Sisters’ singing a delight

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34133, 21 April 1976, Page 16

Sisters’ singing a delight

“Love Song” was the title of the performance given by the Medical Mission Sisters before a large audience at the Theatre Royal last night.

But their song was not about the love of a man for a woman, nor was it about the love some men have for their money. It concerned the love which God has for his world, and the love that men can have for their fellow men through Jesus Christ.

Sisters Miriam Therese Winter, Loretta Whalen, and Mary Elizabeth Johnson, are members of the Medical Mission which was founded in 1925, in the United States, and which now has 700 missionaries in all parts of the world, serving in hospitals, dispensaries, and nursing schools. These three

sisters tour the world spreading the Gospel by word and in song, and telling something about the work of their mission. It was unfortunate that the first half was well on its way before someone found the switch for the spotlight, When you are singing to an audience about the Light of , j .. th.. World, it helps to have; some on your face. Their singing was a

delight all through, as was expected by those who were familiar with their many recordings. The audience, too, was in good voice, and joined in with a will with “The Wedding Banquet” and "Joy Is Like The Rain”; the first based on the parable of Jesus in Luke xiv: 16-23, and tlle second on the paradox expressed in the Bible j, etween j oy ant j pa i n . | Their songs were linked by ! direct readings from the

Scriptures, and during some of the pieces Margaret Norwood danced. Skilful though the dancing undoubtedly was, it was difficult to see how it added to the performance — if performance is the right word for what was (certainly in the first half) a spiritual experience. Other songs in the first [half included "In the Beginning,” with words from the opening part of John’s Gospel, “Sing of Birth,” “John” and “Spirit of God.” It was not difficult to see why some of the songs are not attempted by the average church congregation. A song like “So Full Of Song”, though sung with facility by the Sisters, would present almost insurmountable problems for the untrained singer.

The second half began with the Beatitudes in words and song. As Sister Whelan said. “Christ did not say in the Beatitudes. ‘Happy you will be when your mortgage is paid. He said you will be happy when you have poured yourself in justice to those of your brothers who have less than you’.” A film strip was shown which featured shots of the starving and suffering humanity in the world, and one of the Sisters quoted from Lamentations, “Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by.” Alas, at this point their message seemed to get a bit confused. From proclaiming a love which follows from an experience of Jesus Christ thev talked about a love which is “there for grabs.” And they even referred to that “Great Power” which is “out there somewhere.” They also described their work, but no mention was made of evangelistic work in with their medical help and the supplying of food. Perhaps this was an omission. The Sisters ended with a( group of five songs, and then enlisted the help of the audience with a rousing chorus entitled “Song of Glory.” —Michael Tearle>