Local Churches Present Musical Events

South County residents have some great musical opportunities
coming up next weekend.
South County residents have some great musical opportunities coming up next weekend.

The annual South Valley Community Christmas concert is being held at 8pm on Friday, Dec. 8. This year it will be held at the Morgan Hill Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1790 East Dunne Ave.

This free evening of inspiring holiday music had its origin many years ago as an annual performance put on by the choir of the local Mormon Church. As word spread, members of other faith traditions began to attend. For the past several years it has become even more of a community event as St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church became the cosponsor in providing this gift of holiday musical entertainment.

Many local groups are scheduled to perform: Gilroy High School Chamber Singers, South Valley Sizuki String Academy, Zion (a youth choir from South San Jose), soloist Heidi Henderson, and choirs from the sponsoring churches.

Hal Hendrickson, speaking on behalf of the local LDS church, invites everyone to attend: “We are elated to cosponsor with St. Catherine this wonderful event to remember the Savior and celebrate his birth.”

n At 6pm on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Cavalry Chapel Gilroy (8955 Monterey Road) invites local residents to a free special performance presented by Potter’s Field Ministries.

The evening will be a “dramatic and musical presentation that expresses a vivid illustration of the relationship between God, the Master Potter, and us, the clay.”

Pastor Michael Rozell followed a Wall Street career before becoming an evangelist and followed his pottery hobby since the age of 14. His wife, Pam, had a successful Broadway and opera career before becoming a Christian concert artist. Together they appear at more than 100 churches a year across the nation.

They will create a unique audio/visual demonstration of God’s love and enduring concern. Their presentation has been called “a living parable that weaves testimony with songs interspersed with humorous stories and poignant vignettes, bringing to life the ancient truths of the Bible.” For more information call 848-1218.

n Perhaps the Bay Area’s best Christmas pageant will be held at Santa Clara First Baptist Church (3111 Benton St.) from 6:30-9pm, Dec. 7 to Dec. 11.

Guests will see a reenactment of the Nativity story as the church turns its grounds into the town of Bethlehem and Joseph and Mary search for a place to stay, surrounded by angels, wisemen, Roman soldiers, camels, and barnyard animals.

The 30-minute drama will be repeated five times nightly. For more information call 241-7635

n Many people receive extra calendars at this time of year. An ecumenical agency in New Jersey is soliciting 2007 calendars of any size to give to merchant seamen.

“The monotony of life at sea can become unbearable. It is so easy for a seafarer to lose track of time and their connection to those on land. A calendar helps to link them to events at home and enables them to create a diary of their travels, according to the Rev. Andy Moore, director of the International Seafarer’s. Calendars can be mailed to Moore at 1118 Export St., Port Newark, NJ  07114.