By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer
On a wintry Thursday evening in February, contemporary Christian music group The Exodus gathered at the Church of the Annunciation in Clark Mills to rehearse for their upcoming Lenten performances. In between the solemn songs, they laughed and joked with each other, sharing a warm connection that goes beyond the music they create.
“We are certainly a group of musicians, a group of singers, but I consider us really just a family. We’re a community of people who treat each other and love each other like family. We happen to sing, too!” said Paul O’Neil, music director.
Several other members of The Exodus echoed this sentiment.
Singer Matt Perrault said, “We’ve really kind of become a family over the years,” and singer and songwriter for the group Sheila Mursch added, “We have some younger members now … it’s a great family.”
The group, an offshoot of the choir at the Church of the Annunciation, where several members are parishioners, began singing for special events in the early 1990s. They eventually took on the name The Exodus because they were always on the move, never really settling at one particular location. The number of members fluctuates between 10 and 20, with some members moving away and new ones being welcomed over time.
Having joined The Exodus in its early days has had a strong impact on singer Chuck Tomaselli. “It’s really what binds us as a Christian community,” he shared. “It’s been such a great force in my life.”
Anna Anggaputra, violinist and singer, has been with The Exodus for about 10 years. “It’s just such a wonderful group of people that care about each other, and we pray for each other and love on each other. And so that, I think, is really special,” she said. “And I think that what we do is really special. We see people respond to it, and I feel like they have a religious, spiritual experience with our performances.”
Singer and former violinist Debbie Lisberg told the Sun that both the music and songs have added to her spiritual well-being.
The group currently has 19 members — all singers — and accompaniment includes piano, violin and a guest cello player. Although The Exodus also performs during Christmas and other seasons, mainly at nursing homes and assisted living communities, their primary performances are given during Lent each year in the central and eastern regions of the diocese.
Kathy Meus, long-time member, singer and songwriter, writes a Lenten narrative based on scripture that varies each year and is interspersed with songs — the majority of which are original to the group. Songs like “Thirty Pieces of Silver,” “The Gift of Love” and “Forsaken” display beautiful music written by O’Neil with lyrics written by Meus and other group members.
This year, the Lenten presentation is “The Passion of Jesus Adapted From the Gospels of Luke and John,” which tells the story of events on Palm Sunday through Good Friday. Meus explained how the group’s Lenten presentation gives the faithful a new, different way to reflect on the events of The Passion.
“We hear The Passion readings and we really don’t have time to reflect on them [during Mass] … there’s something missing, I always thought, that needed to be there,” Meus said. “And so I thought, [maybe we can] do something that’s going to make an hour experience for people to personally reflect in a different way on what The Passion means, and break it up into different parts.”
Although he has directed the group for many years, O’Neil is not immune to the effect of the musical reflection. Referencing “The Gift of Love,” he said, “There’s a violin part in that, that when it plays, I just try not to cry.”
George Carpenter, one of the group’s two narrators, said the narration complements the music, allowing the presentation to provide a more direct message that leads to deeper reflection. “That’s the whole idea behind Lent, you know, it’s the idea of reflection, the idea of some sort of sacrifice you make, as you reflect upon your relationship with [the] Father.”
Collectively, the group feels incredibly blessed to be able to share their talents with local parish communities, merging their faith and musical talent together.
“We’ve all been given talents, right? And to use them to glorify God is really what it’s about,” Carpenter explained. “You know, why else walk on this earth? So if we can be giving God the glory, and people can hear that in the songs, and they can hear it in what we do, and walk away with a word of encouragement, then that’s what really counts.”
The Exodus is always looking for new members, singers or instrumentalists.
If you’re interested in joining, email Paul O’Neil at [email protected]. For more information on The Exodus performances, email Kathy Meus at [email protected].
The Passion of Jesus Lenten presentations by The Exodus will take place on five Friday evenings at the following parishes:
7 p.m. March 14
Spirit of Hope will be at the Church of the Holy Family in Vernon
7 p.m. March 21
St. John the Baptist in Rome
7p.m. March 28
St. John the Evangelist in New Hartford
5:30 p.m. April 4
Church of the Annunciation in Clark Mills
7 p.m. April 11
All Saints Polish National Catholic Church in Rome
