Anywhere the band goes, God is sure to go

We are not used to being center-stage while playing music. The choir or band section of most churches is in front, but off to the side. When playing for Mass, we seek only to magnify what is happening at the ambo and the altar. When leading music for other prayers, we put the visual focus on the Blessed Sacrament, or a crucifix. Last weekend in Montreal, at St. Thomas a Becket Parish, we held a rally for over 80 young people, and the Massive Worship band was right smack-dab in the middle, even in front of the altar.

To provide excitement, we had to break out of our "play-the-music-and-pray-the-music-only" shells and adopt the attitude of "let's give 'em a show!" It's not just a show, however. All the energy and joy we can give is the joy of Christ, flowing through us. And half the event was specifically prayerful, anyway.

After our first song, though, Jesse introduced the rest of us band members individually, as we provided instrument solos to go along with our introduction. It goes so much against our aim to be selfless, but it does so much to create a rapport with the audience to whom we are trying to bring the light and joy of Christ. It's fun, and talent can gain the respect of the skeptic.

It was a great audience. There were members of a few different parishes' youth groups, and they all sang with the songs, laughed with the fun, and at least some of them had real encounters with God. One person told us they "really felt close to God and that He was surrounding me!" Hopefully, this person will always know that God is around, surrounding everything with His love. Hopefully we, too, can learn that no matter where we are, choir loft, sanctuary, altar, or even in the outside world, God is surrounding us with His love in all places.


God Bless,

Sean Flynn
Massive Worship Band