THE CHOIR AND THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION By John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

THE CHOIR AND THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

By

John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

3.0.  Introduction:

This lecture is aimed at making the choir to be aware of their proper responsibility in the Eucharistic celebration. The choir has a very vital role to play in the Mass, and could help make the sacred celebration “a spirit filled one” that every participant goes home in high spiritual mood. The choir can achieve this depending on their spiritual level, practice, organization, zeal and selection of songs.

3.1.  Spiritual Level:      The choir members must live spiritually. How can someone sing sacred songs while his life depicts evil activities, opposed to what he professes? That is why many songs we sing these days do not motivate, change, or edify the congregation despite their possession of powerful words that can heal, soothe, instill faith, assurance, and hope amongst the worshiping congregation.

The bible has this to say in Sirach 15:9-10, “it is not appropriate for a sinner to sing hymns of praise, because his worship is insincere”. A hymn should be an expression of wisdom, inspired by the Lord himself.

CHOIR MEMBERS SHOULD AVOID THE FOLLOWINGS:

i.                       Drunkenness

ii.                       Sex outside marriage

iii.                       Foul talk

iv.                       Scandal

v.                       Gossip

vi.                       Disobedience

vii.                       Pride

viii.                       Arrogance

ix.                       Laziness

At interval the choir should organize pure spiritual revival and fasting. Days of bible sharing and prayer is highly recommended once or twice a week.

A tremendous change for good could be achieved if the above suggestion is adhered to.

3.2.     Practice: The choirmaster or music director must select songs for the Mass in advance and new ones (songs) must be thoroughly taught, practiced or rehearsed at different occasions with sufficient time.

          In the case of instrumentalist e.g. organists, guitarists, drummers, trumpeters, and others, they must first learn the songs alone before formal presentation; however, this will not be in isolation of the full choir.

          Rehearsal or practice time is not for noise making and argument. It is period of spiritual, mental and physical preparation to enable you lead the congregation spiritually in songs.

3.3.     Organization: There should be effective organization within the choir as a body. The choir should always liaise with the Parish Priest for direction, instruction, discussion and suggestions for the common good of the parishioners.

          There should be good working relationship between the choir members, music director, choirmaster, members of the executive, instrumentalists, soloists and other related ranks within the choir. The relation should be purely cordial and spiritual. Respect is highly recommended.

3.4.     Zeal:       The leaders of the choir must always do their possible best to instill the spirit of zealousness in members to enable them achieve the goal by which the choir was established. The music director or choirmaster must always live above board in spirit and music. He must find ways of improving rapidly in music knowledge and has responsibility to teach and motivate members to follow suit. He must be down to earth in his service. Highly disciplined to enable him instill discipline in members.

3.5.  Introduction of Songs at the Mass:

There are periods some choir spend long time, about two minutes to start songs. It is wrong to break the smooth flow of the celebration. The choir must always be ready with selected songs and right keys at the tip of their fingers – the organist or instrumentalists must be ready at all times too.

When the priest chants any songs, no second should be wasted in response, if the keys are too high or low, the organist or choirmaster whistles the right key in very short notes then the choir takes off. Do not keep the congregation waiting more than necessary, it disorganizes them and they do not feel happy about it. Do not break the smooth flow of the worship that participants keep waiting unnecessary. The celebration should be lively and smooth from the beginning to the end.

3.6.  Instrumentation:

Do not play too loud that the sound of instruments covers the voices. Do not forget that the voice has the message; it must at all times be on top of the instrumentation. 

3.7.  Choir/Congregation:

        The choir must try at all times to select good and simple songs that will not be difficult for the congregation to join.

        Active participant of the audience in the mass often depends on the type of songs selected.

3.9.  Teaching the Congregation:

        Music directors, song leaders or choirmasters could create time before the mass or at any other convenient time to teach the parishioners new hymns or songs. This enhances their participation in the mass. It makes you have a powerful singing community or congregation.

3.10.   Selections:

A.                  The Beginning of the Mass

At the beginning of celebration of Holy Eucharist, the choir master should have foresight and focus ‘mentally and spiritually’ to enable him select some powerful spiritual hymns of invitation that will set the congregation in the right mood for worship. It is not every hymn of invitation that inspires, despite the fact that some part of it may be scriptural.

Proper care must be taken when selecting hymns, because from experience, it has been shown that inspired hymns help in raising the mood of worship and many times it enable the priest perform his duty smoothly and (spiritually). These in turn, increase participation of the congregation during the Mass and their number swells.

The choirmaster and organist should be able to know the right key and tempo for any hymn to be presented by the choir, e.g. introit, I confess, Lord have mercy and Gloria.

The choir should always select those songs that can touch the hearts of participants, which can also help them be in the right frame of mind to sing along and have serious reflection in the meaning of the songs, e.g. singing ‘I confess’, the choir and the song should be able to convince the participants that they are sinners and ready to amend or repent.

The above statement is applicable to other Eucharistic songs, like the responsorial psalm, acclamation, the creed, the general intercession etc. If it is song of praise, it should spur people into spiritual reverence and praise.

It is to affirm the priest’s prayer or chant, it should be done with the whole heart, mind and in faith.

B.                            Offertory

There are times you hear songs of consolation, deliverance, intercession and supplication during the offertory. If properly looked into, it could be the choirmaster’s ignorance or just the choice of the choirmaster, simply because those songs or hymns are dear to him.

The choir should be able to songs that can touch and move people into action with happiness to offer something to their creator.

Songs that will make people look as dead in worship are ruled out. Sing powerful spiritual songs that are generally known for everybody to join. Make sure the songs have ‘touching melody’ and strong rhythm. It should always be hymns of thanksgiving and praise or short and simple choruses if possible.

C.                             Holy Communion

Songs to be selected should relate to the Holy Communion. Some of the songs could tell you the disadvantages of receiving unworthily. This helps you to have recollection personally whether you are in a state of grace.

In some occasions, there are priests who recommend songs of “praise and deliverance” That is the priest’s choice may be for some reasons.

D.                  Dismissal:

Hymns of thanksgiving are appropriate. But you should sing those ones that will spur interest in participants to want to participate with eagerness next time.

National Praise

GROWING IN MUSICAL ABILITY AS A GROUP By John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

GROWING IN MUSICAL ABILITY AS A GROUP By John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

5.0. Introduction: No parent will be happy discovering, after all toils to fend/train a child, that the child remained stagnant in physical and mental growth. Nonetheless the child, if sensible, will be happy seeing the physical and mental progress made by his/her colleagues or mates. This can generate lost of problem for the parents and the child. Same is applicable to any musical group that does not grow in musical knowledge or ability. This will cause serious problem for the mother group and the musical group themselves; the end is always disastrous. Any group that desires to be performing professionally and optimally must be organized, every program marshaled out clearly; teaching and learning must be followed religiously e.g. Days for general choir practice, instrumentalists day of practice, beginners practice days (instrumentalists), seminars etc. 5.1. Days for General Choir: A group should have days mapped out for general practice, this is a time when the whole members will assemble for practice. The selected days can be used for voice training, learning of new songs, or arranging already known songs into organized format. i.e. applying intro, chords, bridges, instrumentation etc., The choirmaster, song leader, music director or bandleader should learn or have pre- knowledge of vital songs to be learnt by the group. This facilitates the learning and capacity of the group. 5.2. Instrumentalists Practice Days: They should have days mapped out for practice or rehearsals and arrangement of songs. This should be seen as a serious business. 5.3. Beginners Practice Day: A group that wants to grow or face future challenges must work harder to teach new comers in the group, music. It is very important; hence no condition is permanent, no music instructor is sure to remain permanent where he or she is residing now. Good teachers or instructors are to be provided for the group. 5.4. More Advice for Growth  Individual Learning/Effort: Any individual who wants to be a good singer or player must not depend only on days of general practice for effective performance. He or she must learn or practice for about five hours and above every day.  The individual should be encouraged to make friend with good musicians for advice, direction and more lessons.  Listening to good Music: In this aspect, you don’t just listen for pleasure sake alone, you play the music over and over again, imitating and copying things there in; this needs high concentration and carefulness. 5.5. Seminar: Periodic music seminar is crucial. In seminar of such, experienced and solid professionals are invited to conduct the seminar. The seminar should be spiritual and technical. 5.6. Stage Performance: When it is time for performances, play songs you have rehearsed or know better, do not go to the stage to start learning songs before the audience. Let the singers or lead singers always listen to the cue i.e. the key of the intro before starting a song. The lead singer or singers can only start singing before the instrument only on arrangement; still he/she must start the song on an agreed key. The instrumentalists must give the right key to the singers in consideration of their voice range or pitch range.Finally,perseverance,humility,resourcefulness,dedication and prayer are also needed. Click to see my gospel music video and audio: http://bit.ly/1MGBNZr http://bit.ly/1KKPGT9 http://on.fb.me/1K09qiW

HAIL JESUS YOU ARE MY KING

John Ewelukwa Udegbunam During the past Onitsha provincial conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria held in Abakaliki Diocese in Ebonyi State south East Nigeria giving out some minor corrections to the instrumentalists and singers during break time for a better performance. He is also the music director for the province

THE MANAGEMENT OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP MINISTRY IN THE CCR, BY John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

THE MANAGEMENT OF PRAISE

AND WORSHIP MINISTRY IN THE CCR,

BY

John Ewelukwa Udegbunam

1.0.     Introduction

1.1.  Management:

The above word ‘management’ the nucleus of this lecture, is defined as the process of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling in order to formulate and attain organization goal (i.e aims and objectives).

From the above definition, to be specific, the organization we will talk about is the Praise and Worship Ministry in the CCR and its objectives. Before getting down to the lecture proper, some words that made up the definition will be defined.

 1.2. An Organization: This is a group of people whose activities are consciously coordinated toward common goal. We have formal and informal organizations. Informal organizations have leaders and not managers in the sense we do use the term. Praise and Worship Ministry as a sub-unit of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal strives to attain its objectives and that of the Mother Organization (CCR).

1.3.  Objectives:  Every organization has its objectives. The under-listed statements are reasons for establishing the Praise and Worship Ministry in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

A.    To have special group whose responsibility is to lead the people of God in worship through music.

B.    To spread good news through music.

C.    To prepare and compose songs for worship, songs that can console, soothe or heal and transform the broken hearted etc.

D.    To encourage talents.

E.    That members of the Ministry will attain heaven through such services.

1.4   Functions of the Management Process

Planning, Organization, Motivating and Controlling are interrelated four functions of Management process.

1.4.1.        The planning functions are the process of deciding what the organization’s objectives should be and what members should do to attain ‘them’.

        The function of planning address three primary questions:

I.          Where are we now? Here it involved assessing the organization strength, failures and progress towards the achievement of the objectives.

II.          Where do we go from here? This involves assessing opportunities and threats within the organization’s environment and how to face them.

III.        How are they going to get there? This involves taking decision on what should be done for members to attain the organization’s objectives.

1.4.2.  Organization:  This function’s name derived from organization is the creation of structure. There are many elements in organization that need equipment, educating members, booking engagements etc. The above mention issues and other related ones need delegated authority for proper execution and feedback to the head or manager (Leader).

1.4.3.  Motivating: The manager (chairman or leader) has to know things that should be done to members or how to approach them, making them work hard. How? E.g. incentives.

1.4.4.  Controlling: This is the process by which we insure that organization objectives are being achieved. This involves checking whether members are meeting standards of the organizational objectives, measuring what has been achieved and comparing it to organization’s dreams. It is assessment and a supervisory role.

1.5.     In the Praise and Worship Ministry, there are some hierarchical names that are associated with the office that oversee to the welfare of the ministry e.g., Chairman, Leader, Band Leader, Coordinator, Choir Master, Music Director, Liaison Personnel, Chief Liaison Person etc.

Some Praise and Worship Ministries are divided into two:

Ø          The Choir

Ø           The Band

In some cases their operations are interwoven while in some cases they operate in isolation of the other. In the real sense and to my own understanding and experience they should be one group.

