Dr Lyell Heise conducts The Promise and the Institute of Worship Orchestra in Hymns and Songs of Praise. Photo: Ann Stafford
The 2011 Avondale Homecoming weekend climaxed with a program entitled Hymns and Songs of Praise, featuring The Promise vocalists, a 50-piece orchestra and extensive audience participation. The conductor was Dr Lyell Heise, director of the South Pacific Division Institute of Worship at Avondale. Many thought it one of the most impressive and spiritually focused Saturday-evening Homecoming events for some years.
Dr Lloyd Willis, Professor of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University, Texas, presented the Homecoming Sabbath sermon. This was a special occasion for Lloyd and his wife Edith (Bradbury). After serving overseas for most of their careers, they were returning to Australia on the fiftieth anniversary of Lloyd’s graduation from Avondale in 1961. Lloyd and Edith taught in India for 25 years, mainly at Spicer Memorial College, where Lloyd became Chair of Theology and Edith taught English and music. They have been at Southwestern Adventist University, Texas, for the past 23 years, where Lloyd was Chair of Religion for nineteen years, and still teaches full-time in the fields of Old Testament, biblical backgrounds and archaeology. For a number of years he was also involved in an archaeological project in Jordan with significant implications for the date of the Exodus. Until her retirement, Edith directed Southwestern’s program in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages. Lloyd was honoured at Homecoming with the Alumni Association citation for a graduate of 1961.
The Alumnus of the Year Award went to Alan Thrift, who received a standing ovation in recognition of his devotion to musical excellence and his gifts as an educator and mentor. Alan’s 41 years on the Avondale staff makes him one of the longest-serving former staff members of the College. Alan graduated from Avondale in 1951 and was appointed head of music in 1957. The excellence of his choral work was widely acclaimed. He conducted the Avondale Symphonic Choir in the first television broadcast of a choral program in Sydney, and his choirs toured in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. He retired in 1990, but returned to direct the Avondale Singers from 1998 to 2004. In retirement he directed the Sydney Male Choir for twenty years, with concert tours in Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Ireland. He also directed the Lake Macquarie City Ladies Choir and the Avondale Memorial Chorale.
During the mission segment on Sabbath morning, Iris Landa (1961), for many years Director of Academic Advising and Orientation at La Sierra University, California, told of her retirement project to brighten with happy murals the surroundings of people in depressed international environments. She had recently returned from a project transforming the walls of a dour women’s prison in Moldova. Pastor John Chan (1961) spoke as a representative of past students who embraced the Seventh-day Adventist faith while at Avondale. Student leaders of 2011 told of current students’ dedication to mission.
Tags: Homecoming