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St Gregory the Great Parish Pastoral Council
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Parish Music Group - Mission Paper

Folk Mass Group and Music Ministry

Is the Folk Mass Group a musical liturgical support or a
music ministry?

Folk Mass Groups

Music Ministry

Lead the congregation in reverently singing the parts of
the Liturgy.

Lead the congregation in lifting their hearts in worship through music and song

Sing as part of the liturgy

Sing to proclaim the Gospel and touch the hearts of
people, bringing them to repentance and deepening their spiritual life (Eph
4:11-13)

Choose hymns which �fit the theme� and the Liturgical
context

Discern the Holy Spirit�s anointed songs / music which
meet the needs of the occasion and the Liturgy

Sing at the correct time

Sing at the right time

Focus on singing correctly and fittingly

Focus on praying what is sung

Harmonise by listening to each other

Harmonise by listening to the Holy Spirit�s leading

Prayer for the group is supplementary

The ministry flows from prayer

Essential Ingredients to a Fruitful and Faithful Ministry

Prayer

The fruits of a faithful ministry are the work of Christ
through the Holy Spirit without whom we can achieve nothing (Jn 15:4). This is God�s work; we have to tune in to Him.
We can only be joined to the Vine and release the power of the Spirit in
people�s lives through prayer.

We are singing songs that are prayers; we need to learn to
truly pray them as we sing.

Study

To be truly effective in the music ministry we need to
understand and study the vocation to which we believe the Lord calling us. This
means studying:

  • The
    Sunday readings. We cannot proclaim the Gospel of the Sunday unless we have
    meditated on it � we sing from what is in our hearts (Lk 6:45 & Col 3:16).
    What is God saying to us?
  • Music
    and worship as a ministry e.g. in the Scriptures and Church documents
  • The
    psalms as inspired prayer and as the prayer of the Church

Musical Competence

As in any sphere of activity continuing development is
important to the growth of the ministry.

We need to encourage members in developing their skills and
their role in the group, this may need sometimes to be prayerfully discerned
(1Cor 12:4-11).

Some Practical Suggestions

The important thing is be clear about the way forward and to
start along the road.

Not all will be comfortable at first with the vision but it
is infectious!

Prayer

  • Meditate
    and share together, the Sunday readings and what God is saying to us through
    them
  • This
    could be combined with praying for the group and all those involved in the
    Liturgy
  • Perhaps
    we could take in turns to pray while the group plans and practices
  • Take
    time to pray during our music days

Study & Musical Competence

  • Could
    we spend some time on study during our music days
  • a
    retreat for study and prayer
  • Music
    days and focussed help for members