Ministries
for Youth and Choirs:
A Lay Worker's Experiences
By
Michael Soroka
Introduction
Since
graduating from St. Vladimir's Seminary in 1974. I have served the Orthodox Church, on a parish level, as
a full-time choir director, and youth coordinator. While primarily working with choirs and young Orthodox Christians
these past ten years, I have also attempted to assist in other related areas
of church life - - church school, adult education, diocesan lectures, choir
directing workshops, Bible studies, and charitable endeavors.
I am constantly discovering how much more there is to be done for
the strengthening of the spiritual lives of our youth and choirs in America.
While claiming no "professional expertise" regarding these
two essential Orthodox ministries, I can nevertheless share observations and
ideas with those who are involved in the ongoing life of the Church in a similar
manner, whether on a parish, diocesan, or national
level.
Youth
Ministry and the Church
Christian
ministries spiritually grow if, and only if, they are rooted in the educational,
liturgical, and Eucharistic experience of the Church.
Likewise, specific ministries cannot exist in isolation from other Orthodox
ministries; they must work together! When
applied to our youth, these fundamental principles are magnified.
A parish youth program simply cannot become an end to itself, evolving
into just another glorified club - - socially, culturally, athletically, and
perhaps even ethnically popular, financially stable, yet,
in essence, spiritually harmful to the Christian community!
As
a rule, children, teenagers, and young adults do not desire to be involved in
an exclusive social group, organization or club set apart from all other interest
groups and from all other Orthodox Christians
within their Eucharistic community. We
tend to forget that we must serve only One Master here on earth, Christ Himself.
Indeed, all so-called "parish interest groups" must be mutually
interested in serving only Him and His Church.
Truly, it is this service which unites us all.
However possible, children want to share in this service.
Wherever possible, they want to share responsibilities with adults, while
attempting to carry out the Church's mission here in America. Whenever possible, they want to learn, they want to serve,
they want to sing, they want to help, and they want to pray - - along with other
Orthodox Christians of all ages.
Christian
education is the key. In the home
and in the church, it has always been the key.
Priests, parents, parishioners, lay assistants, church school teachers,
choir directors, youth coordinators, church school directors, and students -
- in fact, the entire parish community - - must take this shared ongoing"ministry
to learn" very seriously. Vibrant
and innovative church schools are only a beginning.
The parish, itself, must never stop learning.
Adults, as well as young people, must be given - more opportunities to
learn about their Orthodox Church.
More
and more parishes are establishing Adult Education groups, serious Bible Study
sessions and Adult Church School classes on a weekly basis.
The printing of informative weekly bulletins and monthly "theological
newsletters;" the establishment of parish bookstores and libraries; the
participation within parochial and diocesan Lenten retreats, youth retreats,
departmental workshops, film and slide presentations, pilgrimages and diocesan
assemblies; and the creation of youth rap sessions
and annual vacation Church Schools can Improve the
educational atmosphere of an Orthodox Christian community.
If this religious education, in turn, is centered around sincere liturgical
and Eucharistic unity, our parish ministries can be established on firm ground.
Then, slowly but surely, church growth through God's blessings and under
the pastoral guidance of our parish priests will inevitably occur.
Unique
Ministries for Young People
Children
(from infancy to twelve years of age;) teenagers (from thirteen to seventeen;)
college students (from eighteen to twenty-one;) young adults (from twenty-two
to perhaps thirty or thirty-five years of age;) and adults - - all are members
of the united "Body of Christ" (the Church) on earth.
Nevertheless, we all possess different talents, concerns, interests,
and desires: for there are unique members within that same "Body."
A parish youth program and youth coordinator must keep this truth in
mind, while attempting to maintain the proper balance between educational, spiritual,
and charitable concerns on the one hand, and social, cultural, and athletic
activities on the other. "Controlled"
social activities can promote Christian fellowship.
Young people enjoy meeting other young people.
