Coming up with a name can be one of the most challenging parts of forming a musical act. Every once in a while, though, a group strikes gold. Such is the case with the Mis’rable Sinners, an assorted bunch of performers from the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill.

David Dieck, one of the founding members of the Mis’rable Sinners, said it only made sense to have a name rooted in Christianity.

“It’s something that people will say, ‘Oh, you’re a miserable sinner,’” Dieck explained. “What better name for a ragtag group of people who get together to play holy music on a Sunday could there be? I told Jarrett [Kerbel, former rector at St. Martin-in-the-Fields] a few years into this endeavor… and he loved it. So that’s been our informal name, kind of the way we came up with the name of our dad band 20 years ago. We’re all guys from St. Martin’s Church — why don’t we call ourselves the Martinis?”

The Mis’rable Sinners will be performing their signature bluegrass sound at the 10:30 a.m. service at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Father’s Day, June 21.

Musical gifts

According to the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber, rector at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the church community is full of talents.

“There is a wealth of gifts in this congregation, and one of those types of gifts is musical,” Barber said. “There’s a lot of really talented artists and musicians in this congregation.”

With these gifts, the congregation has been able to come together to provide music during mass in the summer when the music director and choir go on hiatus. Dieck said the concept began around 2014 and has since grown into an annual tradition.

“We were able to cobble together a service for that particular Sunday, and evidently it worked out okay, so that was the start of doing it once a year,” Dieck said. “Successive choir masters and directors at the church have gone along with the escapade, so it’s become a traditional thing we do one Sunday every June.”

The Mis’rable Sinners is not a set group of musicians, but rather a rotating cast depending on people’s availability and interest. The first iteration included half a dozen members, while the current group has 11 people. Dieck said he is especially excited in recent years as more young people have gotten involved through the help of Julia Finegan, the children, youth, and families music leader at the church. Marisa Miller, the church’s alto section leader in the choir, also has assisted with arranging rehearsals and putting together the group.

Planning for the Mis’rable Sinners’ service begins in late April or early May. The group looks at the specific readings and lessons that will be taught that Sunday and then searches for music that can tie in with those themes. After a handful of rehearsals, the group is ready for showtime.

“They do practices leading up to the bluegrass mass, the Sunday that they play, but they’re all either highly talented amateurs or professional musicians, so they get up to speed very quickly for the year,” Barber said.

A ‘ragtag’ group

The Mis’rable Sinners live up to their ‘ragtag’ designation — even the instrument list is eclectic. In addition to typical guitars, Dieck will be playing a traditional Irish bouzouki, an eight-stringed instrument strung an octave lower than a mandolin.

“Last year we had a piece that called for a hurdy-gurdy, which is a medieval European instrument,” Dieck recalled.

The “broad spectrum” of tunes ranges from acoustic Americana music to classic hymns. The final song, “Unclouded Day,” is a traditional bluegrass number, while another tune, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” is a gospel standard.

“It’s kind of gospel-y and we got this orchestra of guitars and banjos and my goofy Irish bouzouki that are making all this happen,” Dieck said.

The Mis’rable Sinners put “extreme care and love” into bringing their music to the congregation, making sure they are equally respectful and joyful. As a result, according to Barber, the community looks forward to it every year.

For Dieck, the opportunity to perform with the Mis’rable Sinners is meaningful for many reasons.

Music “has always been something that’s propelled me,” Dieck said. “My faith has been very important to me. I’ve been at St. Martin’s for over 35 years and the place is extremely important to me. So, to be able to combine my love of sacred music with my love of folk music with my love for the parish, that’s been a gift to me. I’m really grateful to have an outlet to express that love with others.”

The Mis’rable Sinners will perform at the 10:30 mass on June 21 at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.