Music Ministry - where to start

[jmjtina]

hoverbloob, I would definitely ask the music minister. give it a try. as our Late Holy Father stated, "Do not be afraid!"

If you lived in Texas, I could definitely use your help!

My cousin is in charge of the 10 am choir. It's pretty cool. It's a great and beautiful gift she has and I'm glad she's sharing it. She wanted to do that to give back to the Church as well.

Don't worry. If there is a longing in your heart, God will help you!

Prayers!!!

[hooverbloob]

[quote name='jmjtina' date='Sep 18 2005, 10:52 PM']but we are [b]after[/b] Vatican II.......

Personally I love those songs. As a youth minister I know them all by heart.

But I don't like them in the Mass.

One word: overplayed.  Also, some are not theologically correct. and another......overplayed.

Also, I think the music should be played with the intention of glorifing the Lord and not taking away from the Mass. If our intention is to "appeal" to the youth, then the focus is not on the Eucharist and the Mass, but on the music. I find alot of youth feel deprived if "thier" kind of music isn't played. If music does this to your parish, then the music is taking away from the Mass.

we all come from different tastes in music and culture. The thing that  draws us to Mass should be the Eucharist.
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aahhhh...but first we must get them through the door! I can't help but think about the movie Sister Act. :

[jmjtina]

I think that is a common misconception. "We" don't do anything. God does.

I find alot of adults try so hard to appeal to the youth when all these kids want is what we already know.

The true beauty is already in the Mass. Let them see it. If the music takes away from the Mass, they will go solely for the music and not Christ. It won't matter how good or hip it is, they will never be far from the door if the music is what keeps them there.

I struggle with this constantly as a youth minister. We have to be appealing to get them to the youth group. But Mass, what we teach is sacred. And that is what gets them there and loving it.

btw, Lifeteen is not allowed to do anymore altar calls. When that statement came out, alot of the youth were upset. But it was for the good of the program and I'm glad LT changed in that regard.

[hooverbloob]

BTW...I did also ask about an out reach program. You can't very well do out reach in the church!

[jmjtina]

what kind of outreach? Religion based or music based or both? the YMCA and Boys/Girls club is always looking for volunteers.

I would look at what your parish needs. Try to meet those needs with your gift. If a nursing home is in need of some entertainment, I wouldn't see anything wrong w/ asking the youth of the parish to join you. Or start a group where you go singing to a homeless shelter/nursing home during lunch/breakfast time.

I know a group that does that. Kinda like an off-shoot of the youth ministry. The response was awesome.

[tojo]

There is, my humble unexpert opinion, ways to balance all this. You can have popular contemporary Christian praise songs, and play them reverently alongside great hymns, stay liturgically correct, etc.... and have a great youth program.

The Lifeteen Masses and prayer meetings at my home parish are amazing. The teens there wonderful Catholics who love Jesus, Mary and the Church with a passion. They love Mass and Eucharistic adoration, the read their bibles and pray the rosary regularly. These "inovations" have contributed heavily to their becoming very good, very Catholic Christians.

[jmjtina]

I think you hit the nail right on the head.

When it's being taught correctly and the people are focusing on the Mass itself, it doesn't matter what youth program you have, the kids will grow because the focus is where it should be.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Sep 18 2005, 10:40 PM']
do you even think catholics from before vatican II would even recognize a lifeteen mass as a catholic mass?
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You keep forgetting not everyone here is a teenager :
I am pre-vatican II and I certainly recognize a CATHOLIC MASS when I see one - charismatic, african-american, gregorian chant, hispanic, or lifeteen. The MASS parts do not change just because the atmosphere or the music is different.

[hooverbloob]

[quote name='jmjtina' date='Sep 18 2005, 11:40 PM']what kind of outreach? Religion based or music based or both? the YMCA and Boys/Girls club is always looking for volunteers.

I would look at what your parish needs. Try to meet those needs with your gift. If a nursing home is in need of some entertainment, I wouldn't see anything wrong w/ asking the youth of the parish to join you. Or start a group where you go singing to a homeless shelter/nursing home during lunch/breakfast time.

I know a group that does that. Kinda like an off-shoot of the youth ministry. The response was awesome.
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I was really thinking more towards the "forgotten" generations...those who just graduated high school to those in their 30s. Teens as well.

