I have been involved with a community church for 14 years now! I accompany a choir every Sunday, at mass. This involvement with a community church has been amazing. I highly recommend a musician participate actively. I am truly fortunate because this connection has helped me to appreciate my faith and has offered me many opportunities musically. I have noticed that many professionals get involved with community churches. For example lawyers, accountants, and more. For a musician, it can be very positive with weddings and more. I also get involved with fund raisers projects, invited to perform and serve in some way. You get to meet many influential people in the community and the networking is fantastic.
This project was supposed to last for about 9 months when I was asked to fill in way back in the year 2000. Now, 14 years later, I continue to participate. At first I was directing and accompanying two choirs, every Sunday, with two rehearsals once-a-week. It was very busy for me. This lasted about two years. There are some busy times in the liturgical calendar which require me to play two to three times a week, for example at Christmas time. Currently, I attend one rehearsal a week and play on Sundays, one mass, the Italian mass at 9:00 a.m.
There is some beautiful music and I get to play a very nice electronic organ. I believe that I have improved musically, even using my feet on the foot pedals. This connection has helped me at school as well. I have a good feel for liturgical music and a better understanding of music for mass. Also, I have met many priests and it's important for a educator to be involved with a community church, you tend to bring this and other gifts into your teaching and the students respect your involvement as you encourage them to develop their faith and prayer.