Through my own experience of what exists among many of the Charismatic Renewal groups around the globe, there is nothing like having the Choir and Band operating separately. What should exist is a standard Praise and Worship Ministry with local or foreign musical equipment or without instrument for those who have not purchased theirs’.

1.6.     The Hierarchy in the Ministry:

1.6.1.  Liaison Personnel

In some group, leaders are posted from the team of coordinators of the Mother Prayer Group as Liaison Personnels; in that case one of them should be the Chief Liaison Personnel. These Leaders posted may not be members of the ministry or even have idea what singing or playing music is all about. This is so because professionals are few. It would have been better where majority of people posted to such groups were musicians. The posted leaders see to the imparting of the word of God to the group and other managerial and organizational activities, them report back to the Team of coordinators of the Mother Prayer Group.

1.6.2.  Music Director or Choirmaster

The Music Director or Choirmaster is in charge of teaching and conducting of songs. The responsibility to bring up new choirmasters and singers is on him.

1.6.3.  Band Leader:

The Band Leader has the responsibility to organize the members of the ministry for outings through the directives of the Liaison or other liaison personnel. He also helps in teaching or organizing training for the new ones (instrumentalists and singers).

1.6.4.  Chief Technician:

In the case of small repairs and care for the instruments, somebody has to be in charge, he may be called the above name.

1.6.5.  Booking Personnel:

This person takes charge of the ministry’s bookings to avoid conflict in dates and remits the money to chief liaison or designated personnel.

1.6.6.  Financial Secretary/Treasurer:

They are in charge of the money that accrues to the group for some minor expenditure. There are other designations in the ministry e.g. Lead Singers, or Soloist, Lead Guitarist, Chief Organist, etc.

1.6.7.  Music Coach: 

The music Coach is solely in charge of music lessons/practice.

1.7.     Outings:

The entire group could be divided into two or more, where the ministry has enough personnel especially instrumentalists to handle outings to avoid over labour. When people are over laboured by too much outings and engagements, sometimes it affects their businesses, spiritual and private life. The group will start to suffer and next is to start recording disappointments, when they are booked for functions. If the group is divided into two or more, they are to practice in common, hence it is not a separation that warrants everybody to do his/her personal wish.

1.8.     Packing Instruments:

The instrumentalists and the technical group must be around when instruments are being packed. Under no circumstances should they leave the instruments to novice to pack or set.

Those who are supposed to care for the instruments have at one time or the other damaged expensive equipments due to negligence of responsibilities. Similarly, many Charismatic groups have lost huge sum of money and are still losing more as a result of this canker worm.

1.9.     The Purchase of Musical Equipment:

 It is a wise habit to always consult a tested professional with experience before buying any equipment. Do not forget that it is not all that glitters that are gold. I have seen many groups which were misled into buying expensive equipment, which could not serve them for a day or a week and the huge sum sank into the purchase got wasted. It is a very bitter experience, to go through such enterprise. Be warned! Do not waste the hard earned money of brethren for nothing, the consequence is there waiting for culprits. I repeat, take time to ask questions and obtain proper information before any purchase is made.

1.10.   Generation of Fund

1.10.1.       Outings: The Praise and Worship Ministry can also go commercial e.g. Weddings, Burials, Church services, Thanksgiving services, though this will depend on the decision of the Praise and Worship Ministry leaders in conjunction with the Mother Prayer Group’s Coordinators. However care should be taken to avoid damaging the equipments in such outings. If any group records huge damages in outings such that will affect the Prayer Group band performance, immediate decision has to be taken to avoid serious effect on the renewal’s crusades, seminars, conferences, retreat etc. Which the bands play a vital role and which is the one of the main purpose of purchasing the band.

1.10.2.       Recording:     The Praise and Worship Ministry can through the permission and help of the group coordinators, record songs as means of spreading the good news and at the same time, (if God permits) realize some proceeds for the spread of the gospel. The sponsorship can come either from the prayer group or music companies. (I recommend the reading of a pamphlet captioned ‘Ethics for Gospel Musicians by John Ndidika Ewelukwa Udegbunam)