If you’ve started with the community singing something a cappella on Sunday, and the choir singing something a cappella at rehearsal, that’s a great start. If you’ve made any progress at all, no matter how small, keep it going! Think how else you might reinforce this important central concept: the unaccompanied voice of the community is sufficient to praise God.
Music directors have to go to a lot of meetings: staff meetings, liturgy meetings, sometimes parish council meetings. What if every parish meeting opened up with a short song, acclamation or hymn a cappella? Obviously, you’ve got to get the cooperation of the parish priest and leadership, but you can often get them to sign off on the concept by reminding them how well it has worked at Mass throughout Advent. (Praise the efforts of the community and the support of the music ministry.)
Promise that it won’t take long or interfere with the business of the meeting—in fact, it may help attendees focus on the business at hand. Think of a seasonal hymn such any appropriate text on OLD HUNDREDTH, for instance. (Only one verse, please, for starters.) Or a seasonal Eucharistic acclamation, or the chant Our Father. Down the road, they’ll be able to sing a simple round with gusto, but until they’re ready for that, stick to simple and practical.
What you’re basically doing is reinforcing the idea of a cappella singing as being normal, and as important a symbol as the Sign of the Cross. When we were baptized, we were signed with the cross of Christ; and we repeat it at every liturgy. All people need is a reasonable starting note, or just to hear the first word or so. There’s no need to wait for an instrumental intro, no need for a microphone, no need for anything but the People of God singing God’s praise together.
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from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C).
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