When Sheree Hastings virtually attended an interfaith Easter celebration in Salt Lake City last year, she knew her community of St. Anthony would be the perfect place to host something similar.
“I've been to all the churches in our little community,” Hastings said. “Sometimes I knocked and nobody was home, so to speak, I would leave after the sacrament and go start knocking on church doors.”
The Palm Sunday Celebration will be held March 29 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints St. Anthony Stake Center and will feature musical groups made up of people of different faiths, with worshippers invited to sing along.
“This isn't a concert. This is where everyone sings together, except for Rob Gardner's Hosanna, that's going to be by the choir,” Hastings said.
The music will guide the worship service through the story of Holy Week- the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pastor Steve Atkinson and his wife, Patsy, from Community Presbyterian Church will lead narration between the musical numbers.
Hastings said she hopes that as the community comes together, people’s faith in Jesus Christ will be strengthened and that people will feel comfortable worshipping in their own way.
“Interdenominational, that means that people bring to the table their own way of worship. So many denominations stand when they sing, so we're going to do that,” Hastings said.
Lorraine Taylor, a singer in the choir, said she is looking forward to singing the song Majesty, which is not a common worship song for Latter-day Saints.
“Music is a universal language, and so this will bring that music and that language together,” Taylor said.
The celebration will also feature a children’s choir, the Yellowstone Brass Quintet and the St. Anthony Handbell Choir.
“I clearly see in my mind people with a palm in their hand standing the whole congregation, gently waving them as we sing How Great Thou Art, and as the choir sings Hosanna to the Lord,” Hastings said.
The Palm Sunday Interfaith Celebration will be held March 29 at 4 p.m. at the St. Anthony Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center at 247 E. 4th N.
“I hope that people feel like going to church more no matter what church, that they will feel a sense of community and belonging and joy. I hope that people will be more free to talk about Jesus all the time,” Hastings said.