2024-01-17
“From the Manger to the Cross” - Gospel Concert in Bryansk 2024
On January 14, 2024, in the Bezhitsa Church in the city of Bryansk, a solemn Christmas concert was held by the church choir and the Cathedral Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists (UECB).
The concert “From the Manger to the Cross” presented a very interesting and varied repertoire: from baroque to modern music. The content of the program helped listeners walk the path of Jesus Christ from His birth to His death on the cross and His victory over it.
Along with arrangements of songs already known to the evangelical community, complex world masterpieces by Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, Illarion Alfeev and Johann Sebastian Bach were performed under the leadership of Ivan Romanenko and son, Oleg Romanenko.
The senior presbyter for the Kaluga region, Sergei Naboychenko, addressed the audience with a provocative and preparatory sermon.
This time the orchestra included 40 musicians from different cities of Russia and Belarus: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tolyatti, Kazan, Vladimir, Rostov, Kursk, Kaluga, Gomel, Minsk, Brest, Bryansk and even from Yakutia. This is an already established group of Christian professional musicians, who have repeatedly performed serious programs at spiritual and educational concerts. The main goals of this project can be called: preaching the Gospel through music, uniting professional musicians of the Christian Baptist Churches, motivating local churches in the development of musical ministry, and for glorifying our Lord.
It is worth noting that such professional concerts cause a positive response among the secular community. Similar events are also held in Moscow, Kursk and St. Petersburg, where there are many unchurched people among the audience. It is noteworthy that this form of evangelism (Music and Word) finds a good response from hundreds of guests at each concert.
The organizers of the evening pray and hope that a similar format of service will develop in local churches and other cities.
President of the Logos Christian Center and concert musician,
Kirill Goncharenko
Concert program:
January 14, 2024
Christmas evening program “From the Manger to the Cross”
1. “Come to the Child,” John Francis Wade.
2. “Gloria, Et in terra pax” , A. Vivaldi .
3. “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Lewis H. Redner.
4. “To Us Jesus Is Born,” Michael W. Smith
5. Prelude in E flat minor, J.S. Bach - trumpet solo with organ: Igor Goldenberg (organ), Pavel Arinin (trumpet)
6. “Behold Your King Is Here,” Kirk Kirkland , Cindi Morgan , and Greg Nelson .
7. “The Beatitudes”, I. Alfeev.
8. “Angels sang in heaven,” G. P. Vikhrenko.
9. “Heed the Messages of the Angels”, F. Mendelssohn.
10. “Did you know Mary?”, M. Lowry, B. Green.Sermon: S. Yu. Naboychenko.
11. “Melancholic Serenade” by P. I. Tchaikovsky - Anna Mikhailova (violin), Daniil Shestakov (piano).
12. “How can we understand and comprehend”, J. Rutter.
14. “Bethlehem Manger”, J. Gilbert.
15. “In Endless Love”, R. and P. Owens.
16. “Bethlehem Sleeps Peacefully”, N.D. Leontovich.
17. “We proclaim Your death, Lord,” I. Alfeev.
18. “Yes he is worthy”, G.F. Handel.
19. “Hallelujah Chorus”, G.F. Handel.
Watch the Concert here on YouTube:
