Just finished 3 day Parish Mission at St. Mary Of the Hills - my old stomping ground for 16 years. It was so great to come back and visit. We spent one night each on the Word, Eucharist and Evangelization. The grace of good defies the laws of physics because you always receive more than you give.
Give me ears to listen, give me eyes to see, give me words to speak...
I was thinking about when Jesus sat down by the well and asked for a drink. Maybe he was tired and really just wanted a break. Once he started talking to the woman he was working again - even when he was taking a break.
Saw Michigan beat Virginia Tech Tuesday night in overtime. Junior Hemmingway was great in the post-interview. He kept coming back to the refrain, "Feels too good." I like that. Feels too good. How often am I that grateful?
Since I experienced it four times this weekend, I had a chance to think about my reaction. I noticed the parts that were changed but I also re-discovered the parts I have always said but glossed over.
When the new Roman Missal takes effect Nov 27, we begin referring to songs as chants – i.e. Processional Chant. I know change is sometimes unwelcome but I think this can be a lesson in humility for us pastoral musicians, whose mission it is to foster full active participation by the assembly…
After a daily mass in the parish chapel, I was approached by one of the regular attendees, she was probably in her mid-eighties. She was pretty adamant that there should be no singing during or after Communion because people "are trying to pray." I tried a couple passes at talking about assembly singing during the Communion Procession, but I wasn't getting anywhere and I could feel myself hardening my position and starting to disengage.
As she continued on, a couple things popped out - one, about the loudness of the organ (an old Allen), the other was that high "notes" were almost hurting her ears and she couldn't concentrate. I lost some hearing about 15 year ago when I was hit in the ear by a racquetball and I do experience some distortion of higher frequencies. (was going to say that rang a bell - sorry).
At the next few masses, I played the Communion songs (chants) with just 8' stops and at most, an added 4' flute. Without any 2' flute or the occasional 4' gems, I did notice it was mellower and perhaps created a more prayerful Communion Processional. When I asked her how it sounded,there was no rave review,but she did not voice concerns about volume, high notes or her ears.
So I might have bumped into some very helpful feedback by hanging in there a bit longer and trying to keep listening - great. But I wonder how many other suggestions I have I missed because I tuned the person out once we hit a certain area of contention...
All Saints Day and All Souls day means it's looking back time. Two weeks ago we had to put our dog Sage down. She had congestive heart failure and that was that. Poor old Sage - the world wasn't a friendly place anymore. My old boss Fr. Strain says that in heaven you get everything you need to be happy - and if you need your dog in heaven to be happy, then she'll be waiting there for you. No rush but see you sometime Sage - along with the rest of my loved ones in the Communion of Saints...
Songs From Home release - It's always great doing a recording. Songs From Home is an effort to make a recording that tells the story of what I do and what we do as a band. Thanks for checking it out. Feedback always appreciated!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |