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The Music Of Advent And Christmas Offering Prayerful Anticipation For The Coming Of Christ
The music of Advent and Christmas serves to remind us not only of the joys of celebrating the historic birth of Jesus but also to prayerfully anticipate Christ’s triumphant return.
This is what the music of the season means to Heidi Felton, one of our music ministers at St. James Parish. She and Julie Schacherer share the duties of bringing beautiful music to our worship.
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Restrictions in place under COVID-19 have made planning music for Advent and Christmas a challenge this year, but the music ministers will be doing their best to make an impact in the days ahead.
In preparing music for Advent, Heidi reflects on what makes the season special.
“It is the pairing of the anticipation of remembering historic Christmas and also looking forward to the second coming of Christ, that makes Advent so powerful and beautiful,” she says. “It reminds us what we’re about as Catholics and Christians who are seeking Jesus.”
The melodies of Advent carry a reflective anticipation, yet they are in use for such a short time.
“It is only four weeks, and when they are played, what I play, I like to not repeat them,” Heidi says. “It is such a little time to get the beautiful texts to hear and pray with.”
Christmas music also takes place over a short period, so Heidi likes to offer the favorite songs and hymns.
“It’s just such a lovely season to reflect on,” she says. “There are so many ways it helps us experience the Incarnation of the Lord. The texts are poetic. But music doesn’t require words. It touches hearts in a way words can’t. It reaches in and touches our spirits in ways that nothing else can. But when you have a lovely melody and words, this makes a powerful and cathartic experience for worship.”
The music of the season can play a role in how our children’s faith can grow.
“What they hear and understand in words and music connects with them,” she says. “We need to make sure what is true and beautiful is what they get, we need it to become part of them and their experience with God.”
Heidi has called upon her family to help with the Music Ministry, serving as a small choir because the music loft will not accommodate a larger group. Heidi also has been serving as a cantor during Mass, which was what she and Julie arranged last Christmas. Julie played the piano and Heidi sang.
“It adds some extra challenges with the space,” Heidi says. “We can’t have a large choir, maybe just six or eight people.”
Heidi views her Music Ministry work as living in stewardship, but it also is a vocation — a calling — for her.
“It’s something I’ve done for so long, it is a vocation and identity,” she says. “I’ve done it a long time in my life. I have a hard time praying at Mass when I’m not doing music.”
For her, stewardship in using her talents means she is called to offer what she can offer to God. She is also raising her children to live this way of life.
“I want them to have a deeper understanding and attachment to the Liturgy,” she says. “I want to impress on them the importance that the worship of God is worth this preparation and extra effort, that the importance of what we do in life revolves around God.”
In whatever Heidi and Julie can plan for Advent and Christmas, the selections will serve to help us in our spiritual growth.
“We will be just really explaining the truths of Jesus coming in history to bring salvation, and He’ll come again,” Heidi says. “It helps us renew that sense of anticipation of the coming of Christ and rejoicing on the fact that He did come to save us.”
