Worhip in the Works - February 2008

Sorry about the lateness in this post. March will be here soon... lol



Worship in the Works - February Edition



How do we talk to people of other faiths about our practice of Lent? Why is it that we give things up during Lent, or do special things? Why do we put ashes on our heads at Ash Wednesday? Lent is rarely one of our favorite times of the year. Images about sacrifice and dying to ourselves come up in readings and songs throughout the season. I would like to offer another way to approach this season. The following are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Elder Joseph, a shaker from Maine, wrote this “dance” song in 1848 as an expression of the shaker way of life, simple and joyful. Even though we have opportunities to simplify our lives, if left to our own devices, we probably wouldn’t. Lent is a reminder to us that God should be the first priority in our lives.


St. Francis of Assisi said, “First you Lord, then I.” Saints in all ages were known for placing their lives in the hands of Our Lord, simply. When I say simply, I don’t mean without regard for ourselves or our families, but with a single-hearted generosity and fervor that is characteristic of the people of God.


Lent is an opportunity to experience “metanoia” or holy conversion – turning as the song suggests. Even the words that accompany the application of ashes are “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” One way to interpret this is “I am a worm.” Another is that I am a person on a twisting road, and the utmost important thing is I am constantly seeking to make myself and my life holy. God takes great delight in our efforts, though we aren’t always successful.


I am going to join all in this season as simplifying their hearts, in seeing all our experiences as touched by the Divine. Everything from going to mass on Sundays or weekdays, talking with family and friends, having dinner, going to the mall shopping, or even watching TV or movies. Then maybe I wont be asham’d to bow and bend when life’s surprises are blown my way, because I know, like the palm tree, I am again going to stand straight.

I believe that children are our future...

Teach them well and let them lead the way....

Now, I'm not fully convinced that signs just appear in our life as a supernatural thing, but I do believe in reading the signs of the times. Lately, I have had my awareness swamped with words and images pertaining to leading, teaching and being mentors to children. Case in point:

1. I just got a professional magazine (Pastoral Music) in the mail last week. The subject of the majority of the articles was directing children's choirs. I just about read that magazine cover to cover. Loved all the suggestions and examples they gave.
2. The headlining story in the Faith and Values section of the newspaper on Friday was about when and how to introduce children to prayer and questions of faith. It was a very interesting read from several of the local faith leaders in the area here.
3. I had a nice long conversation with a classmate in my summer master's program this weekend. One of our topics, among many others, was about school choirs and cantors. This really stuck out to me for some reason.

I gleened several things from this succession of events in my life. Here at Good Shepherd, we are blessed with a vibrant school choir and good school liturgies. We have quite a few very talented cantors in the school and many more coming up through the grades.

I have recently been given the school choir as one of my tasks, and I've been trying to think of how to really make their experience a good one. Luckily, I have a great piano player who is so reliable and gifted. I am really finding it more crucial for me to learn how to utilize these gifts and talents as well as I can. I know my management skills aren't always the best as my creative and adventurous side likes to get in the way. I started praying for someone to come along who would be interested in helping to lead the choir with me. We'll see how that turns out.

These are great kids, and they deserve great opportunities.

Gifts abound

Sunday was the anniversary of the deaths of two great men. One, you probably know, is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He began playing piano at the age of three and composing music at the age of five. His talent will be remembered for a long long time, and his melodies, though sometimes defiled by remakes, are timeless and speak to our souls.

The second person is someone you probably dont know, St. John Chrysostom. He was the bishop of Constantinople in the 300's. He was known for his pointed and powerful preaching (Chrysostom translates as golden mouth). One of his famous quotes is "Feeding the hungry is a greater work than raising the dead."

Sometimes, in the shadows of greatness, it's hard to see our own gifts and talents in the proper light. This weekend, our youth group went down to the homeless shelter downtown and had a great time. Two weeks ago, they also put on a very nice musical written by two of our high school students, in our cafeteria. Last weekend, a small band of musicians and singers gathered to make some very impressive music for our Saturday mass. Beginning this month, I am helping to start a dinner club comprised of some friends of mine in the parish.

This parish has so many gifted people. I guess I'm writing this to thank everyone for all their work and effort in making Good Shepherd Parish a great place to be and worship each and every week.

Talents are so often overlooked, or squelched early on. I cringe everytime I hear a mother or father tell their child that they cant sing or they dont have rhythm. If you are in the Simon Cowell school of parenting as a talent show, maybe, but why not let them try. I know I would have never discovered my voice or musical talent (or any other for that matter) if I hadn't been encouraged and given the chance to fail or succeed. Where would the world be without the 3 year old Mozart being given the chance to sit at a piano when the rest of his class was out playing somewhere?

Source and Summit 2008

I am starting to get excited now about a new opportunity I volunteered for. Every year in this diocese, the youth come together for a weekend retreat. Up till this year, it was called Youth 2000. This year, they renamed it Source and Summit, meaning that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. It is based on a national movement aimed at bring focus back to the Eucharist, especially for young people.

Last year, when I moved here, the people who organize the retreat caught wind that I was a new music director and a guitarist, so they invited me to be on the team as a musician. I had a great time. The spirit and energy of the retreat was inspiring and moving. Several of Good Shepherd's kids were there and I got to know quite a few people from around the area.

This year, I was called to head up the music for a new component to the weekend. In an effort to integrate the kids families, there will be a parent's component to the weekend. So, while the youth retreat is in full swing, parents are invited to attend mini-retreats of their own (three in total, lasting about four hours each). Many of the same talks and activities will be used so the parents understand what their children are experiencing. We are also going to use much of the same music - high spirited, contemporary Christian worship music. The fun part will be teaching the parents all the hand motions and movements involved. Then, to wrap it all together, everyone is invited to attend the closing mass on Sunday together.

