Congregation of the Great Spirit
It’s Sunday again and another busy church day here at Congregation of the Great Spirit. Before mass even begins, Leonor Rosas along with the assistance of her granddaughter Nayalia meet with our First Communion class. This year we have five participants between the ages of seven to twelve years old to help form our future youth participants. We’ll have an update when they make their First Communion on Mother’s Day, giving us two good reasons for a celebration that day!
Then at ten o’clock am mass begins. We start with our welcome song and the four directions song, followed by prayer intentions and church announcements. Then many of the children twelve years old and younger, head down to the meeting hall for children’s church. They are taught the day’s gospel, how it applies in Native culture, learn a song or do a craft, and get a quick snack. Alison Mueller usually teaches the children and does a wonderful job. This past week, in addition to the lesson the kids learned the song “This Little Light of Mine…” which is about shining with your inner light, the light of the Lord, and with love in general, perfect for St valentine’s Day. When it is “tobacco time”, which is an offering of silent prayer to the Lord, the kids do their offering and then go on back up to mass.
Garrett Boyd (pictured at the music podium) leads the choir and other musicians when the lead musician and/or choir director is not there. While music is playing or choir is singing, Father Ed chooses two participants to help him prepare the communion sacraments. This time one of those was Nayalia and another youth who already made First Communion, keeping our youth involved in participation in the congregation. Along with the rest of the homily we have the “sign of peace” and then communion is served. After that, we have our announcements for upcoming events and news at church and in the community. Father Ed then tells us all to “Go in peace and to serve the Lord” before we gather around the drum for our traditional “Travelling Song” to wish everyone blessings and safety in their travels and daily life.
