Worship service attracts a large crowd

By Matt Felice
Staff Writer

In just seven years the attendance at the band festival's community worship service has doubled. With the addition of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church to the list of participating churches, this year's service, held at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Centre College, may see the largest crowd yet.

The Rev. Dr. Norman Hagley, pastor of First Christian Church and coordinator of the worship service, gave two explanations for the growing popularity of the event.

First, of course, there's the music, which Hagley described as "very inspiring." Choirs from all the churches are combined, with music provided each year by the Olympia Brass Band from New Orleans. This year the choir will sing "Lord of the Dance," accompanied by the London Citadel Band from Ontario under the direction of John Lamb.

But besides the music, Hagley said the non-sectarian emphasis of the event also contributes to the excitement it generates. "People just like coming together without denominational bounds and restrictions," he said. "The service emphasizes particular points everyone can agree on. The sermon usually focuses on things like the value of human life and its relationship to God."

Hagley and other pastors agree that the communion, or breaking of the bread, is central to what brings the denominations together.

"The communion is open to all people and the only barriers are the barriers that someone's denomination would place upon them or that they would place upon themselves," said Hagley.

Inter-denominational cooperation isn't a one-time event, however, said Dr. Tim Noel of Lexington Avenue Baptist Church. Noel said the worship service is representative of the good relations that exist between local churches year round.

Noel first moved to Danville four years ago on the weekend of the band festival. The worship service left an impression on him that carried over into the rest of his ministry. "It really has meant a lot to me since I've been here that the churches get along so well together," he said. "That's one of the things that makes Danville such a good place for me."

In addition to First Christian, SS. Peter and Paul, and Lexington Avenue Baptist, the Presbyterian Church of Danville, Trinity Episcopal and the Salvation Army also will participate in the worship service.