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Pre-Christmas Musical Afternoon – December 12, 2010

Roxanne Martel & Karl J. Raudsepp

Rev. Kyllikki Pitts

Greg Halpin & Matthew Raudsepp

 

Pre-Christmas Musical Afternoon

Inclement winter weather and the threat of freezing rain were unable to restrain the Christmas spirit at St John’s Estonian Ev. Lutheran Church on December 12. In what many hope will become an annual event, the Estonian community of Montreal came together to hear the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke and partake in some joyful Christmas music.

Roxanne Martel sang Lapse Tee and O come, O come, Emmanuel with her usual high quality performance, and the duo of Matthew Raudsepp & Greg Halpin harmonized inspired interpretations of Silent Night and O Holy Night. Karl J. Raudsepp, St John’s master of the organ, played works by Balbastre and Bach and accompanied the gathered in singing. The Gospel was read by Piret Koppel, Hille Viires, & Mary Männapso, and Rev. Kyllikki Pitts, read a touching short story called The Bird Feeder by Donna Gamache. Many thanks to Karl for putting the program together and for Kyllikki in leading the worship.

And of course there were Christmas carols, given a remarkably unique rendition by a congregation that sang in Estonian and in English simultaneously. Where else will you hear that?

One unfortunate casualty of the poor weather was the children’s presentation. Half a dozen little elves from the Saturday MES Kindergarten group had practiced diligently to be part of the Advent Candle Lighting ceremony, but the foul weather prevented them from coming.

More than forty people participated in the event. Afterwards, Rev. Pitts invited everyone to the church hall for Christmas goodies, coffee, and camaraderie.

Everyone is welcome to come celebrate the Christmas Eve service on December 24, at 14:00hrs.

Gary Kirchner

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Jõulueelne Muusikaline Pealelõuna – 12. detsembril, 2010

Roxanne Martel & Karl J. Raudsepp

Pastor Kyllikki Pitts

Greg Halpin & Matthew Raudsepp

 

Jõulueelne Muusikaline Pealelõuna


Halb ilm ja ähvardav jäävihm ei suutnud tõkestada jõulumeeleolu 12. detsembril Montreali Jaani kirikus. Montreali eesti ühiskond tuli kokku, et kuulata jõuluevangeeliumi, kaasa elada jõulumuusikale ja koos laulda jõululaule. Üldiseks sooviks oli, et säärane üritus peaks igal aastal korduma.

Roxanne Martel laulis Lapse tee ja O come, O come, Emmanuel oma tuntud meeldiva häälega. Duo Matthew Raudsepp & Greg Halpin esitasid Silent Night ja O Holy Night oma tõlgenduses. Karl J. Raudsepp, Jaani koguduse organist esitas Balbastre ja Bachi helitöid, samuti saatis orelil jõululaule. Jõuluevangeeliumi lugesid Piret Koppel, Hille Viires ja Mary Männapso. Õpetaja Kyllikki Pitts luges Donna Gamachi südantsoojendava lühijutu The Bird Feeder. Tänu õnnestunud pealelõuna eest kuulub Karlile, kes pani kokku programmi ja Kyllikkile, kes aitas selle sujuvalt läbi viia.

Ja siis muidugi jõululaulud, mida kokkutulnud laulsid samaaegselt nii inglise kui eesti keeles. Kus saab midagi niisugust mujal kuulda?

Üheks kahetsusväärseks halva ilma ohvriks langes laste esinemine. Pool tosinat väikest haldjat MES-i laupäevasest lasteaiast olid hoolega harjutanud oma osa advendi küünalde süütamise tseremoonias, aga kuri ilm tõmbas sellest kriipsu läbi.

Osavõtjate arv ulatus üle neljakümne. Peale programmi lõppu palus õpetaja Pitts kõiki alla saali, kus ootasid jõulumaiustused, kuum kohv ja sõpradega jutuajamine.

Jõuluõhtu jumalateenistus on 24. detsembril, kell 14.00, millest palutakse kõigil osa võtta.

Gary Kirchner

 

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New Estonian Consulate Opened in Quebec City

November 5, 2010

The official ceremony to open the new Estonian consulate in Quebec City took place on November 5, 2010 in the law offices of Joli-Coeur Lacasse www.jolicoeurlacasse.com. The Canadian and Estonian National Anthems were played followed by brief addresses from Quebec’s Deputy Minister of International Relations, Robert Keating, the Estonian Ambassador Väino Reinart, the Estonian Foreign Ministry representative Malle Talvet-Mustonen and finally by the new Honorary Estonian Consul in Quebec City, François-Xavier Simard (on the right).

Le Soleil