All
Saints page 4
The Music Ministry:
Drawing Us into the Beauty and
H
The All Saints Brass and St. Gregory Choir
ere at All Saints, a wide variety of music fills our liturgies and our halls. From the Children’s Choir to the Handbell Choir, from the St. Gregory Choir to the St. Raphael Choir, from the Teen Band to our cantors, we celebrate throughout the liturgical year with music. “The music lets people know we care about them,” says Shelbi McMullen, Assistant Director of Music. “Everybody feels welcome.” Shelbi works primarily with the Children’s Choir, St. Gregory Choir, and Handbell Choir. Serving alongside Jordan Peek, Director of Music, Shelbi especially loves her role this time of year — Advent and Christmas include beautiful music that gets everyone involved. Working with the Children’s Choir has allowed Shelbi to talk with the kids
about why we sing certain musical selections during Advent and others for Christmas. “We spend a lot of time in Children’s Choir talking about the magic of the season of waiting,” Shelbi says. “We save certain music like a big prize. I try to relay to them how special this is because it only comes one time a year.” The late Christmas Eve Mass is a favorite of Shelbi’s. After the quiet expectation of Advent, the Christmas Eve Mass is the culmination of all the preparation that has been happening in everyone’s hearts and homes. Shelbi loves to see the wonder in the faces of the children. Staying up late, going to church, and seeing everyone there together is new and exciting for the kids — this brings back that sense of wonder for Shelbi.
