Celebration of Song
Christmas music, whether sacred or secular, is as significant a part of the holiday season as tinsel and gingerbread.
Many people consider music to be a vital part of religious services, especially at this time of year.
“Music is an important part of worship,” said the Rev. Lisa Griffin, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ at 501 E. Main St. in Evans City.
“Music is an expression of our faith, and a lot of people are drawn closer to God through music,” Griffin said.
Cindy Mikalauskas, the choir director at Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road in Mars, said that an annual Christmas cantata has been a tradition at her church.
“I can't tell you how many years we have done it, but it's been a long time, probably about 15 years,” Mikalauskas said.
The Old Union choir has been practicing twice a week since the beginning of November for this year's Dec. 23 performance of “Let the Whole World Sing” cantata.
Mikalauskas said the choir and piano accompanist will perform seven movements and a reprise.
“I think it is very important,” she said. “It draws people closer to God through the lyrics and the music. Whenever you are singing, you are making a connection through song. You never know who you may be touching through song.”
And exposing younger people to some of the more obscure religious music is the reason behind the performance of “Sacred Music Choir” on Dec. 14 at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 218 E. Jefferson St.
Kathy Kemerer, an organ and piano teacher, and her husband, Daryl, a retired Butler School District music teacher, started the choir in 2011.
With Daryl as the sacred music director and Kathy accompanying on the organ, the Kemerers said the purpose of the group is to preserve and perform songs of sacred choral music from the past and introduce the music to young people.
“It actually grew out of our concerns that young people are not as exposed to older sacred music as they should be,” Kathy Kemerer said. “St. Peter's no longer has a choir, so we are stepping into the breach.”
The choir for the sacred music performance is made up of members from different churches and faiths and is always looking for more members, she said.
She added that the concept behind the performance is to get young people to sing some masterpieces of Christian music with older adults.
The feelings evoked by well-loved holiday music can be very intense.
“I think music is very important to the Christmas experience,” said the Rev. Keith Dunn, pastor of the Bakerstown United Methodist Church at 5760 William Flinn Highway in Gibsonia, Allegheny County. “It gives us a message of what the holiday is all about. It allows us to tap into the joy of the season.”
But the power of music to evoke strong feelings doesn't mean the feelings will always be pleasant, Dunn warned.
“Songs can bring very moving, powerful memories,” he noted. “If someone is going through something now that is bringing them sorrow, an expression of the holiday can be very painful.”
