Tenth Anniversary interfaith event attracts over 350
Margie Dayley directs LDS children’s choir at annual interfaith event
The Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita hosted their annual “Let Us Sing Thanksgiving” event at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church, Sunday November 11, 2012 at 3pm. The crowd was an enthusiastic one filled with many young faces and a little more noise than usual because this year the music was focused on the children.
As in previous years each faith group would present a very short sermon followed by a musical number by a member/s of his/her congregation. This year the thanksgiving theme was “Giving thanks for freedom and remembering those who served.”
Carter Johnson and Ethan Everts sing as part of combined Interfaith Children’s Choir
The event started with all faiths in the audience singing “America the Beautiful” followed by a sermon by Reverend John Embree of Community Lutheran and a solo by young Lutheran, Jason Leland. The St. John’s Middle School Choir, Light of Unity Singers, LDS Santa Margarita Children’s Choir, and San Francisco Children’s Choir were all part of the children’s music.
Margie Dayley, Director of the LDS Children’s choir said, “When we told the parents that the children had this opportunity to sing at this interfaith event they were really excited. The children loved singing the melody of America’s patriotic hymns.”
Brenda Von Gremp directs adult Catholic choir as they perform at annual interfaith event
In his sermon, Reverend Canon John Taylor, Vicar, of St. John’s Episcopal, spoke about the importance of uniting together as Americans even though we might not agree on the results of the recent election. “That is what the interfaith council is all about. We want to celebrate our similarities and differences while promoting harmony and unity and fostering greater understandings between faiths said, Dave Daly, RSM Stake Interfaith Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As in previous years, the end of the program included singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth”, but this year the combined children’s choirs from all faiths sang the first verse followed by the entire audience joining them on the second verse. Deacon Carol Swanson of San Francisco Solano Catholic Church said, “Bringing the children seemed to really grow our audience. I don’t think we have ever had such a large crowd.”
