The Heart of Worship

What can we five young adults teach about music ministry to people who've been singing in choirs since before they were born? Apparently a lot, Massive Worship led an Encounter Day for the music ministries of Annunciation of Our Lord parish in Ottawa on September 26. Some of those in attendance had over 30 years experience singing in the choir. Still, they opened their ears and hearts to us and our message.

As musicians, we tend to place value on ourselves based on our relative musical abilities, being confident when we're the best at what we do, and thinking we're useless when someone else sings or plays better. It is a lie, but commonly believed without investigation. This lie leads only to pride and despair, and many people go through life not knowing there is another option.

Heather and April showed the music ministers the peace found in knowing your value comes from God alone. When you take your identity as God's child, through the adoption of Jesus' redeeming love, music, like any talent, is simply a gift to be accepted, exercised, and given back to others. Suzi explained true worship, that it is our response to who God is. And Jesse gave some practical tips for different ministry situations, i.e. Mass, youth events, Eucharistic Adoration.

The people at Annunciation responded graciously, sharing what they soaked in from the encounter with us. Rob felt rejuvenated, and joyful at the possibilities of a musical shift in the Church. Jeanette, a choir director, was pleasantly surprised that we were in line with the Bishops' liturgical Summer School she went to recently. And a high school student named Andrew, said he was filled with hope for his own ministry in Peterborough. He was inspired to find more musicians to join him in his band for Mass. I honestly didn't know what kind of change we would see in people over the course of seven hours, but I was blown away by their honesty, their hope, and their new spark.

God Bless

Sean Flynn
Massive Worship Band