最美人间四月天——别开生面的庆生会（邱玲<亚特兰大华人基督教会北堂>）（美中報道）
“小时候，生日是一个鸡蛋，母亲为我攒下。
长大后，生日是一碗寿面，太太为我端上。
后来啊，生日是一个蛋糕，儿女为我预备。
而现在，生日是一个Party，彩虹中心为我们一起庆祝。”
4月27日早上十点，彩虹康乐中心的彩球飘飘，人气满满，喜气洋洋。在巨大的金心前，这位70多岁老寿星的感言好像诗人余光中的《乡愁》，但他没有抒发挥之不去的乡愁，只想表达内心美好的祝愿，以朴素简单的发言赢得了热烈的掌声：“人生只有三天：昨天、今天、明天,让我们过好每一天，相信明天会更好！”
给四月的寿星们送礼物、吹蜡烛、切蛋糕之后,弟兄姐妹们还送上意外的惊喜：一台原创圣诗音乐会“最美人间四月天”。一开场就气势恢宏，彩虹中心福音班的大合唱经典圣诗《你真伟大》。指挥是亚特兰大华人基督教会北堂诗班的章小白姐妹，只见她气定神闲，微笑指挥十几个年长的弟兄姐妹，最年轻的姐妹义工五十多岁，年纪最大的弟兄已近百岁，还有坐在轮椅上的姐妹，昂首挺胸、同声歌唱：
“主啊我神我每逢举目观看,你手所造一切奇妙大工”！
从这些白发苍苍的老人身上，我看到了创造主奇妙的大工，因为他们活到老、学到老,在彩虹中心不仅学唱歌跳舞，学电脑手机，还学圣经唱诗，让我由衷地钦佩。
随后一个半小时的节目，如彩虹一般多姿多彩：充满盼望的小合唱《寻找就必寻见》，和谐美妙的诗篇100《普天下当向耶和华欢呼》、优雅超群的原创独唱《我灵歌唱》、赏心悦目的对对伴舞、行云流水的长袖汉舞《瑶光赋》、铿锵有力的蒙古舞《嘎达梅林》和《四岁的海骝马》，青年三人组的钢琴、小提琴合奏和独唱《诗篇42篇》，还有筝笛合奏原创歌曲《生如夏花》，又一起民乐合奏诗篇84篇《你的居所何等可爱》，有一个孩子杨杰罗姆交换表演两种不同的乐器，真是多才多艺。那时，男女老少跨代同堂献艺，把彩虹中心变成了感恩赞美的圣殿。
音乐会的发起人朱临湘姐妹告诉我：通过创作和组织圣诗音乐会，希望创造机会培育后进，在教会、老人中心等不同地方用艺术来传讲福音赞美神！
多年来，临湘创作了不少圣诗，作曲并演唱诗篇23篇《耶和华是我的牧者》，不仅用歌声诉说神的带领奇妙，也在会后告诉我，自去年亚城第一届原创音乐会后，她就开始筹备今年第二届的原创圣诗音乐会，演唱场地从不同教会找到彩虹中心，又从奥古斯塔和亚特兰大找到七个不同教会的弟兄姐妹，碰巧亚特兰大华人基督教会司琴田佳奕的先生在彩虹中心当护士，又碰巧偶遇美国钢琴老师Mischa Yoo，她和韩国先生成立非盈利机构Anthem Music Misions，把天堂音乐带给被遗忘的人，以巡回演出来传扬福音。这场圣诗音乐会的筹备过程中，跨教会的演员们虽然没有多少机会在一起彩排，但弟兄姐妹们同感一灵，配合默契，互相帮补，应验了诗篇23篇的宝贵应许：“耶和华是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏。”(诗篇23:1)
观看音乐会的老人们，有的聚精会神，有的照常吃喝，有的小声交谈，虽然现场有些吵杂，中间也出现意外，但演员们都专心演出，尽心尽力把节目献给天上的父，也送给现场的伯父伯母、叔叔阿姨、老师和朋友们。优雅大方的主持人之一亚特兰大华人圣经教会的雷雅淇姐妹因过敏而红肿的脸，当天竟然好转，因吃了过敏药而不可遏制的犯困，在演出期间也消失了，经历了出人意外的平安。云梦舞团的舞蹈演员万红姐妹也感慨地说，“平常，我们觉得做义工，是给别人送温暖和帮助，殊不知自己是最大的受益者。看到这么多寿星积极向上、阳光灿烂,百岁的老寿星都这么开朗健康，让我备受激励和鼓舞！”
奥古斯塔华人基督教会的女高音田粟丰姐妹演唱《燕子》之前，娓娓道来一个感人故事：“我的小名叫燕子,从小喜欢唱着燕子的歌，但来美国以后，没有见过燕子。在新冠疫情期间，妈妈在国内病重，我无法回去看望妈妈，正在心里忧伤的时候，突然在后院看到了燕子，不是几只，而是几十只，在低空盘旋，好像妈妈在呼唤我的小名，大大安慰了我。两天后，我妈妈去世了，但从此，我更加相信神是个灵，祂接妈妈去了更美的家乡。”
接着，在Misha婉转动听的琴声伴奏下，身穿绿色礼服的田粟丰，唱起由她翻译的法语歌曲《燕子》，用清丽悠扬的花腔女高音，音域宽广如燕子翻飞，呼唤我们的灵魂一起飞向更美的家乡、永恒的国度：
“燕子在晴朗的晨空，展开自由的翅膀。飞向遥远的地方，那呼唤着她的国度。呼唤她的国度，有阳光有茉莉花。燕子她飞啊飞去。”
在泪眼模糊中，我默默祈祷：“愿在彩虹活动中心的老人家们，心灵如燕子一般，听到天父的呼唤，进入光明的国度，那里不仅有阳光、有茉莉花,还有永不止息的生命活水、永远长青的生命树、永远美丽的荣耀家乡。”
