We have just a few notes about the upcoming season of Advent and Christmas for you.  Advent starts the weekend of Nov. 28^th and Nov. 29^th.

 

Christmas Mass Schedule: Dec. 24^th: 4:00 PM Holy Cross, 4:00 PM Sherrill, 6:00 PM Rickardsville, 6:00 PM Balltown, 8:00 PM Luxemburg  *  Dec. 25^th: 9:00 AM Rickardsville

 

ENVIRONMENT: The fall decorations in all of the churches look great. We have noticed that all of you put a lot of effort into making the churches look beautiful. Thank you!!

 

 Advent:   Please remember we use the color purple.  Please place the Advent Wreath in a spot where all the Priests can easily reach the candles and where it is visible for the assembly.  Place the wreath at one of the sides similar to what you’ve done in the past.  It is acceptable to hang a non-distracting purple cloth or strips of purple cloth from the front of the altar as long as the white altar cloth is on top.

 

Memorial Candles:  Families can take the memorial candles home after Mass on Nov. 28^th or Nov. 29^th.  If there are any remaining candles after that time, they can be used for sanctuary lights.

 

Christmas decorating: You may start setting up the Christmas environment NO EARLIER than December 20^th.  Remember: No Christmas lights turned on or Baby Jesus displayed until the Christmas Eve Masses.

 

Christmas:  Keep the Christmas decorations up until after Masses on January 9^th and 10^th.  This is the weekend we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.

 

SCHEDULERS:  Thanks for doing such a great job scheduling each of the three months. We appreciate all of your help.  You may schedule the liturgical roles for Christmas Eve and Christmas masses at any time.  Please email us a copy of your Christmas liturgical role schedule and we will make sure Bonnie has it for the bulletin. (lasallepastorate@gmail.com)

 

Next Three Month Scheduling: (Jan.-Mar)

Mass times for the next three months:

Sat: 4:00 PM Holy Cross; 6:00 PM Sherrill; Sun: 7:00 AM; Luxemburg; 8:30 AM Balltown;

        10:00 AM Rickardsville

Please have your next three month schedules to us by Dec. 13^th so we can get them in the churches the weekend of Dec. 19^th and Dec. 20^th.  If you want copies made of the schedules, please let us know how many you need and we will take care of that for you.

Cindy will schedule liturgical roles for Dec. 8^th Holy Day masses and Jan. 1^st Holy Day masses.

 

Please check your supplies and let us know if you are low in any area. You may want to check to see if you

Happy Fall!   We hope all of you are doing well and finding some time to relax.

Here is a recap of what we decided at our August 12^th meeting along with further developments since that time:

Liturgical Music Setting Selections:

Ordinary Time (Fall ’09):  Your choice

Advent (November 29): Sing the Responsorial Psalm; use “Mass of Hope”; use an alternate Lamb of God:  could use #359 (Breaking Bread 2009 Edition) Lamb of God/Taste and See by Tom Kendzia or you could use another Lamb of God of your choice.  Do not sing the “Gloria” with the exception of Dec. 8 which is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christmas (Christmas Eve - Baptism of our Lord): “Mass of Creation”; can use “Mass of Creation” Gloria or “Christmas Gloria” for the Gospel Acclamation; sing the Responsorial Psalm.

Ordinary Time (Week of Jan. 11): Your choice. Following the instructions of the Catholic Bishops, we are to strive to involve the assembly in all worship.  Music is to be emphasized and used whenever possible.  Singing the Responsorial Psalm is to be encouraged.

Lent (Ash Wednesday: Feb. 17-Mar. 31): “Sing Praise and Thanksgiving”; no sung responsorial psalm or “Gloria” sung during Lent; use “Praise to You, Lord, Jesus Christ” for the Gospel Acclamation; “Alleluia” should never be sung during Lent (except for Holy Thursday); any music used should be sung (not just instrumental); do not play any music after the assembly has received Communion; keep music subdued.

Holy Thursday (April 1) and Easter Vigil (April 3): “Mass of Light”; sing the “Gloria”.

Easter (April 4 – May 23): “Mass of Glory”; Anderson “Gloria”; use loud, upbeat, joyful music; sing the Responsorial Psalm.

