Celebration creates unity in diversity
Members of the Zimbabwe Fellowship Choir added a lively note to the Dec. 7 International
Rev. Levy Laguardia, Umphress Road UMC, calls children forward
BY JOHN A. LOVELACE
Special Correspondent
For all their differences in language, music, dress and cuisine, some 300 United Methodists found no problem on Sunday evening, Dec. 7, in sharing two things: Oneness in Christ and a meal unique to some, yummy to all.
This was the International Christmas Celebration, sponsored by the North Texas Conference’s Project Pentecost and hosted by Faith UMC (Filipino) in Richardson. As host pastor Rev. Jerry Pagdilao expressed it, “We declare to the world our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Carol singing was the evening’s common coin, mostly in English with words projected on a front screen.
Pastor Arturo David Gonzalez of the Hispanic ministry at First UMC, Plano, gave the opening prayer in Spanish. (This was the Hispanic group’s first participation in the international celebration.)
Rev. Edwin Zarate, associate pastor of Umphress Road UMC (Filipino) in Pleasant Grove, read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20 in English.
When Rev. Levy Laguardia, Umphress UMC pastor, called the children forward to help light the Advent candles, a veritable stream of “the church of the future” poured forth to the sounds of “Away in a Manger.”
Next came the celebration’s signal moment, sharing the message of Christmas through songs and music from different traditions. Singers and musicians performed in sequence from Hispanic, Cambodian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Zimbabwean and Korean traditions.
Applause and good cheer followed each offering. As one leader observed, “When we are in heaven it will be like this.”
Another moment unique to the International Christmas Celebration came next -- the singing of the fi rst verse of “Silent Night” in unison in English, then, in sequence, by singers from the respective traditions. Dr. Bon Woon Koo, Korean, pronounced the benediction, including a blessing of the meal of traditional dishes that followed in Faith UMC’s Fellowship Hall.
Susan Tamangani of the Zimbabwe UMC Fellowship presided. Project Pentecost Director Rev. Kenneth McIntosh, who has headed this ministry since its inception a decade ago, spoke briefl y. He and his wife, Iweeta, former missionaries to Hong Kong and China, were warmly received.
