3. Miss Ifeoma Nnodim – Soprano
4. Miss Adaku Okezie – Soprano
5. Miss Amarachi Miller – Soprano
6. Mr. Samuel Olaleetan – Alto

The first two persons were inducted at our last Festival of Songs while the other members would be inducted at the next Choir Festival.

7. New Members in Our Saviour’s Voices are:

• Nwaokobia Ugochukwu
• Femi Fasakin

8. New Organist: After the resignation and relocation of our organist, Mr. Christian Ubani, another seasoned organist was employed by the Church to join the team of organists to work with the Choir. This is in person of Mr. Ademola Adefila as an Assistant Organist.

9. Changes in the Band: The Band name was changed from Our Saviour’s Band to Our Saviour’s Voices and the entire band / instruments have been moved to a new platform; specially created by Vicar Agbelusi to the West side of the Church Auditorium; now closer to the altar. So far, this has brought a better coordination and symphony of praise.

10. Attendance and Participation at Church Services/ Other events: We are happy to have recorded consistent participation of Choristers and Our Saviour’s Voices members at the different services in the church.

Both teams regularly attended the 7: 00 a.m. services, the 9: 00 a.m. services, Community Hymn Singing, and Evening Services along with all other special services within and outside the church, were well attended.

11. Choir/ Our Saviour’s Voices Meetings: The Choir group had Executive meetings and General Meetings for the year. All meetings were well attended and documented. Our Saviours Voices also had meetings monthly, after the 9:00am services on Sundays.

12. Choir/ Our Saviour’s Voices Rehearsals:

• With the economic irregularities experienced within the Year 2023, the Choir had no choice but to change the Tuesday rehearsal days to Sundays after the 9: 00am service.
• This is because every chorister must attend two rehearsals before being qualified to robe.
• So far, this helped to reduce the number of days choristers have to come to church within the week. The new change has also drastically improved the number of qualified choristers who officiate on Sundays.
• Our Saviour’s Voices members attended band practices on Saturdays at 12 noon.
• They were also able to consistently support the Youth Band during Youth Sundays, every month.
• We sincerely appreciate every consistent chorister/band member for the great perseverance despite the distance of their respective residences/ offices; away from the Church.

13. Celebrations:

• We rejoice with our Choir Chaplain, The Revd. Canon Bola Osinupebi; having become a Canon in the Year 2023. We pray that God Almighty would continually fill his cup and uphold his family in Jesus’ name.
• We also congratulate some of our members on their investiture as Knight of St. Christopher. Sir Victor & Lady Alaezi Oshai and Sir Emeka & Lady Chinyelu Ujogi, respectfully.
• We give thanks to God for our chorister who had baby delivery, Mrs. Chioma Amuchie. Mrs. Juliet Amu and Mr. Olufemi Kafisewon had new grandchildren.
• We once more congratulate our patronesses who had landmark birthdays. Our very own Professor Mrs. Yetunde Olumide clocked 80 and our loving mother, Justice Adedayo Oyebanji clocked 60. We wish them many more prosperous years ahead.
• We applaud all the Choristers who were awarded for their dedication to service in the Year 2023 and look forward to awarding other well- deserving choristers on Year 2024.

14. Condolences: The Choir deeply sympathized with the family of our chorister, Dame Nneka Mba, who lost her mother, Late Lady Ezinne Caroline Mba.

 

OUR SAVIOUR’S VOICES’ OFFICERS

Chaplain:   The Ven. Folorunsho Agbelusi
Leader:       Prince Ibifubara Alu
Secretary:  Mr. Patrick Ofili
Financial Secretary:  Mr. Biodun Omowo
Welfare Officer:  Mrs. Adebola Adeyeye

Some new members were nominated and added due to the relocation of some officers.

 

PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHOIR

Choir Chaplain:  The Revd. Canon Bola Osinupebi           
Chairman/Music Director/ Organist:  Mr. Theophilus Okang
Assistant Organist:  Mr. Kolawole Fatoba
Assistant Organist:  Mr. Ademola Adefila
General Secretary:  Miss Afolake Adeboyejo
Financial Secretary/ Treasurer:  Mr. Temple Robert
Assistant Financial Secretary/ Treasurer:  Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji
Welfare Officer 1:  Mrs. Chinyelu Ugoji
Welfare Officer 2:  Mr. Emeka Chukwujindu
Librarian:  Mr. Kunle Odumosu
Robes Warden (Female):  Miss Onyinye Kwazema
Robes Warden (Male) /Cross Bearer:  Mr. Abiodun Adedoyin
Provost:  Mrs. Daba Obioha
Provost:  Mr. Chioma Abara
Provost:  Mr. Ayo Ajayi

Some new members were nominated and added due to the relocation and unavailability of some officers.  The Choir looks forward to another election in 2024.

 

APPRECIATION

• As we look back in gratitude, The Music Ministry cannot but thank God for His love, providence, and protection all through the Year 2023. We would never have made it through without Him.
• Also, we heartily thank our then Vicar who is now our Bishop, The Rt. Revd. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi for his support and push for us to do various activities within the Year 2023 and the encouragement from our tear- rubber Mama Lagos, Mrs. Modupe Okupevi. God will continue to keep you.
• Three hearty cheers to our New Vicar and brother, The Ven. Folorunsho Oreoluwa Agbelusi for his quick interventions and innovations in the Music Ministry.Our gratitude knows no bounds. We also appreciate the support of our Mama Yard. We thank you most warmly.

• It is not out of place to sincerely use this medium to appreciate Our own Chaplain, The Revd. Canon Bola Osinupebi and his amiable wife. Your kind words of advice and presence in the Choir has gone a long way.
• We thank every priest and their wives; who had helped us in our musical journey in 2023 . Most specially, we give kudos to The Ven. Tunde Oduwole, The Ven. Uchenna Ekwensi and The Revd. Emmanuel Mordi. You’ve all been awesome.
• Doffing our hats, we appreciate the immeasurable support shown to us by our distinguished and dignified Patrons in Year 2023. Your generosity overwhelms us!
• To every Chorister , every band member , every soloist in the Choir, every lead vocalist in Our Saviour’s Voices, every organist, the band Leader and our very own Music Director, we appreciate God in our lives and say a humungous, Thank you” for always being there in Year 2023.
• To members of the Congregation and all friends of the Choir/ Our Svaiour’s Voices; who have magnanimously supported us in cash, kindness, prayers, and advice throughout the Year, 2023, we pray that Songs of Praise would never elude you and 2024 would be far greater in positivity. Amen!