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Music Ministry Newsletter
A resource for all serving in parish music ministry
National Association of Pastoral Musicians 
Grand Rapids Diocesan Chapter

October 2014
In This Issue
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Greetings!

Once again, a picture is worth a thousand words and I've got a bunch of pictures for you!

The annual Blessing of Musicians was awesome! Hundreds of musicians representing dozens of different parishes filled the Cathedral with sung prayer.

Afterwards, we met on the Piazza Secchia for refreshments and fellowship -- the perfect end to an excellent night!


If you weren't able to join us this year, we hope you will next year.

Happy Fall!

Mary Harwood
Editor
St. Paul the Apostle, Grand Rapids
From Our Chapter Director...


 

Help!


 

Several weeks ago I sent a letter to each of our voting members seeking financial contributions for a very special event we have placed at the heart of NPM National Convention ,Grand Rapids 2015. I guess I am pretty much an amateur when it comes to fund raising. While my letter has brought some wonderful response from a few persons, we are far from our goal. It has become clear that by my failing to note that fundraising must be achieved by the time the convention program is being prepared, many folks have assumed that there is plenty of time to respond.

            

Truth be told, if a performance by and with the Grand Rapids Symphony is to be part of our convention, we need your pledge as soon as possible. Your check can follow down the road. Also, please do not consider this a personal appeal to you alone. If your parish, place of business, circle of friends, extended family, music-loving parishioners or rich uncle is able to support this extraordinary event, please work for the cause and solicit their support.

            

Finally, this Music Ministry Newsletter goes out to many folks beyond our rather small number of voting members. This appeal is being made with equal determination to each and every one of you. Please read the letter; please extend your help.

 
Bob Batastini
Chapter Director
2014-15 Chapter Events
  • April 9, 2015, Annual Banquet 
    • Pietro's Italian Restaurant 2780 Birchcrest Dr, SE (just west of 28th & Breton)
  • May 7, 2014, Second Annual Festival of Congregational Song 
    • Cathedral of St. Andrew
  • July 6-10, 2015, 38th Annual Convention of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians 
    • Grand Rapids, MI
Membership Information

Over the past year, the two-tiered NPM-Grand Rapids membership program has efficiently evolved.

 

Parish Membership:

  • The parish joins the Chapter at the $150 level, becoming a sponsor/benefactor of the Chapter. Anyone in the  parish who chooses, may register to become a regular voting member of the Chapter at no addition cost*. Moreover, every member of the parish's music ministry: choir members, cantors, instrumentalists, will receive the monthly newsletter, announcements of events, and be eligible for member discounts at Chapter events.

Individual Membership:

  • Pastor, Music Director, or any other member of a parish music ministry is eligible to join as a regular voting member of the NPM-GR Chapter. The annual dues is $20, renewable annually on the anniversary of joining. You will receive our monthly digital newsletter along with all the benefits of full membership.

 

All memberships renew on the 12 month anniversary of their being established. Become a major supporter of the work of our chapter in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

 

Click here for membership application.

 

*Voting membership is recommended for, but not limited to, pastor, director of music ministries, assistant directors, accompanists, and anyone with a leadership role in the parish music ministry


Mentoring Program

 

Parish musicians...

  • Are you new at your job?
  • Are you trained in another area of music, but have no church music experience?
  • Are you an experienced church musician who has never before served in a     Catholic parish?
  • Are you simply struggling with certain issues related to your job?

Friendly, competent, help is at hand. Read more

Gaudium et Spes/Joy and Hope*

  

"By virtue of her mission to shed on the whole world the radiance of the Gospel message, and to unify under one Spirit all people of whatever nation, race or culture, the Church stands forth as a sign of that brotherhood which allows honest dialogue and gives it vigor.


 

"Such a mission requires in the first place that we foster within the Church herself mutual esteem, reverence and harmony, through the full recognition of lawful diversity. Thus all those who compose the one People of God, both pastors and the general faithful, can engage in dialogue with ever abounding fruitfulness. For the bonds which unite the faithful are mightier than anything dividing them. Hence, let there be unity in what is necessary; freedom in what is unsettled, and charity in any case." (92)

 

*In the past year we have run a series of excerpts from the 2007 document of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship. In this issue we begin a new series of excerpts from the Vatican II document, Gaudium et Spes/Joy and Hope, promulgated in 1965 on the last day of the Council. Click here to read the entire document. This document has been chosen as the inspiration for the 2015 NPM Convention in Grand Rapids, 50 years later, and this series will continue throughout the year. 

Prayer List

Karen Smith, Cathedral of St. Andrew
Nate McKenzie, St. Stephen
 
Is there someone in your music ministry who we should lift in prayer?  Please send the person's name and parish to Mary Harwood.  Names will be listed for one month unless otherwise specified.
Upcoming Events 
  • October 10 & 11: Sing! Play! Pray
    • Friday, October 10, 7 p.m.
    • Saturday, October 11, 8:30-noon
    • St. Simon, Ludington
  • October 11: Soli Deo Gloria
    • Michael Adams, senior organ recital
    • 7:30 p.m.
    • Trinity Lutheran Church
  • October 13: Prayer of Peace
    • Ecumenical sung prayer in the style of Taize
    • 7:30 p.m. | second Monday of each month
    • St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids
    • Singers and instrumentalists are welcome to participate, please contact Larry Barton for info   
  • October 17: Pierre Fracalanza
    • Steinway Artist
    • 6:30 p.m.
    • St. Alphonsus Church
  • October 20: The Church Music of Leo Sowerby
    • Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys
    • 8 p.m.
    • St. Mark's Episcopal Church
  • October 23: Liz Christian Beginnings
    • Live music, inspiring stories, brand new songs inspired by faith
    • 6:30 p.m.
    • Holy Name of Jesus, Wyoming
  • October 24: ACDA Collegiate Honors Choir
    • 7:30 p.m.
    • First Presbyterian Church
  • October 26: Fall Concert
    • Grand Rapids Community College Choral Ensembles
    • 8 p.m.
    • St. Cecilia Music Center Royce Auditorium
  • October 30: Autumn Choral Concert
    • Catholic Central High School
    • 7 p.m.
    • Cathedral of St. Andrew
Save the Date!

 

It's never too soon to mark your calendar for the NPM National Convention in Grand Rapids MI -- July 6-10, 2015!

Coda: Quote of the Month

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."