STATE COLLEGE — On Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner St., will host the 12th annual ecumenical choral and handbell concert. The Songs of Our Time: A Lenten Meditation features 41 singers from 15 Centre County churches and two organizations, a handbell choir and local professional dance company VanDance Inc.
The ecumenical choir performance was created by Laurel Saunders, the director of music and arts ministries at Grace Lutheran Church, in 2010. Each piece in the performance was carefully selected by Saunders so that each song would be reflective of what is currently happening in the world this year.
Saunders, who lived in Germany for 11 years, developed her first ecumenical choir performance featuring two churches while abroad. This experience piqued her interest in finding ways to bring people together.
“There are so many things that unite us, yet we seem to be so focused — locally, nationally and internationally — on the things that divide us,” said Saunders. “I’m much more interested in building bridges between groups of people than building walls.”
Centre County is home to a wide range of people of varying religions and faiths. Within the Christian community, Saunders notes, there are many different sects, from Catholics to Lutherans, Baptists to non-denominational Christians and more.
“There are differences, and of course we treasure some of our different traditions and theological differences,” said Saunders. “But in the end, we all worship the same creator.”
Songs of Our Time: A Lenten Meditation aims “to connect people, who may otherwise not have the opportunity to connect by focusing on each person’s shared humanity and larger collective faith journey,” shared Saunders.
The hourlong program is structured in nine sections: mercy, hope, peace, love, unity, light, joy, life and celebration. Seven of the sections will feature pieces performed by the ecumenical choir, and two will be performed by the Bells of Grace, Grace Lutheran Church’s handbell choir that is led under the direction of Sarah Rodgers.
“I chose pieces that are all based on the premise that if you know mercy, have experienced mercy, all of the other things grow out of that,” said Saunders.
“There is deep joy in making music together. Both performing and enjoying music.”
Songs of Our Time: A Lenten Meditation guides the audience through both a faith journey and a life journey expressed through music, explained Saunders, noting that anyone and everyone, regardless of their beliefs, are welcome to come and take part in the experience of people connecting through music.
