Songs of Many Faiths

The sun’s light looks a little different on this wall than it does on that wall, and a lot different on this other one, but it is still one light. ~Rumi

Today our Chancel Choir joined other ensembles of many faiths in concert, conveying our sense of the sacred. Carolyn Losos, Chair of Arts and Faith St. Louis, speaks of this “interfaith commemoration in music” as providing “an opportunity for reflection, unity, and peace and the transformational power of a shared music experience.” The concert began with The Interfaith Youth Chorus singing “Welcome the Stranger Here,” with lyrics derived from prose and poetry by area high school students. Paul Reuter, composer and lyricist, states that “Welcoming the stranger is a theme common to many religions, often with the admonition to remember that we too, or our ancestors, were once strangers in a foreign land. The stranger can also be someone in our own community from a different religion, race or economic background.” As we listened to sacred music of various faith groups, an accompanying video of these performers’ Houses of Worship allowed the audience to “visit” their sacred spaces. The Interfaith Youth Chorus returned near the end of the concert to sing a piece with themes from Psalm 133, “How good and pleasant it is when when we dwell together in unity.”

All religions. All this singing. One song. Peace be with you. ~Rumi