Ask Ambrose: Keeping the Easter Feast
Dear Ambrose: The Easter Day services at my church were glorious. I understand that Easter lasts for fifty days. How can we keep the Easter feast? Singing Alleluias! Dear Singing, You are right! Easter lasts […]
Ask Ambrose
Dear Ambrose: Music for Footwashing
We are having a foot washing at my parish on Maundy Thursday. What can we sing here? Signed, Stumped Dear Stumped: It is traditional in most churches to do a Foot Washing […]
Dear Ambrose: Tips for Lectors
I have a difficult time hearing the readings at my parish. This is not because I’m deaf! The readers read too quickly and sometimes the sound is distorted by the microphone. Any suggestions? – Frustrated […]
Dear Ambrose: Singing the Creed
Reciting the Nicene Creed each week has become very rote-like, just checking off a set of beliefs. Is singing the Creed an option? Bored Dear Bored: The short answer is YES. Singing the Creed can […]
Dear Ambrose: I realize that Sundays are not a part of Lent. Should I be doing anything different for our Lenten liturgies? Signed, Curious
Dear Curious, You are correct! Sundays are always a celebration of the resurrection and are in Lent. They are not of Lent. However, the only experience many of our parishioners have of Lent is in […]
Dear Ambrose: I have been hearing about Eucharistic Prayers using expansive language. What is this about?
Our prayer shapes us. The work of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music is for the sake of the Church’s formation in the mind of Christ as we make our prayer to God in […]
Ask Ambrose: Themes in Epiphany
Dear Ambrose: I realize that Epiphany is not really a season, as such. What are some of the themes in this time? I’m thinking primarily of hymns and anthems. Signed, Confused Dear Confused: You are right that these Sundays […]
Penitential Advent?
Dear Ambrose In times past Advent was thought of as a penitential season and sometimes called “a little Lent.” We don’t see much of that anymore. When and why did that change? For many of […]
Ask Ambrose: Small Choir and No Budget!
Dear Ambrose: I serve at a small church and have few organ skills. I have a small choir and virtually no music budget. Help! ~ Desperate Dear Desperate: We feel your pain. Here […]
Ask Ambrose: Printing Words of Anthems – Legal or Not?
Dear Ambrose Would you please address copyright issues with printing anthem texts in bulletins. Is there an issue here? Signed, Trying to do the right thing Dear Trying to do the right thing, There is […]