May 2020: Holy Spirit Come!

4/29/2020

It's tricky business, learning to pray and worship and learn and SING together in new ways, even as we are all staying in our own houses to keep everyone safe.

Zoom helps us be together in lots of ways, but it is a challenging platform when it comes to singing together. When everyone sings out loud, all at once, it sounds really chaotic. On the other hand, when we can TAKE TURNS singing and listening, it can be really beautiful!

Songs that are structured in the oral tradition style of "call and response" are perfect for "taking turns" singing together over zoom.

Below is a song I wrote yesterday, as a way to experiment with this idea of singing "call and response" style with my own kids over zoom.

I am hoping that some of the children and families from St. Mark's might be game to join us in sharing this song during online worship one Sunday in May! We'll have a series of short (~15 minute) zoom "practice sessions" to practice this song (and maybe a couple others) every Tuesday and Thursday in May at 3PM MST. Email me for the Zoom Meeting ID if you'd like to join us. All ages welcome! No pressure to sing "in church" if you don't want to...you are welcome to join the practice sessions just for the fun of it!

0 Comments

Song of the Month

In early 2019 I began serving as assisting priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Albuquerque. St. Mark's is home to a diverse and rapidly growing faith community as well as a Montessori Preschool that serves ~50 preschool children and their families.

One of my first areas of focus at St. Mark's will be to explore creative ways to support the spiritual growth of St. Mark's families, not only at church and school, but also at home throughout the week.

We'll begin our exploration with a "Song of the Month." Each month we'll offer a simple song as an "anchor" for spiritual reflection and growth throughout the month. Parents and other adults in the St. Mark's community are encouraged to learn the song and access further materials for reflection online. Children will practice the song each week in Children's Chapel. Children will be invited to share the song with the entire St. Mark's community during worship (as the offertory anthem) on the 4th Sunday of each month.

If you are the parent/caregiver of a very young child (age 0-2), your child will still benefit enormously from daily exposure to the "Song of the Month". Even though they aren't yet singing, you can be sure they are already listening to you and learning! Experiment with incorporating the song into any part of your daily routine--waking, sleeping, bathing, dressing, diaper change, etc. From an early age, you can help your child establish a pattern of life in which prayer, spiritual practice, and song are a natural part!

If you are the parent/caregiver of an older child (age 3+) try incorporating the song and one short, thematically linked reflection question, action, or prayer into your daily routine--maybe at mealtime, at bedtime, or even during your daily commute.

If you are a teenager or adult with no young children at home, find a way to work the song into your daily routine--perhaps while your showering, driving, or cooking. Discuss the theme or reflection question with a friend or partner--or set aside some time to journal, draw, paint, blog or reflect in some other creative way on your own.

Sunday School Teachers and Small Group Leaders: Consider incorporating the "Song of the Month" or one of the relevant reflection questions into your own sessions, classes, or meetings each month if appropriate.

Everybody: Have fun! Sing out! Experiment! And above all--share your experiences and insights with one another and with me!

May 2020: Holy Spirit Come!

Leave a Reply.

Song of the Month

Archives

Categories

Home

Email Sylvia+