I lived in Tennessee for a few years and there was a coffee shop down the road that would have accoustic bands or open mic nights centered around Christianity. This is something that I think would be great for all ages, but especially for those who are lost or not interested in attending church...any church.

It's just very difficult to get something started, especially when you are with a church as big as the one I attend. I guess I just need some motivation and ideas on how to start such a ministry. What should I be looking out for? Should I only focus on the Catholic community for now and then maybe reach out further? Do I even need to ask the music minister at my church or should I just start this by posting a wanted ad in the bulletin?

So many questions I have, but I don't know where to start or if this is even a good idea. I was hoping that someone would have done this before. Or is this just too radical of an idea?

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='hooverbloob' date='Sep 19 2005, 12:54 PM']I was really thinking more towards the "forgotten" generations...those who just graduated high school to those in their 30s.  Teens as well.

I lived in Tennessee for a few years and there was a coffee shop down the road that would have accoustic bands or open mic nights centered around Christianity. This is something that I think would be great for all ages, but especially for those who are lost or not interested in attending church...any church.

It's just very difficult to get something started, especially when you are with a church as big as the one I attend. I guess I just need some motivation and ideas on how to start such a ministry. What should I be looking out for? Should I only focus on the Catholic community for now and then maybe reach out further? Do I even need to ask the music minister at my church or should I just start this by posting a wanted ad in the bulletin?

So many questions I have, but I don't know where to start or if this is even a good idea. I was hoping that someone would have done this before. Or is this just too radical of an idea?
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Its an excellent idea. Go ask the priest what he thinks the church needs.

[DeeDee]

[quote name='hooverbloob' date='Sep 18 2005, 09:36 PM']BTW...I did also ask about an out reach program. You can't very well do out reach in the church!
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I hope you can find a music ministry! I play the guitar and piano, but probably not as well as you. I love to sing, and so I sing whenever I can at Mass, especially the healing Masses. I love the songs we sing!
Good luck in your ministry!

[Philippe]

in a sense i know what your going through, although i'm only a teen i really want to play the guitar in our lifeteen band but its not going very well. I hope you find something!

[DeeDee]

I was thinking about some options for you and I remembered a ministry some of us had a couple of years ago. It was called Saturday Night with Jesus. We had a priest who said mass for us and then we had a night of praise and worship. Lots of singing and praise. It was so much fun and Spirit filled. The people who organized it moved and nobody picked it up. Maybe you could do something like that with or without the mass, depending on if you have a priest who would be willing to participate.
Best wishes!

[hooverbloob]

[quote name='DeeDee' date='Sep 20 2005, 10:53 AM']I was thinking about some options for you and I remembered a ministry some of us had a couple of years ago. It was called Saturday Night with Jesus. We had a priest who said mass for us and then we had a night of praise and worship. Lots of singing and praise. It was so much fun and Spirit filled. The people who organized it moved and nobody picked it up. Maybe you could do something like that with or without the mass, depending on if you have a priest who would be willing to participate.
Best wishes!
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What a GREAT idea! Thanks for the input!

[dUSt]

hoover,

I would suggest that you use your musical talents outside of mass. I hope I don't come off as rude as saying this, but I don't know any teen that goes to mass to hear the music, no matter what kind it is. There is a parish that I go to every once in a while that has a Lifeteen mass. Loud drums, guitars, upbeat, all the things you mentioned. Do you think teens are drawn to the mass because of this? If so, is this why we [b]want[/b] them drawn to mass?

This is my point. Mass is not about the music. It's about Christ, specifically, the Eucharist. If the "music" even begins to overshadow this at any time we have lost. Sadly, I believe that most Lifeteen programs and charismatic parishes have allowed this to already happen.

Why not give teens something they CAN'T get anywhere else? Why not expose them to chant? By trying to compete with the secular musical trends in the mass, all we're doing is giving people an inferior rendition of music they may or may not like in the first place. Let's stick to what we ARE good at and what makes us unique... I guarantee it'll draw even more people to [b]Christ[/b].