If you are interested in seeing a little more of what this weekend is about, click here and you will be taken to the site hosted by a local parish. Here are a couple pictures from last year's retreat as well, kids dancing and singing.

New Year

Today is the anniversary of the birth of J. R. R. Tolkien in 1892. He was known to have said, "All that is Gold does not glitter," and "All those who wonder are not lost." How many times do we see people, especially at this time of the year, who dont seem to have any direction. How hard it is, sometimes, to know that another year has arrived and we are still as unhealthy or unorganized as we were this time last year. Maybe that's not a bad thing. The beauty of life is not in the destination, but in the journey. It's in the eyes and hearts of our companions and the challenges and surprises of our experiences.

Our parish puts out a monthly newsletter. A couple months ago, I started a column in it called "Worship in the Works." Beginning this month, I think I'll start posting my article here too. So, without further adieu.



Christmas has come… and gone. The stores have put their decorations away for another year and chances are everything is on sale. Many families take down their decorations right after the New Year if not right after Christmas. The carols have all been sung and the presents have all been opened (and maybe even returned already). The mothers of the world are breathing a collective sigh of relief.

The season of Christmas, in the Church, though, continues until January 6 with the celebration of the feast of Epiphany, the coming of the Magi. [Correction: Christmas season ends with the celebration fo the baptism of Jesus. Thanks Tim!] I have always been fascinated by their story. They traveled a long time and a great distance to see the one who they believed was the savior of the world, the Messiah. Advent is meant to be the journey we take to find Christ in our lives. Christmas is the moment of revelation, when we see Christ and rejoice with the Angels.

What then? What do we do next? The Magi went home to continue their lives, albeit by a different route. Once you’ve had a profound experience, you are never the same. Hopefully, we have laid OUR gifts at the manger of our Lord, and we have been given even more priceless gifts, salvation and love. As we struggle to reorient our lives and succeed at our resolutions for the New Year, let’s keep in mind this Lord who is with us always. Personally, I am trying to make myself into a “Christmas” person, always living my whole life with wonder and expectation. May everyday be an adventure for us all, a chance to expand and enrich our lives with wonder. The people we meet can help us discover it; our parish community can help us discover it; our family can help us discover it; Jesus, the “wonder”-worker certainly can help us. Many times, all we have to do is ask and seek.

Consider joining us for our monthly adoration, daily mass, weekly evening prayer on Thursdays, or Eucharist 101, Fr. Attila’s class on the Eucharist. Maybe you feel moved to serve this parish as a proclaimer of the Word of God (Lector), or a giver of the body and blood of Christ (Eucharistic Minister), or as a musician or singer, giving praise to God with the music within you. Just call the office for information on any of these. If there’s anything I can offer or do to help find that wonder in your life, feel free to ask.

Peace to all!

Christmas reflections

Wow! What a rush. It's obviously been a while since I posted in here. With Christmas and New Years now past, I can take a deep sigh and brace myself for the next big season. Whew!

What a great time I had for Advent and Christmas this year. Working with our Adult Choir, School Choir, and all the cantors was a lot of work but so worth it. I was able to bring a number of new songs and experiences to the parish community here, and am quite happy with that. I was not able to do my Advent Lessons and Carols service, but I am already preparing it for next year. I think it could be a hit, if given a good shot. One of my fellow music ministers in the city wrote one and, from what I hear, it was absolutely phenomenal. I could only hope to do one half as nice. Props to Paul.

It's amazing how putting yourself fully into a church Christmas makes all the other aspects of Christmas seem so different. I started my Christmas shopping early this year, and felt very laid back and comfortable with the whole thing by the time Christmas arrived. I even had a couple extra gifts, that I dont know what to do with. HA!! Also, the woman who does our decorations, Jacki, did such a good job designing and implementing her ideas this year. I'll have to get some pictures and post them before they all come down. Being part of it all was such a privilage.

Christmas Eve was quite difficult for me this year. I think for the first time, other than being at Church, I was alone (other than my cat of course). After our late service, the Choir surprised me with a gift that just blew me away. I had no idea they even thought of it. Truely a gift in many ways. Thanks all!

Well, now we are getting ready for Lent and Easter which are coming up on us very quickly. Its funny talking about Lent when our Christmas decorations are still up. Here's to a great success and continued successes throughout the new year.

Prepare Prepare Prepare

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything. I'm finding more and more of my time taken with planning and preparing for upcoming weeks. Of course, that's because its almost Advent, that wonderful season right before Christmas in the church that is full of references to Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist. I would have to say this is my favorite liturgical season. While most people, my own choir included, would rather jump ahead and sing the great carols of Christmas, I just like to settle into the preparaton time that Advent allows. I've always found reflections on this season's readings to be the more profound and touching to me. Maybe its because I am still waiting for something in my own life. I've spent much of my life waiting for my life to "begin." Being in school for so long was about getting ready for the "real world." As happy as I am here, I still feel like something isn't quite settled yet. I was approached this morning with the proposition of buying someone's house. The first thing to run through my mind was... Am I really going to be here for 30 years in order to pay off the house? What if I decide to move somewhere else for whatever reason? I am much more comfortable in my apartment with the option of moving somewhere. I guess that stems from not staying in any one place for more than a year since I was 18. So, when I hear John the Baptist say "Prepare in the wilderness a highway for our Lord," I can connect. I am building my own part of the kingdom of God right here in Evansville. This Advent, I am going to try seeing my path as a preparation for the coming of my peace and happiness (aka. the Lord).