As the seasons change around us, we can experience the liturgical seasons in a deeper way by bringing subtle and creative touches to our liturgy. From the music we sing to the colors, flowers, and décor that beautify our sacred space, each small detail helps us to take note of the current season. Feast days and celebrations call for a different experience than the somber and simple seasons of Lent and Advent. The Liturgy Committee takes the time to ensure that our liturgies are filled with these meaningful details.
“The Liturgy Committee does some of the creative enhancement of our liturgy,” Fr. Don says. “As the pastor, I bounce ideas off of them.”
The core of the Liturgy Committee is made up of Fr. Don, Music Director Kristen Schutte, and Chris and Rhonda Riha, who are in charge of decorating the church. While each year brings the committee back around to things they have done in the past, there is also a constant flow of new ideas.
Last year, the committee was brainstorming ways that the parish could help parishioners stay focused on Lent in their daily lives. The idea to hand out simple wood chips was born. The chips were a small reminder of the wood of the cross. On Good Friday, parishioners were able to place their wood chips in a cross-shaped container, uniting their Lenten sacrifices with Christ’s sacrifice.
At the monthly meetings, routine discussions often revolve around the next liturgical season and what changes will be made. For Kristen, this involves choosing music that is most appropriate and meaningful to each season. She also has the opportunity to change the Mass setting that we sing, which can be a small wake-up call for us to note that we are in a new season.
“I consider what liturgical season we are in when choosing music,” Kristen says. “I try to incorporate new music, but I have to keep in mind how often I’m adding new songs so I’m not overwhelming my musicians. We have a congregation that loves to sing, so they usually catch on to new songs fairly quickly.”
Chris and Rhonda are responsible for bringing the liturgical seasons to life within the church space. With a large crew of helpful stewards, Chris and Rhonda are able to transform the church as the seasons change, incorporating elements of both nature and the symbols of our faith.
“I think it’s important for parishioners to pay attention to the decorations and music selections during the different liturgical seasons,” Kristen says. “For decor, the color changes along with how much decor is out. For example, Advent decor is a little simpler and once we have Christmas, the church becomes full of decorations.”
These thoughtful touches draw us into the uniqueness of each season and help us in turn to bring our faith into the details of our lives. The Liturgy Committee welcomes any additional help decorating the church.
To serve with the Liturgy Committee, contact the parish office at 308-382-4753.