They had to sing: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is everlasting!” “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts!” “This is the day the Lord has Made! Let us rejoice and be glad!”! And so do we!
Those who serve in music ministry know this well. Their hearts and voices live to sing, to make music. And when the music they make is done well, especially on Sunday, the music they “live to make” comes to live in the hearts of all who pray and sing the liturgy with them Sunday after Sunday. The music finds its way into daily living in a child who is frightened of the dark and finds herself quietly singing “The Lord is my light and my salvation;” in the shared prayer of a young couple, preparing for their wedding “I will come to you in the silence…I love you and you are mine,” in the evening prayer of a young man or woman, discerning vocation to the priesthood or religious life: “Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night…”
More than a decade ago, the diocesan Office of Worship held its first Musician’s Day. Happily the tradition continues. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, July 14 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. All parish music ministers are invited to participate in this day, a heartfelt response to the theme: “I have called you by name/Te he llamado por tu nombre”.
The day will begin with Mass, with Bishop Gerald Barnes presiding. Two all-day tracks will be offered in English and Spanish, with several well-known presenters, including Ken Canedo, Ana Betancourt, Mauricio Centeno and Frank and Val Jansen. Strategies for recording music will be included in each language. During this Year of the Youth, a special invitation is being extended to all teenagers serving in parish music ministry.
For more information, registration flyer, and special rates for teenagers, please visit our NEW website at sites.google.com/site/sbdworship (click on “Music”) or http://www.sbdiocese.org/(click on “Weekly Mailing”) or call us at 909-475-5335.