Ordinary Time: (Week of May 24): Your choice.  Following the instructions of the Catholic Bishops, we are to strive to involve the assembly in all worship.  Music is to be emphasized and used whenever possible.  Singing the Responsorial Psalm is to be encouraged.

a.  Prelude music must end before the scheduled start time for Mass.  It is recommended that prelude music end several minutes prior to the beginning of Mass to provide the assembly with silent reflection and prayer time.

b.  Practicing within 15 minutes of the Mass starting time is distracting to the assembly.  Conclude all practice times at least 15 minutes prior to the Mass starting time.  We have been receiving negative comments about this and it is something that can be resolved by all of us.

Responsorial Psalm Notes:

a.  The Catholic Bishops are emphasizing that we need to strive to involve the assembly in all parts of the Mass.  This includes singing during Mass.  The Responsorial Psalm should be sung whenever possible (although we are allowed to make this exception during Lent).

b.  The majority of the hymns in the back of the missalette are not true psalms for use as Responsorial Psalms.  They are only based on psalms.  The recognized psalms are those found in the “Respond and Acclaim” and the “Celebration” books.  Musicians are discouraged from substituting hymns for psalms.

Gospel Acclamation Notes:

a.  Begin the Gospel Acclamation when you see Father begin to move his body or foot.  Priests intentionally want a moment of silence prior to the singing of the Gospel Acclamation.  In other words, “Let the Priest decide when the acclamation begins”.

b.  Always sing through the entire Gospel Acclamation refrain before the assembly sings.  Don’t sing half of it and invite the assembly to join in the last half.  The composer wrote the refrain as a single thought and we are to respect the composer’s wishes.  The refrain of the Gospel Acclamation is to always be sung through 2 times (once by musician(s), second time by assembly) with it only being sung once after the verse has been sung.

Communion Notes:

a.       Begin the Communion Hymn immediately as Father is receiving the Body of Christ. Some of the musicians are still waiting too long so watch closely.

b.      Do not announce the Communion Hymn.

c.       Musicians receive Communion after the assembly has received. Father or a Eucharistic Minister will distribute to the musicians.

d.      Musicians may play instrumental music or sing another hymn after the assembly and musicians have received communion.  Stop playing/singing when Father sits down.  Do not play or sing any music after the assembly and musicians have received Communion during Lent. 

Announcing Hymns:

a.       Gathering Hymn, Gathering Song, Entrance Hymn, Entrance Song

b.      Preparation Hymn, Preparation Song

c.       Do not announce the Communion Hymn.  This breaks the solemnity of this part of the Mass.

d.      Sending Forth Hymn, Sending Forth Song, Dismissal Hymn

e.       Double check the hymn numbers when using the hymn boards

f.       Do not interject your personal feelings or words when announcing music.  Your “job” is strictly to announce hymns for those who cannot see the hymn boards.

Hymn Selection Notes:

a.       Only use a maximum of 1 new hymn at a Mass. The best place to introduce it is at the Preparation time.

b.      Make sure hymns reflect Mass “mood” (celebration, sorrowful, introspective, etc.)

c.       All hymns do not need to reflect the Mass message of the day

d.      Civil holidays do not overshadow major Church events

e.       When a Church holy day is moved to the weekend, use hymns that reflect that day.  For example: Ascension Sunday should be Ascension related hymns)

Other:

a.       Remember that it is okay to have some silent time; you don’t have to have music all the time (for example: during offertory and after communion).  Music should be used whenever there is a processional and usually during a recessional (Gathering, Communion, Sending Forth).

b.      Please adjust the microphone so it is close to the cantor’s mouth so everyone can hear the song leader and sing along.  The microphone should be no further than two fists from the mouth.

c.       Cantors should be very conscious of every word they sing.  Moving the microphone close to the mouth and annunciating clearly will assist the assembly with reponses.

 

Christmas Schedule:

Thursday, December 24^th:

 

4:00 p.m. - Sherrill and Holy Cross

6:00 p.m. - Rickardsville / Balltown

8:00 p.m. - Luxemburg

 

Friday, December 25^th:

 

9:00 a.m. - Rickardsville

 

 

Thank you for all of your hard work!! We appreciate the time and talents you share with us each week.

 

Thanks,

Jim and Cindy Roberts