|
WORSHIP
The Second Vatican Council has proclaimed majestically that the celebration of the Eucharist is the summit and center of Christian worship. For it is in the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup
the complete mingling of the divinity with our humanity that Jesus Christ's Body and Blood have become our food and drink and, therefore, our redemption and salvation. It is here in the Eucharist that God embraces us in an utmost intimacy. It is here in the Eucharist that God‘s love is poured out unconditionally to all. It is also here in the Eucharist that God commands us to live a life in total service to all. Celebrating the Eucharist, therefore, is not simply a Church's obligation that needs to be fulfilled. Our Christian existence would bear no meaning whatsoever if we refused to be fed with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Our membership in the Church would fail to make any sense whatsoever if we refused to join our hearts and hands with those of our brothers and sisters in praising and giving thanks to God. And our faith would wither and fade away if we refused to be rooted in and challenged by God's command to wash the feet of one another.
That is precisely the reason why the celebration of the Eucharist is never the end but the beginning of our mission to the whole creation. The Eucharist challenges us to go beyond the church's walls and transform the world with our peace. The Eucharist calls us to go and convert society with our justice. The Eucharist demands us to be Jesus Christ to everyone
- to share bread with the hungry, water with the thirsty, comfort with the heavily burdened, healing with the sick, intimacy with the lonely and love with the abandoned. Hence, any meditation, study, reflection, effort and activity that celebrates God's presence in the world, we call it
Worship.
Current Worship Ministries:
Worship
 Music Ministry
Liturgical Ensemble
The Liturgical Ensemble is made up of singers and
instrumentalists who enjoy a somewhat informal approach to leading music
ministry and who are dedicated to participating throughout the year.
Rehearsal: Saturdays at 4pm; First Tuesday 7-9pm
Mass: Saturday 5pm
Leader: Dan Erlandson
Contact: 616-455-9310
Youth Choir
The youth choir is open to all children of reading
age and older who can commit to a weekly rehearsal and monthly liturgy.
Students learn about the liturgical year and the elements of our faith
and tradition that pertain to it while they also learn about tone
production, music reading and working together as a team.
Rehearsal: Thursdays, 6:30-8pm
Mass: 1st Sunday of the month, 9am
Leader: Sarah Clapp
Contact: 616-455-9310
Cantor Ministry
The ministry of cantor/song leader is primarily to
sing the psalm and Gospel acclamation. A secondary role is to assist the
assembly in the singing of songs and hymns. This role requires a
dedication to delivering the word of God in music, a comfortable
presence in front of the assembly, a pleasant voice and the willingness
to learn music independently.
Requirement: Audition, music reading helpful but not
essential
Mass: assigned based on your schedule
Contact: 616-455-9310
St. Mary Magdalen Choir
The SMM Choir consists of singers who enjoy the
challenge of singing in four (or more) parts. Our primary purposes are
to enhance the singing of the congregation and to present a piece of
choral literature weekly as a meditation on the word of God. The
literature we sing is highly varied and is mainly drawn from composers
of the 17th through the 21st century.
Rehearsal: Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 (8:30 in Advent and
Lent); 2 Saturdays each in December and March
Mass: Sunday, 11 am
Contact: 616-455-9310
Bell Choir
The bell choir consists of at least 11 members who
play a 3-octave set of Schulmerich handbells. Members need to have a
basic proficiency in reading music (mainly understanding rhythm) and be
physically able to swing up to a couple of pounds of weight held in
their hands.
Rehearsal: Thursdays, 5:30-6:25pm
Mass: Generally the last Sunday of the month plus Christmas and Easter
Assistant conductor: Barbara Kozachik
Contact: 616-455-9310
Instrumentalists
Instrumentalists are encouraged to dust off their
instruments and play once or twice monthly with the "liturgical band".
Jim Ross, our instrumental music director, heads up the band program at
East Kentwood HS and directs several SMM students for Mass twice each
month. Adults are welcome, of course, and those who are in practice are
encouraged to play more often at any of the weekend liturgies.
