INDIA 'Singing Cross' brings together Christians of different denominations April 1, 2009 | IB06968.1543 | 406 words Text size
CHENNAI, India (UCAN) -- About 1,000 people from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions came together to attend an Easter choir program that stressed Christian unity in Chennai, southern India. The ecumenical choir performing at the ‘Singing Cross’ musical worship event "It is great to stand arm in arm with fellow Christians and sing songs to glorify God," said Anna Sebastian, 34, a Protestant lead singer of the 100-strong choir formed to celebrate the Lenten season. Ecumenical Fellowship, a group based in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state, organized the March 28 multilingual event, titled "Singing Cross." The annual ecumenical concert was first organized in 2001. Choir members are mostly students and come from the Church of South India, the Evangelical Church of India, the Salvation Army, and from the Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Mar Thoma Syrian and Orthodox Syrian Churches. When performing, they stand on a cross-shaped platform and sing traditional Easter hymns and choruses. The programs last about two hours. Varghese Mathew, 81, a founding member of Ecumenical Fellowship, said they plan each concert as "a worship event, not an entertainment program." "It aims to enable fellowship among Christians in Chennai," he said. The Orthodox Syrian Church member added that the idea for such ecumenical cooperation came up 25 years ago and has resulted in numerous musical events. One is a Christmas choir whose members form the shape of a Christmas tree while performing. The members of Ecumenical Fellowship not only sing together, but also meet regularly for monthly Bible sessions and sharing on issues related to Christianity. Joining such an ecumenical initiative "helps our students to develop a better understanding of the Christian faith" and go beyond the limits of their own traditions, said Sister Prabha, whose students sang in the choir this year. Her congregation, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, runs Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in the city. Jeslet Susannah and Younus Magdalene, university students and members of the Evangelical Church of India, said they were thrilled by their first experience of singing in the choir. Christians were not the only ones in the choir, however. Archana Narayanan, a Hindu student from a college choir, said she enjoyed singing in the event and also understood what the songs meant. She said she would participate in the program again in the future. Narayanan was among eight Hindu students who sang in the concert. Several leading Christians, including Evangelical Church of India Bishop Ezra Sargunam and Salesian Archbishop Malayappan Chinnappa of Madras-Mylapore, attended the event. http://www.ucanews.com/2009/04/01/singing-cross-brings-together-christians-of-different-denominations/