“最美人间四月天”第2届亚特兰大原创圣诗音乐会参演嘉宾
策划&总监：朱临湘博士摄影：江山
筹办：雅歌诗社、彩虹中心和菁英学者学校美术俱乐部
The Most Enchanting April
—A Unique Birthday Celebration
Qiu,Ling(Atlanta Chinese Christian Church North)
"When I was young,my birthday was an egg,saved by my mother for me.
As I grew older,my birthday was a bowl of longevity noodles,served by my wife for me.
Later on,my birthday became a cake,prepared by my children for me.
And now,my birthday is a Party,celebrated together at the Rainbow Center."
At10am on April27th,colorful balloons floated in the Rainbow Senior Center,bustling with excitement and joy.Before the grand golden heart,the70-year-old birthday star's words resembled the poet Yu,Guangzhong's"Nostalgia,"yet he expressed no lingering homesickness;he simply conveyed heartfelt wishes,earning enthusiastic applause with his plain and simple speech:"Life only has three days:yesterday,today,tomorrow.Let us live each day well,believing tomorrow will be better!"
After giving gifts to the April celebrants,blowing out candles,and cutting the cake,brothers and sisters also surprised everyone with an original hymn concert titled"The Most Enchanting April."The event began magnificently with the Gospel Class Choir of Rainbow Center singing the classic hymn"How Great Thou Art."The conductor,Sister Zhang,Xiaobai from Atlanta Chinese Christian Church North(ACCCN),led over a dozen elderly brothers and sisters to sing together.The youngest sister was over fifty years old,the oldest brother nearly a hundred,and there was also a sister in a wheelchair,all singing confidently in unison:
"O Lord my God,when I in awesome wonder,consider all the works Thy hand hath made."
From these elderly people with gray hair,I witnessed the marvelous works of the Creator,as they continued learning and growing at the Rainbow Center—not only in singing and dancing but also in using computers,phones,and studying the Bible and singing the hymns.It deeply impressed me.
