CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL MARKS TWELFTH YEAR

PITTSBURGH – The Christian Leaders Fellowship will sponsor an evening of lessons and carols, including a blessing of our region, at the twelfth annual Christmas Festival at Heinz Hall, Monday, December 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“As we prepare for this celebration and the holiday season, we enjoin everyone to remember that the main reason we prepare for Christmas is the birth of Christ, our Savior,” said the Rev. James J. Chepponis, Director of the Office for Music Ministry at the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Musical Director for the event. “This service is a way for various faith communities to celebrate the Prince of Peace as we pray for peace in our world.”

The Heinz Hall program will feature ten choirs with nearly 400 singers and a 27-piece orchestra. The audience will also be able to join the combined choirs in singing several Christmas carols.

The participating choirs this year include:

Southwestern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod Choir, directed by Ms. Lori Greene, with Reverend William. Brewer, accompanist; Ingomar United Methodist Church, directed by Mr. Justin Muchoney, Mr. Don Megahan, accompanist; the Pittsburgh Presbytery Choir, directed by Mr. Michael P. Frank, III, Mr. Donald K. Fellows, accompanist; Pittsburgh Byzantine Catholic Archeparchial Choir, directed by Ms. Darlene Fejka; Fox Chapel Episcopal Church, directed by Mr. Clark Bedford; The Salvation Army, directed by Ms. Karin Rowe, Major Deborah Sedlar, accompanist; Pittsburgh Roman Catholic Diocesan Choir, directed by Reverend James J. Chepponis, Mr. Donald K. Fellows, accompanist; Greater Pittsburgh Greek Orthodox Choral Ensemble, directed by Mr. John Nychis, Mr. Donald K. Fellows, accompanist; Smithfield United Church of Christ with African United Fellowship, directed by Mr. James Varner, Ms. Barbara Benvin, accompanist; Shiloh Community Baptist Church Mass Choir, directed by Reverend Robin Polland, Mr. Joe Garner and Mr. Rodney McBride, accompanists.

The Christian Leaders Fellowship is made up of local bishops and denominational leaders who meet monthly to study scripture, discuss matters of mutual concern and pray for the entire community. The meetings have led to the annual Easter blessing over the city on Holy Saturday, televised Christmas greetings from the members, the annual Christmas Festival, and sponsorship of a Nativity display, which produced, beginning in 1999, the erection of the world’s only authorized replica of the Vatican crèche at US Steel Plaza. The crèche was blessed by the fellowship on Friday November 16 at the plaza and can be viewed through January 7, 2008.

Members of the fellowship include Bishop David A. Zubik, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church; Bishop Robert W. Duncan, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh; Major Robert Reel, The Salvation Army; Metropolitan Maximos, Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh; Bishop Kurt Kusserow, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Portz, acting Pastor to the Pittsburgh Presbytery; Archbishop Basil M. Schott, Byzantine Catholic Archdiocese of Pittsburgh; Rev. Dr. Nathan E. Williams, Pittsburgh Baptist Association, and Rev. Alan N. McLarty, Penn West Conference, United Church of Christ.