Rehearsal: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 10am
Mass: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 11am
Leader: Jim Ross
Contact: 616-455-9310
Funeral Choir
This ad hoc ensemble consists of members of various
ensembles and even some non-parishioners who lead the singing for
funerals. This ministry is open to anyone who has frequent availability
to sing a liturgy on a weekday morning.
Rehearsal: 45 minutes before a funeral liturgy
Mass: announced 2 or 3 days in advance
Contact: 616-455-9310
Sunday 5:00 Mass Ensemble
Sunday evening is a little more informal and the
assembly often consists of many who do not belong to the parish but find
the Mass time convenient. The music is a little more relaxed, too, and
rehearsal time is limited, and so we look especially for those who are
proficient in their instruments or singers who can read music.
Rehearsal: Sunday 4:15
Mass: Sunday 5pm
Contact: Dave Doppel - 616-455-9310
Back to Top
Worship
Liturgy
Altar Servers
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) for information and ask for the current contact person for this
ministry.
Instructions
1.
Sign in!
2. Go into the back of church for your alb. Make sure you pick a size that
will fall at about ankle length.
3.
Once in your alb, stand at the entrance to church by the candles. Just
before Mass starts, light the two candles that will be brought up to the Altar.
4. The music begins; Father will give you a cue to begin processing down the
aisle.
5. At the Altar, the two
candleholders should line up with the pink
pillars. The person carrying the cross (if there is one) should continue up the
Altar and place the cross in the holder, then go directly to your seat. After
the candles are placed, those servers should also go directly to their seats.
6. Father will begin Mass. Your next big cue is when he says,
“LET US PRAY”. Then one altar server should bring the Sacramentary (the big
red book) to the priest, and hold it as he reads from it. When finished, he
will close the book and you and the book return to the pew.
7.
Your next
big cue comes after The Prayers of the Faithful. (For you little ones, this is when a Lector
reads short prayers and we answer “We pray to the Lord”). As soon as we are
finished with Prayers of the Faithful:
-
PLEASE NOTE:
WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING THE CANDLES TO THE BACK OF CHURCH TO LEAD THE FAMILY
BRINGING UP THE OFFERTORY GIFTS. PROCEED RIGHT TO THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
-
One altar
server needs to take the Sacramentary (the big red book) up to the altar, and
place it on the left side (left side facing the congregation). If there is
also a little black notebook with the Sacramentary, you should bring that up,
too.
-
Another altar
server should get the Chalice and Purificator (little white towel that is laid
across the Chalice) from the (side) Credence table and bring it to the Altar,
placing it in the center.
-
Then both
servers should return to the Credence table, and bring the water cruet, bowl,
and towel to the Altar. Father will be busy at the altar, and will turn to you
when it is time for you to pour the water over his hands, and offer the towel
for him to dry his hands with. Then return the cruet, bowl and towel to the
Credence table, and go back to your pew.
-
NOTE: If
there are three servers, split up the duties. Perhaps have one server bring the
Sacramentary, Chalice & Purificator to the Altar. The other two can do the
water cruet, bowl and towel.
8. Your next action is to kneel at the Altar during the Consecration of the
Eucharist.
9.
Your next
big cue is the
SIGN OF PEACE. Directly following the sign of Peace, the following needs to
happen:
-
Retrieve the
Sacramentary from the Altar and place it on the first pew, where Father sits at
the end of Mass.
-
Bring the
small bowls (the ones that will hold the Eucharist) from the Credence table to
the Altar. Place four bowls on each side of the altar.
-
PLEASE NOTE:
The Master Cup will bring the tray of cups to the altar.
10.
Your next
big cue is when
Communion has been completed:
THIS IS NEW
INFORMATION: In an effort to cut down on the confusion and number of people
involved in cleaning the Altar after communion, we are making some changes:
-
The
Eucharistic Ministers have now been asked to clear the Altar of the cups and
bowls after Communion.
-
BUT…since this
is new for them too…you still should keep watch of the Altar, in case some of
the Eucharistic Ministers leave the Altar without returning their bowls to the
side Altar. THEN head up and finish clearing, if need be.
