Mary Lee Talbot
Staff Writer
“Light in the Darkness: An Interfaith Expression,” is the theme for the 8 p.m. Sunday evening Sacred Song Service in the Amphitheater. The song service highlights the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Since 2003, Sacred Song has been the venue for exploring the relationship of the three faiths.
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton, senior pastor for Chautauqua, said, “We have a common heritage, and perhaps 90% of Chautauquans are part of this heritage. We have a patriarch, Abraham, and two matriarchs, Sarah and Hagar. This service has readings that lead us to pray together. We should celebrate together religiously whenever possible.”
The service this year was developed by Interim Director of Sacred Music Sonya Subbayya Sutton. “Light and darkness seemed appropriate as themes for this service as they cut across every faith tradition. That made it easy to find readings from each tradition and to find music that would go with the readings.”
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, senior pastor for Chautauqua, will preside. Readers from the three faiths will also participate. Subbaya Sutton, organ scholar Owen Reyda and the Chautauqua Choir will also help lead the service.
