NORTHFIELD — Trinitarian Congregational Church, 147 Main St., will be offering a new Saturday service on third Saturdays in June, July and August. “New Day” casual worship service will be from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20. Rev. Julie Olmsted, pastor of Trinitarian Congregational Church, and her husband, Jeff, will lead the services. Jeff Olmsted is choir director of Haydenville Congregational Church. He has been conducting chants from the Christian as well as other faiths for many years.
Below are some questions and answers about the new service.
Q.: How did you become involved in chanting?
A.: The first chants I learned were in Sanskrit, the kind of thing sung in some yoga classes and in “kirtan” which is call-and-response devotional singing.
Q.: How is chanting different from regular singing?
A.: It is repetitive and simple. It is not performance-oriented. It’s more meditative, although it can be lively also.
Q.: Is there a history of chanting in the Christian faith and, if so, why isn’t it practiced more?
A.: Monks and nuns have always chanted, and so did the earliest Christians, probably including Jesus. The best-known repertoire of new Christian chant is from Taize, an inter-denominational multi-lingual community in France. Also, contemporary “praise” music has a lot of refrains that are simple and memorable. They can be sung repetitively. And you can make up your own.
Q.: How will chanting be used in this new service?
A.: Chants are easy to learn, no hymnal or even words are required. I want this new service to be something that goes right to the heart, without a lot of prior knowledge of songs or hymns. We also would like for young musicians to join us whenever they can. The simple tunes are easy to pick up or to embellish, if you care to. Harmonies can be improvised, but it’s not necessary. Chanting is a way to connect to music and to God with minimal technology or difficulty in memorizing.
Q.: Why do you want another service at TCC?
A.: We want to be of service to the community. There’s a whole generation who have not spent years of their lives going to church on Sunday. There are people who are torn between staying home and relaxing with their families or getting the whole gang dressed and out the door. And, of course, there are long summer days that are good for hiking, biking and family trips. This way, you can do both.
Q.: Will the service be just like the Sunday service?
A.: No, it will be very different. We will have our chanting, both lively and contemplative. We will have prayer, of course, and an interactive sermon, where folks can speak up or choose to just listen. We will also have communion for anyone who would like it, on the way out. And, of course, there is no fee (just like Sunday). Everyone is welcome to give a small offering, but it is not required. Just come and check it out. Children will have activities right there, too. The whole thing is informal and relaxed, from what you wear to what you know or believe.
Need more information? Contact Rev. Olmsted at the church: 413-498-2431 or by email: tccucc@verizon.net