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There has been much study and discussion over recent years on the topic of Christian Unity. Leaders of various Christian Churches have met and discussed ways of bringing about the unification of Christianity.

Pope John Paul II wrote an encyclical letter on the subject, "Ut Unum Sint" ("That All May be One"), endorsing unification.

Such a task may seem to be beyond the ability of the average person, unskilled in the subtleties of theology and dogma. But we should not underestimate the subtle ways in which the Lord calls us to make a difference.

In our own area, Christians of all denominations are taking steps to understand not only fellow Christians, but also members of non-Christian traditions.

One method is through music. There exists, in our area, a choral group composed of singers who form the Festival Celebration Choir, an ecumenical group devoted to promoting Christian Unity by providing to audiences both sacred and secular music.

Each Monday, evening, the choir meets at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville for a rehearsal. Charles Jones, the organist/ choir director at St. Pius, is the group's director; Maury Castro, organist at Troy's First United Presbyterian Church, provides accompaniment on the grand piano.

Currently the choir consists of 59 members, male and female, representing 38 Christian churches in the Capital District. Most have been participating in this effort for many years.

Since 1990, the Festival Celebration Choir has presented two concerts a year. The first is in December and centers on Advent and Christmas music; the second, a spring concert, takes place in June.

The choir presents abbreviated versions of the concerts at nursing homes. It has also sung at ecumenical services sponsored by the Capital Area Council of Churches.

(Brother Robert Gilroy, CSC, is chair of the Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Albany Diocese and a member of the Capital Area Council of Churches.)

(The Festival Celebration Choir 's Spring Concert will be June 6, 3 p.m., at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville. The theme is "Living Waters." The group is the successor to the Festival of Praise Choir formed in 1971.)

(05/13/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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