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For the first time in decades, Christians are teaming up on a community project in a village in the western part of the Albany Diocese.

A community crèche set to debut this Christmas inspired the ecumenism in Cherry Valley.

The town's population hovers around 540. Roads are sparse; many people live five to 15 miles from the village's only street light. Because church attendance has mirrored a decline in population and most church leaders are strained for time, the collaboration came as a surprise to some.

Still, more than a dozen volunteers are drumming up community support and planning the display, which will be placed in the center of town on Main Street, where the village Christmas tree usually stands.

Group support
Members of Cherry Valley's various churches - Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Assembly of God - already meet weekly for a prayer group, and all denominations support the local food pantry. But the crèche project is special.

"This was astounding to me," said Karen Walker, parish life associate at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, which serves Springfield Center, Sharon Springs and Cherry Valley.

The last time the churches met to this extent was more than 20 years ago, when about 50 people would gather weekly during Lent for Bible studies, said Daisy Ford, bereavement minister at St. Thomas and a parishioner for 50 years.

Ms. Ford hopes the restoration of St. Thomas' parish hall will provide a home for future meetings.

Even though the town's four other Christian communities depend on part-time ministers or retired priests, when the crèche project came along, their congregants still helped Mrs. Walker write letters to the village asking permission to erect the crèche and find pieces for the display.

The group decided on a traditional 11-figurine set - including the Holy Family, three kings and animals - instead of an artistic one. St. Thomas parish donated a manger. All that's missing is the actual crèche.

Fundraising
To cover the cost of the project, local artists will paint and personalize wooden ornaments that each church will sell. Mrs. Walker noted that this could become a community fundraiser for other causes in future years.

"This is opening up the door for us," said Ruth Snyder, a parishioner of Cherry Valley United Methodist Church and a resident for more than 40 years.

She applauded the Christian collaboration, adding that the area has matured since the days of Protestant-Catholic rivalries.

The crèche will be displayed from the first Sunday of Advent until January 6. The kickoff will be a concert event in December.

Despite some anxiety about religious items on public land, organizers remain positive.

"I have no doubt in my mind it's going to work," noted Mrs. Snyder. "We're bringing Jesus into our village."

(08/05/10)[[In-content Ad]]

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