Services held in language of the heart; Congregations with immigrants worship in a range of tongues.(Religion)

Byline: AZRA HAQQIE - Staff Writer

ALBANY - Several churches with large immigrant memberships will celebrate Christmas with services in two languages.

The Emmaus Methodist Church on Morris Street, where worship has been conducted in both English and Urdu throughout the year since the 1960s, also mixes music of two cultures.

"Singing of psalms is a gift of the Pakistani culture," said the Rev. Denise Stringer. About 30 people sing in the Urdu choir, keeping rhythm with drums and percussion hand instruments.

Compared to recent years, not as many of the new members are immigrants, said Stringer, but "Urdu is the language of their heart. The …