Mormons, Methodists and a half dozen other Christian denominations will share a stage this Sunday night to raise money and collect donations for a variety of area charities.
The second Community Christmas Praises Program should be noticeably larger than last year’s event, said Lisa Bergantz, a public affairs representative for the Stansbury Park Utah Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Because of the program’s growth, it has moved to a new venue — the Stansbury High School Auditorium.
Just a few local congregations chose to participate in the inaugural event last year, Bergantz said, but this year several additional churches decided to participate.
Members from each participating congregation will share a message of faith either directly, or through song, dance or some other artistic medium, she said.
Participating churches include the Stansbury Park Utah Stake, the Stansbury Park Utah South Stake, the Tooele United Methodist Church, New Life Christian Fellowship, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church, Tooele First Assembly of God and the Mountain of Faith Lutheran Church.
Though many churches chose to simply read a message or sing a song, there will be a variety of talent at Sunday’s event, Bergantz said, including performances by a dance group from one congregation and a brass band from another.
Admission is free and the event is open to all, regardless of religious belief. The main goal of the event is to celebrate what many local churches have in common: a belief in Jesus Christ. But Bergantz said they would be happy to have non-Christians attend or participate in the event as well.
“We want to build those relationships with all of our neighbors,” she said. “All are welcome.”
In addition to sharing Christmas messages, participating congregations will also collect donations to help local charities. Those who attend are asked to bring bedding and hygiene products to benefit the homeless, paper and plastic products such as plates, bowls and cups for the New Hope House, a faith-based group home in Erda, or monetary donations.
Financial contributions will benefit either Family Promise, a new interfaith initiative intended to help homeless families in Tooele County, or an orphanage in Vietnam that has connections to the First Baptist Church in Tooele.
“We just want to reach out and make some friends, and do some good with donations,” Bergantz said.
The Christmas Praises Program will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Stansbury High School Auditorium, located at 5300 N. Aberdeen Lane, Stansbury Park. Free refreshments will follow the various faiths’ presentations.