The 19th annual Community Christmas Concert will be presented at
8 p.m. Dec. 6. 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.
The 19th annual Community Christmas Concert will be presented at 8 p.m. Dec. 6. 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 evening of inspiring holiday music had its beginnings nearly two decades ago as a performance by and for local Mormon families. Word of the event spread, and friends from other churches began to attend, so the focus changed to making it a truly “community” event.
Once again the concert is co-sponsored by St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church, making the event a witness to the ideal of Christian unity: members of two very different traditions are coming together to share the Christmas spirit with each other and provide a gift of entertainment for the whole community.
Many local groups are contributing their talents to make “The Heritage of Christmas” a success: Gilroy High School Choir, South County Children’s Choir, Zion Youth Choir, South Bay Suzuki String Group, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Bell Choir, St. Catherine’s Celebration Choir, St. Catherine’s Parent-Child Choir, Juz’ Cuz’, Morgan Hill LDS Choir and San Benito High School Choir.
Although the particular musical numbers were not available by deadline, Concert Coordinator Bille Grande said the featured music will include a variety of pieces, both traditional and contemporary. The evening will conclude with the gathered choirs leading the audience in singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Joan Locsin, Parish Musician at St. Catherine, asks, “What better way is there to celebrate Christmas than with members of South County’s other religious groups?” Also reflecting on the occasion was President Derrell R. Foote, Morgan Hill State President of the LDS Church: “Over the years we have developed a wonderful working relationship with our co-sponsor, St. Catherine. They have been great to work with, and we would like to invite the entire community to come and start the Christmas Season with this enjoyable annual tradition.”
Dec. 6 also marks a special day on the traditional Christian calendar: the feast of St. Nicholas. This bishop lived in 4th century Myra, a part of modern Turkey.
There are many legends concerning his generosity. One concerns his secretly leaving bags of gold on the doorsteps of poor families’ homes. The gold was intended to provide dowries for girls in danger of being sold into prostitution. Others tell of his dropping money down the chimneys of poor children; it often landed in their stockings which were drying before the fire – hence our Christmas Stocking custom.
Nicholas became widely popular in the Middle Ages and was considered the patron saint of many causes, including prisoners, sailors and children. After the Reformation interest in him waned in Protestant countries, except Holland, where he was called “Sinterklass.” Dutch colonists took his traditions to America, where he became the kindly Santa Claus, closely associated with Christmas. In the United Kingdom he is known as Father Christmas.
More information is available on the Internet at www.stnicholascenter.org. This site is operated by a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of St. Nicholas, encouraging the observance of his feast day and providing educational resources for schools and families. It recounts stories and lists special events dedicated to St. Nicholas as well as offering gift merchandise in his memory.
