The song Common Ground by John Angotti is the theme song for The Abraham Festival. Below you will be able to read up on how this song came to be. The story below was written by John Angotti. To find more about John Angotti you can visit his website at http://www.johnangotti.com. The song, in case your wondering is automatically played on every page of the Abraham Festival's website. Have a close listen to the words sometime. (Hint: click refresh to replay the song on the webpage, or surf to another page on our site).

Justin Beaudoin, Abraham Festival Webmaster 

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To say that 2001 was "the best of times and the worst of times" is unquestionably an understatement.  The September 11 tragedy was one of the most horrific acts ever witnessed against humanity.  Yet there seemed to rise up from the rubble a kindness and compassion from deep in the hearts of people everywhere.  Regardless of religious or ethnic background, it is crucial that we come together, accept and try to understand each other in our differences on all levels, or we live in fear of terror.  We must discover the "common ground" that unites a people whose foundation is firmly rooted in love.

   It is ironic that the songs on this recording so closely reflect the happenings of this past year.  Most of these songs were already on paper months before the never-to-be-forgotten attacks.  We are called to"come and gather at the foot of the cross," a cross that for a time was made of steel beams from the ruins of the World Trade Center.  A nation prayed "Lord, make us turn to you.  Show us you face and we shall be saved."

   The countless memorial services for these victims called to mind the words "By name I have called you home to me."  Realizing that a "common ground" is an absolute necessity for universal peace, it is my hope that these words will be forever in our prayers:  "I survive because you love me."

   Life is so much more than material possessions.  It is a longing to be in God's presence.  We ask our Lord to "teach us how to pray" together as we "open wide the doors of our hearts" that we may know Christ's love.  Reflecting on who we truly are can help us heed the call to "come and follow me," singing with one voice from the Canticle of Daniel:  "God is praised and exalted above all forever."