Worshippers raise their hands in praise at the 193rd annual meeting of the Jamaica Methodist District at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew. They are meeting under the theme: 'We all have this ministry to energise the district NOWW - nurture, outreach, worship and witness'. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

In Psalm 100, David instructs Christians to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord", and so it was last Sunday at the National Indoor Sports Centre, located at Independence Park, along Arthur Wint Drive, St Andrew.

The occasion was the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas 13th Annual Conference afternoon programme.

With its focus on 'Families Energising the District NOWW (Nurture, Outreach, Worship, Witness)', the congregation, which comprised members from across the island, was roused by a spiritual awakening through songs, dance, speech and instrumental music. This was delivered by students of the Methodist Church Sunday schools and high school.

The first spiritual dose was given with the flute, played by Ruth Anne Benguche and Stephanie and Angelique Mullings. This St Andrew High School for Girls and Westwood High School combination delighted the congregation with a soothing rendition of Nearer My Lord, followed by a more upbeat Rejoice in the Lord.

Great performances

Next came a dub poem, titled 'We Want Peace', performed by members of the Balmagie Sunday School. The five girls, accompanied by a young male drummer, were expressive in their demand for peace. The St Mary-based Beecham Hill Dance Troupe, who performed to a medley of CeCe Winans' songs, closed the segment dubbed Families at Church.

Dressed in white pleated skirts (girls) and red pants (boys) with red and white tops, they danced with an air of freshness. Upon completion, they exited the stage, unaware of the impact their performance had on the congregation whose applause followed them to their seats.

Then came the school family (Excelsior High, Morant Bay High, St Andrew High, York Castle High and Westwood High) and with them the NOWW moved to another level.

Rohanna Bolton's and Audlington Wilson's (The Excelsior High School) performance of Another Time was expressive and capti-vating and their dramatic pose at the end further encouraged the audience to give a standing ovation.

The ladies from Cecelio Avenue gave a spirited performance of I Wanna be more Than an Ordinary Servant. York Castle High School performed Holy, Holy is Our God and Sing Up the Lord is Here. And, armed with file jackets in their hands and jippy jappa hats on their heads, the girls from Westwood High in Trelawny were angelic in their delivery of Love at Home.

Yet again, another adjustment was made to the programme allowing Chelsea Smith and Sasharine Taylor from the National Children's home to minister through a song and a poem.

Finally, the 'Excelsior Five' (George Jobson, Roneil O'Connor, Hasheem Dixon, Audlington Wilson and Nevick Robinson) made their way to the stage.

Ignited congregation

On their first note of Vocal Union's Sing with Our Hearts, the congregation was ignited. And as the youngsters unleashed wonderful harmony, the audience responded with hand-clapping and foot-stomping. And on the young men's final note, an audience member said , "The melody alone would have convinced St Peter to allow them into Heaven".

The Performing Arts Ministry was preceded by the singing of praise songs, a hymn, a prayer and a welcome message. The Reverends Oral Thomas and Christine Gooden-Benguche led the programme and Alison Anderson, chief executive officer of Child Development Agency, spoke briefly on 'The Families in the Community'.