Program to share Christ Child's story

YOUNGSTOWN -- The birth of baby Jesus holds meaning for people around the world. The global impact of the birth of the Christ Child will be showcased during a bilingual, multicultural Christmas Eve program planned by Metro Assembly and Spanish Evangelical churches.
The musical event will take place from 6 to 8 tonight at Metro Assembly, 2530 South Ave., which it shares with SEC.
Radhika Cruz, music minister at SEC, is overseeing the effort that brings together members of both churches and uses music as a universal language.
"We wanted to do something to reflect the different cultures and age groups in the congregations," she said. "The program will include contemporary, classic and gospel."
Five-part program
The program covers the globe, and each segment features its own narrators, song and dance and lighting of symbolic candles. "The music was selected to fit our theme," Cruz said.
"The children are doing a few songs and [older] youth, a creative movement dance. The worship teams also are involved," Cruz said.
The candlelight service also has meaning. "We'll each be lighting another person's candle ... sharing the light of the world and good news of the gospel," Cruz said. "It is sharing the Christmas story."
The program features five segments:
ULatin America with narrator Elizabeth Rivera of SEC. Appropriately, "He is the Reason," will begin the program and SEC and Metro children will sing "Away in a Manger." The candle of promise will be lighted.
UAfrica with narrator Sherraine Dothard of Metro. Congregations will sing, "When I Think about the Lord." The candle of joy will be lighted.
UAsia with narrator Lynn VanCobb of Metro. "Ven & iacute;d Fieles Todos," a congregational song, is planned and participants will recognize the melody as "O Come All Ye Faithful." The candle of faith will be lighted.
UOceania/Hawaii with narrator Andre Figueroa of SEC. "Silent Night" will be sung by Metro and SEC children. The candle of light will be lighted.
UAmerican Indians with narrator David Romeo of SEC. "Now Behold the Lamb," a song and praise dance by SEC and Metro, will be presented. The candle of Christ, placed in the center of other candles, signifies that Christ is the center of the season and gives light to the world. The contemporary song, "Jesus Nacio," will be sung.
Bringing culture together
The service will include remarks by the pastors, the Rev. Rolando Rojas of SEC and the Rev. Al Yanno Jr. of Metro and associate pastor, the Rev. Mike McNair.
"We wanted to have a service together, and Christmas seemed like the perfect time," the Rev. Mr. Yanno said.
"The program brings the cultures together," the Rev. Mr. Rojas said.
The closing song, "Eres Exaltado," (Highly Exalted) is another contemporary selection and will conclude the program.