The Bishop of the Anglican church of Kenya, Kericho Diocese, Ernest Ngeno has called on Christians to be united in faith and purpose.
He urged choirs and congregations to let the message of Christ dwell richly among them through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Addressing choirs from different churches around Kericho during the cantata Easter Carols presentations at the ACK Holy Trinity Cathedral Kericho, the bishop reiterated his call for unity among Christians, emphasizing that the shared act of singing and worship is a powerful expression of the resurrection message.
He noted that the gathering provided a unique opportunity for choirs to minister to one another while reinforcing the central message of Easter through music rooted in scripture.
The bishop’s message, anchored on Epistle to the Colossians 3:16, underscored the importance of allowing the word of Christ to dwell richly among believers, not only in teaching but also in collective worship. He highlighted that choirs play a vital role in proclaiming the gospel, using their voices as instruments of encouragement, edification and unity within the wider Christian community.
The event brought together faithful from across Kericho, including participants from the Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church Kericho and the AIC Town Church Kericho, as well as ACK Choirs from Ainamoi and Kapsoit.
Their participation reflected a strong sense of fellowship among Christian denominations, with the convergence of choirs and congregants demonstrating the unifying power of Easter as Christians gathered in shared belief and celebration of the risen Christ.
A cantata, in the Anglican tradition, is a structured form of sacred musical presentation that combines choral singing, solo performances, narration and selected scripture readings to communicate a biblical theme. In the context of Easter, the cantata is used to narrate the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ through a blend of music and spoken word, enabling the congregation to experience the Easter story in a reflective and immersive way.
The cantata presentations unfolded as a carefully arranged musical and scriptural journey tracing the suffering, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through harmonized choral performances, narration and scripture readings, the Easter story was vividly brought to life, enabling worshippers to engage deeply with the message of hope, redemption and victory over death.
From a pastoral perspective, Bishop Ngeno emphasised that such gatherings provide an opportunity for churches to learn from one another and strengthen their collective faith.
He noted that beyond performance, choirs serve as ministers of the gospel, helping to nurture unity and spiritual growth while keeping the resurrection message at the centre of Christian worship.
“We thank every church that has come today and participated in this celebration. This gathering is a clear indication that, as the body of Christ, we have much to learn from one another. The resurrection of Jesus Christ remains the foundation of our faith, and it calls us to walk in unity, to encourage one another, and to serve God with one heart and one purpose as we continue growing together in His love,” Ernest Ngeno.
He further announced that the cantata Easter carols will be held annually, providing a sustained platform for churches in Kericho to come together in worship, strengthen fellowship, and continuously celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
By Gilbert Mutai