11. Your next
cue is after the
Final Blessing. As soon as the music starts, leave your pew and take your
candles to the same position (directly in front of the pink pillars). If there
is a third server, you will also get the cross and stand to the left of Father.
12. When Father bows, that is your signal to begin processing out of church.
The server carrying the cross should lead; the two candleholders follow; and
then comes Father.
13. Blow out the candles and return them to their holders in the back of
church.
14. Return your alb to the closet in the back of church. Make sure you hang
it up carefully, and remember to attach the velcro in the proper places so it
hangs properly. Father just spent a lot of money on these new albs, and they
look fantastic! We want to keep them looking that way!
IN A NUTSHELL …
You
have five big moments at the Altar:
1. Bringing the Sacramentary to Father at the Altar, once he says, “Let Us
Pray”.
2.
After the Prayers of the Faithful: Bringing the Sacramentary, Chalice &
Purificator to the Altar; and bringing the water cruet, bowl, and towel to
Father at the Altar.
3.
After the Sign of Peace: Retrieving the Sacramentary from the Altar, and
bringing it to the front pew where Father sits at the end of mass; bringing the
Eucharist bowls from the Credence table to the Altar.
4.
After Communion: Watching for any cleanup you may need to do, if not
completed by the Eucharistic ministers.
5.
As soon as the music starts, grab the candles and cross and get in
position for the process out of church.
Back to Top
Worship
Liturgy
Art & Environment
Help to plan and decorate the church for various
liturgical seasons and special events.
Open to men, women, and young adults.
Service – seasonal.
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) and ask for the current contact person for this ministry.
Back to Top
Worship
Liturgy
Lay Presiders
Prepare and setup all of the items needed for
weekend Mass and to ensure that the other assigned ministers are present. This
is a great ministry for families to be involved in.
Open to families or individuals. One training
session is required.
Service – your Mass preference, usually twice a
month.
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) and ask for the current contact person for this ministry.
Back to Top
Worship
Liturgy
Liturgical
Ministers
Open to musicians age 16 and up, this ensemble
plays the Saturday 5:00 Mass weekly and rehearses once per month on a Tuesday
evening and at 4:00 each Saturday.
Contact Nick Palmer,
music@stmmagdalen.org.
Back to Top
Worship
Liturgy
Social Commission
MS & HS Social
Activities
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) for information and ask for the current contact person for this
ministry.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Men's Group
Opportunities for spiritual growth, service to
others, and community building with other men of the parish. The Men's club also
sponsors breakfasts and dinners, the annual children's Easter Egg hunt, and
other activities.
Open to all men of the parish. Meets – 3rd Tuesday
of each month at 7:30.
Contact Brian Fojtik at 455-9251.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Women's Guild
Opportunities for spiritual growth, service to
others, and community building with other women of the parish. The Guild also
has a Craft Sale in December and a Spring Rummage Sale.
Open to all women of the parish.
Meet - watch the bulletin for the dates and details
of our monthly luncheon meeting.
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) and ask for the current contact person for this ministry.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Young-At-Heart
Opportunities for spiritual growth, service to
others, and community building with other seniors of the parish.
Open to all parishioners age 50 and older.
Meets - 2nd Thursday of each month with a potluck
at 12:00 p.m.
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) and ask for the current contact person for this ministry.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Married Single
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) for information and ask for the current contact person for this
ministry.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Young Adults
Are you looking for a social group that embraces your
beliefs? Would it be nice to be part of a group of people that share
your interests? Would you like to spend time with people, having fun
while strengthening your faith? The parish recognizes the need among
“Young Adults” to establish and support a ministry that fits your needs
and your life style. If you are interested in helping develop,
supporting or participating in this ministry please contact Laura
Kozachik at the Parish Office.
Back to Top
Worship Liturgy
Social Commission
Parish Festival
Committee
Contact the Parish Office
(455-9310) for information and ask for the current contact person for this
ministry.
Back to Top
|
