FAITH NOTES: Folk music helps fuel ‘Passion’

Combining folk music of the 19th-century sacred harp tunebook, the narration of Atlanta actress Brenda Bynum and the Gospel of St. Luke, the Meridian Chorale will present “Wondrous Love: A Southern Folk Passion” at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Druid Hills Baptist Church.

The brainchild of Steven Darsey, Meridian Chorale artistic director, the “Southern Folk Passion” has become a Palm Sunday tradition at the church.

“I did my master’s thesis on this, and borrowed the idea from Bach’s ‘Passion,’ taking the narrative and putting the chorale in different places in the narrative with Southern folk music,” said Darsey, who is also music director of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. “Every note we sing comes from the sacred harp tune book,” he said. The choral music is interwoven into the narration of the Passion by Bynum.

The Atlanta-based chorale does just five programs a year, including a folk Advent service. For information and directions to Druid Hills Baptist, call 404-874-5721 or go to www.dhbc.org. For more information on Meridian Chorale, go to www.meridianherald.org.

Choir to perform

The Interdenominational Theological Center will host a Holy Week concert with a gospel Mass performed by the ITC Choir at 11 a.m. Thursday in the ITC Chapel. Go to www.itc.edu.

Fund-raising gala set

Catholic Charities Atlanta hosts its second annual fund-raising gala at 6 p.m. April 16 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Buckhead. All funds will benefit the programs and services of Catholic Charities Atlanta. Attorney Charles T. Lester Jr. will be honored during the event with the Archbishop Don-oghue Award for service to the community. For information and reservations, call Mary Elkins at Catholic Charities Atlanta at 404-456-4285, or e-mail to melkins@archatl.com.

Group founder to speak

Steve Mouzon, founder of the Original Green movement will speak at 10:45 a.m. April 19 at Sacred Tapestry, a United Methodist Church congregation, as part of the congregation’s annual Earth Day celebration. Mouzon is with the New Urban Guild in Miami, and has helped educate others in holistic sustainable community building, including the White House organic garden campaign. Go to www.sacredtapestry.com for more information.

One-man show

Atlanta and off-Broadway actor Brad Sherrill presents his one-man dramatization of the Gospel of John from 4 to 6:30 p.m. April 19 at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, 86 Mount Vernon Highway. Advance tickets $10, $15 at the door. For information, call 404-255-1181 or go to www.ssumc.org.