St. Thomas the Apostle Parish at 1449 Wilcox Park Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 US - Music Ministry
|
Music Ministry
Contact Eileen Bockheim, Director of Liturgical Music 459.4662 x 207 or Kathy Proulx, Assistant Director of Liturgical Music 459.4662 x 310 |
|
The church teaches us that Christ is present in the prayer and song of the church, blessing the people and offering worship to God in such a way that "God is speaking to the people, and the people are responding by both song and prayer."
Pastoral musicians are called to lead our congregation in sung prayer, uniting our voices with the great hymn of heaven. Every voice, no matter how weak or strong, is beautiful and has a place at St. Thomas - whether it is simply singing with the congregation, or joining one of our choirs.
St. Thomas is blessed with a wide variety of musical ensembles, made up of individuals with a wide variety of gifts, and a heart toward service. If you feel the Lord is calling you to serve through Music, we welcome the chance to share more about it with you!
9:00 AM Sunday (Adult) Choir
Contemporary Liturgical Ensemble
8th Grade and older
rehearse from 7:30-9:00 PM every other Tuesday.
Sings every other Sunday, 9:00 AM Mass.
11:00 AM Sunday (Adult) Choir
8th Grade and older
rehearse from 7:30-9:00 PM every Thursday.
Sings every Sunday, 11:00 AM Mass.
Grades K-2nd
rehearse every Tuesday from 6:00-6:45 PM.
Sings 5 times per year.
Grades 3rd-5th
rehearse every Tuesday from 6:30-7:25 PM.
Sings once a month at various Masses.
Our NEW Youth Choir
Grades 6th-9th Every other Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 PM.
Sings every other Sunday at the 9:00 AM Mass.
Other Opportunities
Cantor
The cantor is a minister of prayer who enables the congregation to express its own prayer through song. St. Thomas has a very large and well-trained cantor program.- Rehearsal ahead of scheduled Mass
- Attend training seminars held periodically
Handbells
St. Thomas has a seasonal handbell choir that meets for the Advent/Christmas and the Lenten/Easter seasons. This ministry includes embellishing congregational song as well as handbell choir solos. The minister must have some ability to read music and rythm. It is not necessary to have experience ringing bells.
- Rehearsals every Thursday, 6:15-7:25
- Special liturgies such as Christmas Eve and Holy Week celebrations.
Music Selection Committee
The Music Selection Committee meets periodically to discuss and choose music that meets the spiritual and musical needs of our parish
- 3-4 meetings per year
- Preparation of the readings for the liturgies and music selections appropriat to the readings