Ecumenical choir sign of harmony

On Dec. 21 in Schuylerville, Christmas bells will be pealing and organ music swelling as soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices from eight different church choirs herald the holidays for the 25th year in a row.

For the first time, the ecumenical choir will sing at Notre Dame/Visitation Church, which seats around 450 people. According to Ellen Varner, choir director for the parish, everyone there is excited.

"We have been practicing at Notre Dame/Visitation every week since the end of September," she noted.

Dale Brockway, a member of the United Methodist Church of Schuylerville, has been the only director of the ecumenical choir since its inception. The group began as an effort to promote deeper understanding among the various denominations.

The choir is an offshoot of the Greater Schuylerville Ecumenical Group, which fosters community service through a local food pantry and holiday collections for needy families. Proceeds from a good-will collection at the musical presentation will go toward such efforts.

The ecumenical choir performs only twice a year -- at Christmas and Easter. The Christmas program includes a prayer service, liturgical readings, traditional carols and a cantata accompanied by brass, percussion and wind instruments.

"We've always had a very ecumenical community here. People look forward to this every year," Mrs. Varner said.

Ms. Brockway added, "The residents of this community have always been open to discussions and have a wonderful awareness of what 'community' stands for. People from all the different faiths and beliefs support this choir. The ecumenical choir cements the overall feeling of community here in Schuylerville."

(The performance at Notre Dame/Visitation church begins at 7 p.m. For information, call 695-3391. Participating churches include Ft. Miller Reformed Church, Old Saratoga Reformed Church of Schuylerville, Bacon Hill Reformed Church, Quaker Springs Methodist Church, United Methodist Church of Schuylerville, Trinity/Wilton Methodist Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and Notre Dame/Visitation parish.)

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