The next hour and a half unfolded like a colorful rainbow:hopeful small choruses like"Seek and You Shall Find,"harmonious Psalm choruses,exquisite original solos,delightful paired dances,flowing Chinese sleeve dances,powerful Mongolian horse dances,a singer,piano and violin duet by three young people performing Psalm42,children playing traditional Chinese instruments together in an original song"Life Like Summer Flowers,"and a group performance of Psalm84with traditional Chinese instruments.One child even swapped to perform with two different instruments,showcasing their diverse talents.In this moment,people of all ages and backgrounds came together,turning the Rainbow Center into a temple of gratitude and praise.
The concert's organizer Sister Zhu,Linxiang told me:Through creating and organizing hymn concerts,she hopes to cultivate opportunities to spread the gospel and praise God through art,nurturing talents within the church and among seniors.
Over the years,Linxiang has composed numerous hymns,including Psalm23"The Lord is My Shepherd,"and not only sings about God's wonderful guidance but also shared with me that since last year's inaugural original music concert in Atlanta,she has been preparing for this year's second hymn concert.She reserved the stage at the Rainbow Center,and gathered brothers and sisters from seven different churches in Augusta and Atlanta,including Sister Tian,Jiayi,Atlanta Chinese Christian Church's organist whose husband works at the Rainbow Center,and unexpectedly met Mischa Yoo,a pianist who co-founded the nonprofit Anthem Music Missions with her Korean husband,bringing heavenly music to the forgotten and spreading the gospel through the touring performances cross America.Throughout the preparation of this hymn concert,participants from different churches may not have had many opportunities to rehearse together,yet they felt united in the same Spirit,complementing one another and supporting one another,fulfilling the precious promise of Psalm23:1,"The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want."
While watching the concert,some elderly attendees were engrossed,some casually ate and drank,and some chatted softly.Despite the noises and unexpected interruptions,the performers remained focused,dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the heavenly Father and sharing the program with uncles,aunts,teachers,and friends there.One of the elegant hosts,Sister Lei,Yaqi from the Atlanta Chinese Bible Church,had a swollen face due to allergies,but miraculously recovered that day and no longer felt drowsy from antihistamines.The dance performer from Yunmeng Dance Troupe,Sister Wan,Hong,also expressed her thoughts,"Usually,we think volunteering warms and helps others,but little do we know that we are the ones benefiting the most.Seeing so many seniors positive and radiant,even the centenarian birthday stars are so cheerful and healthy,inspires and encourages me greatly!"
The Sister Sophia Tian from the Augusta Chinese Christian Church sang"Swallow"(Yanzi)with a touching story:"My Chinese nickname is Swallow.I loved singing songs about swallows since childhood,but after coming to the United States,I never saw a swallow.During the COVID-19pandemic,when my mother fell seriously ill back home,I couldn't go back to see her.I was feeling sad.Suddenly,in the backyard,I saw swallows—not just a few,but dozens,flying low and making circles,as if my Mom was calling my nickname,greatly comforting me.Two days later,my mother passed away,but since then,I have believed more firmly that God is the Spirit;He took my mother to a more beautiful homeland."
Accompanied by Misha's melodious piano,dressed in a green gown,Sophia Tian sang the French song"Swallow"she translated,using a clear and melodious soprano voice that soared like a swallow,calling our souls to fly towards a more beautiful homeland,the eternal kingdom:
"The swallow in the clear morning sky,spreads its wings freely
Flying towards a distant place.That calls to the kingdom.Called to the kingdom,where has the sunshine and jasmine.The swallow flies there,and flies away."
Through tear-filled eyes,I silently prayed,"May the elderly at the Rainbow Center are freed the souls flying like swallows,hearing our Heavenly Father's calling,entering the bright kingdom where has not only sunshine and jasmine,but also the eternal living water,the evergreen tree of life,and the forever beautiful homeland of glory.”
Piano：Jiayi Tian Clarinet:Yuhan He Alto Saxophone:Dexter Cole
Pianist Mischa Yoo:Mysterious Heaven
(Translated by ChatGPT,edited by Qiu,Ling and Zhu,Linxiang)
Program Director:Dr.Linxiang Zhu
Sponsors:Song of Songs Society,Rainbow Senior Center and Elite Scholars Academy Art Club
Photographer:Shan Jiang