Athletic programs (basketball, volleyball, and softball teams;) social
events (dances, summer camps, swimming parties, canoe trips, ski trips, picnics,
and amusement park trips for the teenagers and young adults as well as Easter
egg hunts, movies, and Halloween parties for the younger children;) cultural
activities (arts and crafts, yolkas, caroling, and folk dancing) - - all help
to create an atmosphere, which will attract today's youth.
On
a more serious level, young people may periodically visit hospitals for children
and give puppet-shows, sing carols to "shut-ins."
They can participate in annual "Youth Days" (by processing
with icons, ringing the bells, serving as altar boys, serving as ushers, taking
collections, lighting candles, singing and reading in church;) and attend as
many liturgical services as possible throughout the year.
In addition, they may, as a "Youth Group," remember their mothers
and fathers by giving them Mother's Day or Father's Day gifts (i.e. carnations
or crosses.) They may enjoy discussing
various topics at monthly rap sessions with their priest, youth coordinator,
or assigned teacher. They may want
to attend or sponsor parish or diocesan retreats. They may assist at parish fund raisers, assist at parish-sponsored
"Blood Banks," attend an all-night vigil
("guarding the tomb") on Holy Friday evening or Holy Saturday.
They may sponsor "walk-a-thons," "dance-a-thons,"
or "skate-a-thons" for local charities. All these activities are ways in which our young people may
witness to their churches and communities.
Organizing
Young People
Most
young people tend to shy away from overly structured organizations. They become
turned-off by clubs which are too financially inspired, or have too many officers,
or are straitjacketed by too many outdated by-laws. Yet, our young people want
to be heard and they want to make their own decisions.
Periodically, youth meetings can be scheduled to discuss upcoming activities
and fund raisers. Within this somewhat
informal structure, officers really are not needed - - as long as a youth coordinator
or leader guides participants in the right direction.
He or she must not dictate group policy, but let young people "speak
up" and participate in the decisions of their youth group.
Most youth groups really want to be self- sufficient; most encouraged
young people will work at their fund-raisers.
With
their own finances to work with, they will be able to sponsor activities ("without
always asking the church committee") and they will be able to offer their
assistance to their own parishes, to their own missions, to their own charities,
to their own seminaries, to their own dioceses, and to their own American Church.
Their available funds may be minimal in comparison to various other treasuries
which surround them. But their
donations to charitable concerns are seldom nominal.
Physical service to their parishes can be promoted by organizing cleanup
days at the church: washing and painting walls, cleaning candle stands and polishing
liturgical articles, raking leaves, maintaining the grounds, or mowing lawns,
etc.
All
these areas of concern - - service, education, witness, activities, administration,
and charity - - can mutually inspire the creation of a well-balanced Youth Ministry
on a parish level.
The
Ministry of Music
In a parish of any
size, there are children. These
children love to sing at home or at their schools.
They sing while listening to their radios, TVs, or records.
Children just love to sing! In
fact, many children actually learn to "sing" before they can talk.
Indeed, this "ministry of music" is a wonderful gift of love
from God to all of us-- yes, even to those who sing out of tune.
I have enjoyed throughout these past ten
years working with readers of all ages, junior choirs, youth choirs,
and senior choirs. I have also
discovered that congregational singing can be a positive
addition to a parish's ministry of music. Hopefully, more Orthodox parishes will begin to offer opportunities
to singers and parishioners of all ages in encouraging their God-given musical
acts of stewardship through song.
Readers
Young
children, as well as teenagers and adults, can be taught to read (chant) in
church. Perhaps they can start
with the "Lord,! Call" verses and prayers, "Vouchsafe, 0 Lord,"
or "Holy God" at Vespers. Eventually, they may learn to read (chant) the Hours before
Divine Liturgies or Epistle Readings throughout the liturgical year.
Children (as young as six or seven years of age,) in particular, love
to read in church - - especially if other young children read also.
If the parish promotes an
atmosphere of patient encouragement and loving understanding, choir directors
will have an easier time training others to read.
The more qualified readers - - the better!
Junior
Choirs
A
Junior Choir (composed of children anywhere from the ages of three or four to
twelve) may initially begin to practice once or twice a month, while learning
to sing together as a group (in one or two parts.) At first, a choir director may sing along with his or her
enthusiastic "beginners" certain popular school songs, rounds, or
carols that they may already know. A
piano may be used as an aid - - in order to encourage all to participate.
