Leaving-Donaldsons

Andrew and Wendy Donaldson leave us after five years.

Here is a bio of Andrew as appears on the website associated with a WCC book he edited (‘Hosanna’ ecumenical songs for justice and peace ) and which was published in 2016: (Photo taken during one of the recording sessions for the ‘HosannaSongs’ website at the ecumenical center).

“Andrew Donaldson is a pastoral musician, writer and composer. He has given workshops on worship and music in many parts of the world, including South Korea, Indonesia, Germany, Hungary and Scotland, as well as in the USA and Canada. Andrew has written songs and hymns for many collections in North America and Europe.
From 2011 to 2016 he was Worship Consultant to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, a missionary posting of the United Methodist Church, USA. Along with the members of worship planning committees, he helped accompany and enliven daily prayer at both the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica in 2011, and the 10th Assembly of the WCC in Busan, Korea, in 2013.
Between 1982 and 2011, he directed music at two Toronto area churches, and taught music both privately, and at Redeemer University and Tyndale College.

With his wife, Wendy Wyatt Donaldson, he founded and directed “Hilariter”, an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists specializing in performing and recording global song. He was co-editor of The Book of Praise for the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and contributed to its edition of The Book of Psalms. With Donald Anderson, he co-edited two editions of With Many Voices, a collection of global songs of faith (Binary Editions, Toronto).

He is a past-president of the Hymn Society in the US and Canada, and in 2007 received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Knox College, University of Toronto, for his work in congregational song.”

Here is a video – sampling Andrew’s music over the 5 years in Geneva – at our church and at the ecumenical centre and the Bossey institute.

Blessing and saying goodbye after worship, 03July2016
(watch to the end as “we will go out with joy” !!)