[DeeDee]

I've never been to a Lifeteen mass, but I spent a couple of years at an African American church that had a gospel mass, and I have to say that it was very Spirit filled and uplifting, and there were drums, too. It depends on what tradition you are accustomed to I think. If the music in a gospel mass or a Lifeteen mass brings you closer to God, then I respectfully ask you, what is wrong with that? I don't think that God frowns on what draws people to Mass; people frown. It's not a question of the music overshadowing the celebration of the Mass, it's the music giving glory to God in any form, whether it is a band, a choir, an organ, or chant, liturgical dance, or any of the forms that other cultures use to praise and honor God.


[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 20 2005, 12:59 PM']hoover,

I would suggest that you use your musical talents outside of mass. I hope I don't come off as rude as saying this, but I don't know any teen that goes to mass to hear the music, no matter what kind it is. There is a parish that I go to every once in a while that has a Lifeteen mass. Loud drums, guitars, upbeat, all the things you mentioned. Do you think teens are drawn to the mass because of this? If so, is this why we [b]want[/b] them drawn to mass?

This is my point. Mass is not about the music. It's about Christ, specifically, the Eucharist. If the "music" even begins to overshadow this at any time we have lost. Sadly, I believe that most Lifeteen programs and charismatic parishes have allowed this to already happen.

Why not give teens something they CAN'T get anywhere else? Why not expose them to chant? By trying to compete with the secular musical trends in the mass, all we're doing is giving people an inferior rendition of music they may or may not like in the first place. Let's stick to what we ARE good at and what makes us unique... I guarantee it'll draw even more people to [b]Christ[/b].
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[DeeDee]

Hope this helps in your discernment about a music ministry:

Ps.150
[1] Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!
[2] Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his exceeding greatness!
[3] Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
[4] Praise him with timbrel and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
[5] Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
[6] Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

[dUSt]

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm all about praising God with music--with drums, guitars, heck, even turntables! Phatmass produces hip-hop!!! You can't get much more "innovative" as far as music goes to praise God than that! I'm not against these forms of music at all.

But... all music is not appropriate for [b]MASS[/b]. The mass is a solemn, reverent sacrifice of our Lord. We receive His Body and Blood. We are there, with Him on Calvalry. Would you play drums and crash cymbals standing at the foot of the cross as Christ hangs there, pierced by nails, bleeding and dying? THAT'S what mass is. Let's show our respect.

[DeeDee]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 21 2005, 08:58 AM']Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm all about praising God with music--with drums, guitars, heck, even turntables! Phatmass produces hip-hop!!! You can't get much more "innovative" as far as music goes to praise God than that! I'm not against these forms of music at all.

But... all music is not appropriate for [b]MASS[/b]. The mass is a solemn, reverent sacrifice of our Lord. We receive His Body and Blood. We are there, with Him on Calvalry. Would you play drums and crash symbals standing at the foot of the cross as Christ hangs there, bleeding? THAT'S what mass is. Let's show our respect.
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I understand what you are saying, truly, but if the Mass is a celebration, and that's what I've heard it called, then we celebrate. As I understand it, Christ died once and for all, and the Mass is a celebration in remembrance of his sacrifice. He is not dying again. We receive his Body and Blood joyfully as an offering to God, and with hope and anticipation of the Resurrection. The priests who celebrate mass at the churches I attend are Franciscans and Dominicans. They are so joyful they nearly lift off the floor at the altar. That is my experience of the celebration of the Mass. Perhaps yours is different. I hope we can respect each others differences. I have also attended the Eucharistic Celebration as it is called, I believe, in the Catholic (Eastern) Orthodox church where the Mass of St. John Chrysostom is prayed. It is another form of praying the Mass that is beautiful expression of praise and honor to God.

I wish you could see how the Mass is celebrated in Mexico and Central America, as well as some African nations, where the Mass takes hours because people are so uplifted by the Holy Spirit.

I try to live every day as Pentecost, and so when I attend Mass I have in mind the experience of the apostles and disciples in the Upper Room and of the early church which was still young enough to have retained its enthusiasm and exuberance, and wherever I go in faith I try to carry that with me to others. Peace.

[cmotherofpirl]

Not quite.
The Mass is also us standing at the foot of the cross with Mary and St John, we are [u][b]present[/b][/u] at the SACRIFICE of the crucifixion.
He is not dying again, WE are there at the cross.
Think about the music that is appropriate for that.