Eventually, the group can learn Orthodox hymns at practice:
"Our Father," "It Is Truly Meet,"
"0 Heavenly King," and "Praise Ye the Name of the Lord."
Hopefully, the children may be secure enough to sing certain hymns in church.
That's great! Indeed, it's a good
beginning. But if they are not
ready, let's not push them to a point of embarrassment. Their time will come.
A foundation can be established only through patience and love on the
part of parents, priests, and choir directors.
Attendance may be disappointing at times.
But a spirit of encouraging perseverance must prevail.
Quality not quantity, must be stressed. If one parishioner now begins to chant in church, in
addition to the choir director, it's a start.
Conversions don't happen overnight.
I have discovered that once an atmosphere of support is secure, little by little more young children desire
to sing and read in their church.
Youth
Choirs
Youth
Choir (consisting of teenagers and young adults anywhere from the ages of twelve
to thirty or older depending upon the combined "voicing" of available
singers) can offer an important light and lively, prayer-like musical spirit
to our Divine Services. These
voices, despite their apparent chronological age differences, can harmonize
rather well together - - usually
in three or four parts, thus enabling them to sing complex hymns.
The older singers offer security and experience, while the younger singers
offer enthusiasm and a "lightness" often not heard in a cappella singing.
Obviously, not every parish can organize a youth choir - - there may be a shortage
of willing young singers. However, if possible, such a choir can sing Divine Liturgy
responses, for example, once a month, as well as the many other services throughout
the year.
Senior
Choirs
Senior
choirs have always diligently "offered praises unto the Lord." Many
faithful and experienced singers have served as stewards of liturgical music
in our parishes, while leading our congregations in prayerful-song. Weekly rehearsals
are essential to promote and sustain vocal discipline and spiritual understanding.
Vocal training sessions help while caroling and concerts can be both
beneficial and fun for all. The
responses to weekly Matins and Vespers services, as well as to Divine Liturgies
(perhaps once a month) can be sung by entire congregations.
This communal style of liturgical singing - - if kept simple - - promotes
more participation from the congregation.
Some
Facts
Let's
be honest! In some parishes, we
are faced with sad facts: we must
work with small church schools, small choirs, few children, teenagers, young
adults, parishioners, and resources. Unfortunately,
lay ministries are not even known of, in certain parishes, let alone understood
and supported. In some areas, community outreach programs (i.e. blood banks,
hospital visitations and services, ministries to the elderly, the dying and
the homeless, etc.) are nonexistent. In
many parishes, Christian education is encouraged by all in theory, but in practice
by just a few. At times, attendance is discouragingly low at services, rehearsals,
activities, and retreats.
On
the other hand, in other parishes, there is great reason to rejoice; church
growth has manifested itself throughout America in many forms.
Our hopes are rising. Our
missions are growing. Our ranks
are enlarging. There are many qualified and devoted priests, servants, and parishioners
everywhere. Both priests and lay
assistants alike are setting the encouraging tone today, despite past failures
and disappointments. There are
many who are "fighting the good fight" for the benefit of all.
A
Call to Minister
No
one ministry used in one parish, at one time, and with one established set of
programmed procedures can be productively and favorably applied everywhere.
There are no ready-made magical ministerial formulas that can destroy
all spiritual and educational indifference.
Indeed, beneficial programs in one parish may actually prove harmful
in others. Nevertheless, we must not sit idly by within our inactive
parishes, passively accepting our limitations as a fact of life, while forever
"crying poverty." Perhaps
it is time for more Orthodox parishes
to invest
in their futures. Our
parish priests need assistance - - they cannot accomplish everything alone.
They need lay assistance. Hopefully,
more and more lay assistants will be allowed to offer that needed help in the
future. If only they would be given
that chance!
Michael Soroka
is presently choir director at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Yonkers, N. Y.
Taken
from the OCA Resource
Handbook for Lay Ministries
