Joint Estonian-Ukrainian children’s Christmas concert

On Christmas Day, after the service at St John’s Church in Tallinn, an Estonian-Ukrainian concert took place, rooted in the summer language camp of our parish and Ukrainian young people on Saaremaa.

PIIA AASMÄE writes:

“On Christmas Day, right after the service, a small Christmas concert by a joint Estonian-Ukrainian choir took place. The concert was a wonderful continuation of the Estonian-Ukrainian language camp held in the summer, which was followed by a small performance at a school service at St John’s Church in Tallinn. Since then, both Estonians and Ukrainians found it hard to accept that the time spent together was coming to an end and it was time to go back to work.

Ukrainian Tetiana Klymenko, who took part in the camp, suggested organising a joint Christmas concert of the young people of St John’s parish in Tallinn and the children and young people of the Ukrainian Sunday School “Nadiia”. Sirli Karro, head of the children’s music group of St John’s parish, gladly accepted the proposal and got to work.

A repertoire was prepared, a place and free time for rehearsals were found, and singers were called together. Then came two months of practice: once in the music hall of the parish children’s church of St John’s, once at the Ukrainian Sunday school.

At the very end it turned out that the Trochynskyi family would also perform at our concert. Teacher Anni Nimme quickly prepared concert announcements, which were delivered to Ukrainians’ homes and posted around the city.

Teacher Jaan Tammsalu suggested ending the concert by eating cake together. A cake team was formed that spared no effort. There was to be no plastic tableware or anything random on the table. Little elves made 50 packages of gingerbread-shaped wax candles to thank and remember everyone involved.

And then a small Christmas miracle happened: six poinsettias knocked on the door, hoping to settle in our church. We had dreamed of six Christmas stars. And they came and found a place in the homes of the kind people who held this final concert.

As I left the church, I thought this was not the end. We will probably soon hear how the congregation can take part in the next event.”

Piia Aasmäe.

EELK Tallinna Jaani kogudus ja kirik