Interfaith Concert Poignant for Pastor

This Sunday's Westborough's interfaith community concert may feel like the very first one.

The very first concert was held in tribute to Pastor Ken Bean, who was retiring from leading the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, said the Rev. Cynthia Frado, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough.

This Sunday's concert will be followed by a farewell reception for Frado, who will retire in mid-June.

The Westborough Interfaith Clergy Association will present the concert, "Making a Joyful Noise!", featuring music by groups from many of Westborough's congregations, at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough, 64 West Main St. There is a free will donation of $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Children under age 12 will be admitted free. The proceeds will benefit the Pastoral Counseling Center of Westborough's emergency fund.

"It's very poignant for me because I'm leaving," said Frado, the association's president for the past 10 years.

"I love this church. I love this town. I've been here 16 years. We've done amazing things in the interfaith clergy association. I'm proud of everything we've done.I especially lov this concert, because I love how it brings us together not at a moment of crisis, but at sort of this intersection of joy-music.

Frado said that when Bean retired, "I wanted us to do something to honor him."

"So, I thought it would be a great idea if we had an interfaith community concert, where choirs from all the different congregations, different musicians, could come. And the interfaith group thought that was a great idea," she said.

The First Baptist Church hosted the first concert.

"It was a great concert. Everybody loved coming together," she said.

Frado said she asked Bean where he wanted the proceeds to support, and he said the pastoral counseling center, "because the interfaith clergy association started that over 30 years ago."

At Bean's request, the concert became held just to support the center, Frado said.

"It goes to their emergency fund. Because even though Massachusetts requires insurance now for everyone, a lot of people are underinsured. This allows them to help families in crisis," she said.

"It's great. It brings us all together with music which is uplifting, and we raise money."

Organizers hope to raise a few thousand dollars through the concert, Frado said.

"My commitment has always been to bring us together as an interfaith community, and what better way to do it than by singing?" she asked.