Mormon Voice
Mormons, Catholics Celebrate Christ with 20th Anniversary Concert
By Heather Hemingway on December 28, 2013 at 10:30 PM
One of the highlights of the concert was the Children's Choir. The adult choir is on the right.
Local Mormons and Catholics filled the air with their heavenly chorus in the 20th Annual Christmas Concert at the Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community Church December 15th in Katy.
Epiphany's sanctuary, which holds 1600 people, was completely full as members of the community flocked to hear the music and message of Christ.
Epiphany's Director of Music JM Mercado, who worked behind the scenes of the performance, said the concert "is becoming a tradition," especially since the church members, who are right across the street from each other, have become good friends.
For me, it was worth venturing out in the cold night as my soul was warmed with the angelic music from the adult and children's choirs and orchestra. The concert featured 13 songs of both familiar and obscure Christmas carols with piano, organ, and orchestral accompaniment.
Although everything was superb, my favorite was a medley arranged by the choir's director Jennie Larsen of the highlights over the past 20 years. Jennie, a mother of five and BYU graduate, has a degree in music media and enjoys arranging music. Her arrangement included everything from African chants with drums, Negro Spirituals, Gospel's "Oh Happy Day," Handel's 'Messiah,' English tunes, and American classics.
Other highlights included the children's choir, the 'Noel Basque' organ solo played on a pipe organ, and a barbershop quartet, rich with personality in their Santa hats and red ties as they shook their jingle bells to the beloved Christmas song.
Katy Stake Music Chair Jennie Larsen said this choir began practicing every Sunday beginning in mid-October. The choirs featured 130 adults, 100 children, and a 35-piece orchestra. With those helping behind the scenes including additional directors, accompanists, stage crew, sound technicians, and programs and poster design, the total number of people involved was just under 300, Jennie said.
Linda Nuttall, a choir performer from the Katy Stake and choir director for her local congregation, said she has been in this combined choir off and on for the past decade. Prior to 2010, Linda recalls that the performances alternated every year from the Katy Stake Center to the Epiphany Catholic Church. Now, the concert is permanently at Epiphany since they have more room.
"It was such an honor to sing with this choir," Linda said. "It was one of the highlights of my life."
Linda, who enjoyed rubbing shoulders with "so many talented people," said the choir is made up of volunteers from the community–not just Mormons and Catholics.
Besides the music, a wonderful narration was given, which told of Christ's birth and life as well as the background of how the Christmas concert began 20 years ago. Apparently, retired Father Jack Dinkins of the Epiphany Catholic Church and former Katy Stake President Michael Pickerd had the idea to join their faiths in music as they celebrated Jesus' birth. The idea stuck and lasted 20 years featuring more than 10 directors from both faiths.
I loved when the narrator read a quote by St. Francis of Assisi whose actions emulated Christ's when he said:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
And where there is sadness, joy."
Throughout the program, candles were progressively lit until the whole sanctuary was full of light, reminding me of John 8:12 where Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Reverend Father Tom Lam's closing remarks were beautiful and accurate when he said the concert had been that of an angel choir, sending the angel's message: "seek Bethlehem; seek Christ."
It was no surprise that at the concert's end, the audience erupted in a standing ovation as we all felt the true Spirit of Christmas–that great joy brought from the Babe of Bethlehem, the prophesied Messiah, who came as the greatest gift in history.
Heather Hemingway
LDS Church member and mother Heather Hemingway (Not an official LDS blog)
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