Frontline Choir

Frontline Choir                 Word on the Week                     30th October 2021.

The Frontline Choir under the baton of Conductor David Brophy have delighted audiences with their singing over the last few weeks.   From a mixed bag of singers, they were wielded into a very presentable group of around 40 strong who put their heart into the task.

But it was their sharing of stories rather than their singing that really bonded them together.   All had come through the experience of hospital working during the pandemic.   All had a story to tell.   Each one represented numerous other hospital staff some of whom caught Covid and a number had lost their lives.

In the main however they simply went to work, entered the building full of Covid patients, put on protective clothing and got on with the job.   Some had to make arrangements to stay apart from their children to prevent the highly infectious virus from infecting them.   All made many sacrifices.

In the early days of the virus the frontline staff were warmly applauded in the street by their friends and neighbours for a period in the evening.   Later when the virus spread in waves over the next 18 months’ hospital staffs were the one constant factor in a confused world of regulations.

In addition to providing an outlet for the emotions of the singers the choir expressed something of the love that sustained them all these months.   It also created a wonderful unity where every occupation and nationality were caught up in the relationship forged by mutual struggles and expressed beautifully in song.

David Brophy’s boundless enthusiasm influenced the selection of Artists who fitted in well on the public performance.   The love that supported the choir on the front line, when it was seen in mutual assistance, was very evident in the songs.    Encouraging lines such as; – You don’t have to go it alone…sometimes you can’t make it on your own. And How can I protect you in this crazy world – It’s all right.

Amelda May read one of her poems entitled, ‘What is Love You Ask?  I asked love “What are you?”   When you open your heart and let me in alone…love is very much at home.   This gives a flavour of the poem which was very much in tune with the evening.

The Apostle John managed both to define and illustrate love in one text: – “This is love: not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1John Chapter 4 verse 10).   He would have recognised the sacrificial element in the love of the frontline workers and encouraged them (and us) to open our hearts to be permanently filled with the love of Jesus.