CHERRY HILL – With the Diocese’s liturgical ministers gathered before her, Sarah Hart, renowned musician and singer, spoke of three keys of Christian evangelization.
“One, be your authentic, true, beautiful selves. Two, recognize it’s not about you, and live a life of self-sacrifice for God’s glory. Three, love at all times, asking yourselves, ‘Is this the loving way to be? Is this the loving thing to say?'”
Hart was one of two keynote speakers at the Diocese of Camden’s liturgical ministry retreat, “Together Renewed,” which saw 120 people – lectors, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, ushers, greeters and hospitality ministers – gather together to be refreshed in the spirit. Held Sept. 24 at Christ Our Light Parish, Hart led a talk in English, with well-known singer, songwriter and teacher Iván Diaz leading a retreat in Spanish. The day also included fellowship, prayer, reflection and a closing Mass with Father John Picinic, parish pastor.
Diaz and Hart kicked off the retreat with a concert the night before, a good way to set the tone for the purpose of the retreat: for lay ministers to step back, refocus and be renewed and reaffirmed in what they do, said Mike Bedics, diocesan director of the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation.
Bedics praised the keynote speakers, saying, “They are light-hearted and approachable; people feel comfortable around them.”
Indeed, Hart, casually dressed in jeans and a blue long-sleeved shirt, set a conversational tone as she sat at a piano and shared her experiences of the pandemic lockdown.
As a touring musician and speaker whose income relies on travel, the lockdowns kept her at home, “and I didn’t know what to do,” she explained.
“I scrubbed and cleaned my house [every day],” she said, explaining that she was frustrated with “all this energy and nothing to do. … It’s very easy to focus on what’s been hard, and difficult to focus on the good.”
So, for someone used to songwriting in cars and airplanes, she had to refocus on being present in the moment and start writing at home. She swapped live concerts for performing on social media, where she “felt the powerful presence of people and community.”
And, instead of being away from family and friends for days and weeks at a time, she “cherished the incredible time with my children,” and the cheese and wine nights with neighbors, all “able to be present to one another.”
Simply put, she found renewed focus and joy during unpredictable times.
She asked the audience questions she asked herself during that time. “Who do we love? Why are we doing what we are doing? Where’s the joy, and how can we make that joy palpable for the people around us?” After all, she said, joy is a witness and guide to God’s peace.
Among those enlivened by the retreat was Michael Elpham, who with his wife, Marceleena, serve as Eucharistic ministers at Christ Our Light Parish.
Calling Hart’s talk “practical and inspiring,” Elpham said he felt renewed by the retreat and being with fellow lay ministers. “It’s good to see people you know, and meet so many others committed to ministry work. I feel uplifted to be a part of this.”
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