AP Language Guest Speaker Shares the Mission of Music
Mrs. Cathy Farina’s AP Language classes had a guest speaker via Zoom, John Angotti. He is a full time music missionary who travels throughout the world, providing inspirational music and faith witness to all ages through concerts, workshops, retreats, missions, conferences, and worship.
The AP students listen to a song in class every few weeks, usually a liturgical one, and then they write a short reflection on the experience. A few weeks ago, the students listened to John’s song, "By Name I Call You," which is about how God calls us by name when we die. He wrote it about his father's death and it is scripturally based. The students really responded to it and to him, so Mrs. Farina reached out to let him know that she'd used his song and how much the students were moved by it.
He volunteered to speak to the classes, and the students sent him some questions in advance. He spoke about faith, music, inspiration, and the mission of music, and he sang during his presentation. He tied music in to language, saying that language never seems to be enough to express the depth of love we feel, and that music helps us express our feelings without words. It helps us talk about God through stories and language we can understand.
