Music and song lifts the spirit to God. Engaging in vocal or instrumental music can be a way for our whole self to share in the glory of the Father.

In December’s videos of our Reclaiming Sundays series, Luke Spehar shares how families can simply and meaningfully incorporate music into their Sunday practices to enhance the Lord’s Day. Ibrahin Moreno and Iris Montano share how music inspires our hearts to rediscover the grace of the Lord’s Day. Let’s reclaim Sundays for the Lord and our families.

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR DECEMBER:

• Share the gift of music together. If you can play instruments, great!
• Make a playlist of favorite hymns.
• Find a playlist of Advent music.
• Does your parish, school, or neighborhood have some sort of musical program this
  month? Attend as a family.
• Pray with an Advent Wreath.
• Recommended resource to assist in building habits of prayer is the Hallow App.

• The project’s introductory video from our Archbishop
• Reclaiming Sundays document
• Other resources, including a monthly video with discussion questions 

BACKGROUND: Here at the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, we are in the middle of our synod implementation process, this year focusing on Synod Year III— “Parents as Primary Educators of Their Children in the Ways of the Faith.” To support parents as the primary educators of their children, they have published, “Reclaiming Sundays: Recover Sunday as a Day for the Lord and Family.”

This guide lays out monthly themes and practical suggestions for families — and the lay faithful in all walks of life — to build lasting habits and anchor their week in a joyful, prayerful and restful observance of Sunday. Family Formation has a long history of promoting this sort of thing, so we are very enthusiastic supporters!