Members of St. Helens Catholic Church, Sweet Home, and their guests enjoyed a Sunday afternoon concert by the Jubilee Musicians, as part of the local parish’s Disciples in Mission program.
The 15-piece orchestra performed a variety of uplifting musical pieces, from old standards to contemporary works as part of their mission in preparing for the new millennium.
The performance included Celebrate Jesus, Soon and Very Soon, Days of Elijah, The Lord Almighty Reigns, Great and Wonderful, Let the Fire Fall, Shout to the Lord, Refiner’s Fire, More Precious Than Silver I Exalt Thee, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, Holy, and Here I Am Lord.
The event’s program stated that according to the Old testament, every seven days the people celebrated Sabbath and every seventh year the Jewish people celebrated a Jubilee where, among other things, debts were forgiven and prisoners set free. The year following the seventh Jubilee (every 50 years) was a Great Jubilee during which God’s people were to celebrate God’s faithfulness and mercy.
Sunday’s performance was also an invitation to ask the Holy Spirit to guide and empower community members. “Here I stand, knocking at the door. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him and he with me.” Rev. 4:20
The four spiritual laws:
1. God created you. He loves you more than you can even imagine and He has a wonderful plan for your life.
2. We are all sinners. Sin has separated us from God. On our own, we cannot experience God’s love or know His plan for our lives.
3. Jesus Christ came into the world, lived and died for our sins. It is only through Him that we can truly experience God’s love and plan for our lives.
4. We must individually invite Jesus Christ to come into our lives as Savior and Lord. He has promised to come and live in the hearts of all who call upon Him.
Members of the Jubilee Musicians come from all corners of the state, from the Willamette Valley to the southeastern community of Jordan.
A statewide press release said the Disciples in Mission is an evangelization effort underway nationwide. It integrates Sunday liturgies, small faith-sharing groups, catechesis, family activities and parish planning into a parish-wide experience of evangelization.
When Archbishop John G. Vlazny came to western Oregon and began his ministry as the tenth Archbishop of Portland, he adopted the phrase, “Go and disciples” for his motto. This phrase, which is taken from the 28th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, is the title of the American Bishop’s National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization.
Currently, some 91 parishes and missions, plus special ministries in western Oregon are participating in Disciples in Mission.
Disciples in Mission is designed to be an inclusive process for Catholics.
Parishioners are now coming together to reflect on their parish, its ministries and evangelization efforts.