Seven choirs from nine churches will join together Sunday for the Light of the World hymn and choral festival at First United Methodist Church.

"It's always thrilling to get that many voices," said Eric Wicks, music director and organist at First United Methodist.

The festival is coordinated by the Butler Organ Group, an informal club of church organists.

Two similar festivals have been held in recent years, and the name changes each time, Wicks said.

"This year, it's to recognize that we are going to support the Lighthouse (Foundation), and the hymns that we'll be singing all talk about Jesus as he's the light of the world," said Wicks, referring to a name used to describe Jesus in the New Testament.

Singers hail from First United Methodist, St. Paul Roman Catholic, First English Lutheran, St. Peter's Anglican, St. Andrews United Presbyterian, Meridian Presbyterian, Covenant Presbyterian, St. Mark's Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran churches.

George Armstrong, organist at St. Peter's Anglican Church, jump-started the Butler Organ Group when he began making introductions about five years ago, Wicks said.

The group has about 10 names on the roster and about five core members.

"There are so many churches in Butler, but you know, as musicians, we get really busy in our churches," Wicks said. "It's easy to go a long time without having any connection to the other churches."

It's always positive when churches partner, and music is an ideal way to form those bonds, he said.

"It's really easy for people to come together and sing hymns and listen to choirs," he said. "You don't really feel like this is ecumenical. It builds bridges in a really positive way."

The group meets about once a month for fellowship and to join together musically.

The organists have played together at events including the Ring in the Arts! celebration in Butler and the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts.

A variety of denominations are represented, but they are all passionate about their faith and music, Armstrong said.

"I'm very committed in the church, to Jesus Christ," Armstrong said. "It's a worship experience for me, and I get great joy out of leading the music."

Members of the Butler Organ Group worked together to provide a mix of classic and modern hymns.

The show opens with all choirs singing the first verse of Tallis' Canon before splitting into sections to sing the hymn as a round.

"The text of the opening hymn goes back to the early days of Christian worship," said Beverly Antis, organist and choir director at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

The newest hymn was written in the last year or two, Wicks said.

Hymn writing is undergoing a "renaissance," said Wicks, adding more modern-day musicians are writing that type of worship music.

"I think people miss some of the old hymns," he said, since contemporary praise music is now so prevalent.

Throughout the show, each choir will sing a selection, interspersed with organ performances and a program by Dan Borchert, executive director of the Lighthouse Foundation.

The words to the hymns will be projected above the stage so the audience can fully participate, Armstrong said.

"They will be looking up and standing up as opposed to leaning over a hymnal," Armstrong said.

The melodies are easy to follow, and most of the hymns are well-known, he said.

"It's quite a supercharged event," Armstrong said. "When you have a hundred singers onstage singing away and the congregation going, it's a very uplifting experience."

<B>WHAT:</B> The Light of the World hymn and choral festival<B>WHEN: </B>Organ prelude begins at 7 p.m.; concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday<B>WHERE: </B>The sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 215 N. McKean St.<B>INFO: </B>No admission cost, but donations will benefit The Lighthouse Foundation. For information, call First United Methodist Church at 724-283-6160.