A Special Song for your Special Day

The Role of Music in the Liturgy:
It's More than 'Four Hymns'
Patricia Campbell

Liturgical music is much more than "four hymns". In reality, it isn't "four hymns" at all. Music in Catholic Worship, a 1972 document from the U.S. Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, explains that the four-hymn pattern grew from trying to fit vernacular hymns into the Latin Mass. Paragraph 52 states, "It is now outdated, and the Mass has more than a dozen parts that may be sung, as well as numerous options for the celebrant."

The Church Musician and Copyright Law
Guidelines for the use of copyrighted music material

What does copyright mean? Do I have to get permission to photocopy music? What about printing song sheets in my bulletin, or transparencies for church or bible studies? Can I record a church service for shut-ins? What about all of those copies in my music library?

Here is everything you probably don’t want to know about using a copier.

“I Love Your Shoes!”
Fr. David Hemann

Then it happened! During the homily, I was noticing the shoes of the priests seated in front of me. Fr. Merle was wearing a nice pair of leather shoes. Fr. Mark was wearing black cowboy boots and Fr. Mike was wearing black tennis shoes. Each piece of footwear said something unique about these priests. I then looked at my own shoes. They were comfortable SAS shoes with a little wear on them. Then, strongly and clearly I heard the voice of the heavenly Father say clearly and distinctly, "I Love your shoes!"  Read More . . .
 

10 Steps to Efficient Breathing
Chris & Carole Beatty

Until God breathed His life into man there was no man. His life, breath and spirit is what makes us alive. Isn’t it ironic that a process as commonplace as breathing can give, or deprive us of, life itself. Add to that the importance of breath to the singer or speaker and we have something worth talking about. Or better yet, something worth perfecting.       Read More . . .

Catholic Worship - Endured or Inspired?
by John Michael Talbot

In America non-Catholic Evangelicals are filling mega churches up to 10,000 seats that offer great sound and lights, a great band, and a great motivational speaker, not to mention well-developed small groups for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.

Its above-mentioned dangers are obvious, but I must admit I really enjoy singing occasionally on a great sound system in a church that really knows how to use music in worship.   Read More . . .

Churches, Acoustics, and Speakers… Oh My!!!
Joe Hand

It is no wonder that many of our worship spaces sound like they do, with all the weird designs architects like to do.  They want to create a visually stunning and identifiable work of beauty. 

(Then what gives with the olive green carpet?)  Read More . . .