NEWTON TWP. — The third annual Holy Hootenanny celebrated “unity,” which Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn claimed not to mean “sameness” but instead “oneness,” for many churches of different denominations came together as one to share the afternoon of Jan. 26 singing worship music at the Church of St. Benedict. Audience members were encouraged to sing and clap hands with featured church choirs of the Abington area.
“We are called to harmony,” said Quinn. “Maybe we don’t always get it right. Maybe we don’t always hit the right note; that doesn’t matter.”
Quinn emphasized the real reason for this gathering of churches is to remember the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), an international observance celebrated by the Abington Ecumenical Ministerium.
Mother Lou Divis, pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in Glenburn, was recently elected president of the ministerium by the local clergy.
“I’m learning as I go,” she said. “The ministerium is going to show me what to do.”
Choirs which performed were Our Lady of the Snows Church, Countryside Community Church, Servant Church of the Abingtons and First Presbyterian Church.
Pastor Mark Terwilliger introduced his choir which performed songs, “Can I Hold Baby Jesus?” and a traditional African-American spiritual “Jesus, Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child.” He accompanied his choir on guitar while his fellow church members Ron Jackson played the flute during the first song and the saxophone during the second. Fellow church member and musical director Bob Smith, of Ransom Twp., accompanied them on the piano.
“It’s good to have different people and different traditions in one place sharing different styles of music,” he said.
Archbald resident Nathan Worrell joined the choir of First Presbyterian Church after recently becoming a church member.
“I love it because my old church had a small choir,” he said. “It’s nice to be part of a bigger ensemble. The friendship is good.”
First Presbyterian Church performed two movements “Light Shines in the Darkness” by Michael John Trotta. Frank Jones, choir director, led choir members to sing the movement “The Lord is My Shepherd” and the movement “Gaelic Blessing” (Deep Peace).
Jared White, who joined in singing in this year’s hootenanny with the ensemble of Servant Church of the Abingtons, plays keyboard for the worship team and the youth group.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s fun. I like being part of a team and music.”
White sang spiritual songs of worship with his brother Caleb, along with pastor of music and community Mike Warner, his wife Denise Warner and daughter Caroline and friend Racquel Roedan.
