The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Black Forest Community Church held a Christmas concert at the Church of Jesus Christ Black Forest ward on Dec.9 ó about 300 people attended.Choir members from the ward and the BFCC, plus the 25 Mormon Stake Choir, performed alongside Christmas readings and prayers. Tim Felicia, choir director for the Stake, and Sherri Ramsey, choir director for the BFCC, directed the concert. For 17 years, the two churches came together to perform Christmas concerts, said Sharlene Law, choir member of the ward. ìIt all started when the Black Forest ward finished their new building; the bishop decided to have a celebration and invited all the churches of Black Forest to come together and sing,î Law said.The two churches also performed together at Easter. The music included instrumental pieces and songs from the children, Law said. Patty Weenig, choir director for the ward in the early days, said a stained glass window in the BFCC with an inscription that read ìlove one anotherî and a song in the ward with the same name became the groupsí theme song.Kay Stricklan, current choir member at the BFCC, said she used to sing with the groups when they performed together; they also ended up doing community projects together. ìA huge piece of BFCC is the sense of community, and it was wonderful to do some projects with the ward,î Stricklan said.Elder Donnie Burgess, who gave the closing prayer at the end of the Dec. 9 concert, reminisced about the camaraderie between the BFCC and the Church of Jesus Christ in Black Forest. When he was the bishop during the initial years, Burgess said he developed a relationship with Nick Natelli, the pastor at the BFCC at the same time. ìWe would have great conversations between us, where I would ask him questions about his church and faith and he would ask me questions; it was a good relationship,î Burgess said. He also recalled the days when the community center would decorate the Christmas tree on their property and the two choirs would sing together at the ceremony; and, afterward, help decorate the tree.Law said this past year, Kim Thomas, a former bishop, encouraged the ward to revive the 17-year tradition. Bishop Gary Balaich approached Pastor Marta Fioriti and asked if their church choir would be interested in continuing the concert series. She said yes, and the Dec. 9 revival was a success.ìWhat a wonderful way to start the Christmas season with inspirational music, warm fellowship with our brothers and sisters from the Black Forest Community Church, just like we used to do in the early 2000s,î said Carol Cadle. ìThanks so much to all that participated,î Richard Cadle added.ìIt was a beautiful, well-arranged service and beautifully performed,î said concert goer Diana Black. ìThe best part was the meeting of two churches, who really donít have much in common other than being neighbors, to produce it. It was deeply heart-warming.î
