D/FW Community Celebrates Interfaith Music of the Season
Mary Ann Taylor
The second annual Share the Light musicale hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Duncanville on November 27, 2022, featured musical performers from around the metroplex. The interfaith event celebrated music with the unifying theme of Thanksgiving but also included Christmas music.
The program began with the clear, light voices of a children’s choir singing “Dona Nobis Pacem.” The piece is a round with a melody sometimes attributed to Mozart. The three words—Latin for “Give us peace”—are repeated throughout and set the perfect theme for the evening.
The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star brought a choir of four men and four women. Originally from Nigeria, the group sings in both English and native languages. They recently participated with the Credo Community Choir at the Moody Auditorium and other choirs in Shine! This brief video includes one of their selections from Share the Light as well.
Another interfaith group came from the DFW Family Church. The Sunflower Choir of 8 women sang “American the Beautiful.” Many of the vocalists hail from Japan.
Peyton Anderson played guitar as she sang “What Child Is This?” The father-son duo of Jason and David Holloway presented “I Heard Him Come” with voices and guitars.
Some performers played rather than sang. Rylee Noble, a professional violinist, was accompanied by Ashley Walker in “The First Noel.” Don Jones serves as the music director for University Church in Waxahachie. He played his own piano arrangements of “Mary, Did You Know?” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Spencer and Kalie Knaras played “Silent Night” in an organ-piano duet.
The Share the Light event introduces Light the World, an annual celebration of the Christmas season. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invite all “to transform Christmas into a season of service.” This site includes videos about service and the birth of Christ. For daily prompts about service ideas, text LIGHT to 71234.
For the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding counties, the Virtual Giving Machine offers links to 39 charities serving local needs. Giving is not just for Christmas, of course, so the link is active year-round.
An evening in November is a wonderful time to begin a wonderful season. Music is, by its nature, a sharing of love through talent. Each of us can enjoy it, even if not playing or singing. Likewise, we can also serve by sharing our time and means to honor the special season of Christmas now and throughout the year.
Mary Ann Taylor is communications director for the Dallas Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Duncanville.
