Dear Ambrose
Dear Ambrose: Is it OK to use Rite I service music at a Rite II service? #Ilovewillan Dear #ILoveWillan: The short answer is “yes.” You probably already do this without noticing if you are using […]
PSALMS ARE FOR SINGING
Chanting the Psalms is a practice that goes back thousands of years, to the time of ancient Israel. Speaking the Psalms is actually an anomaly, because Psalms are meant for singing. For some worshippers, however, […]
Recruiting New Choir Members
In the 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross, a senior stockbroker drills his mantra into his charges: A-B-C: Always Be Closing! True story: A colleague once told me that they used to have a chorister program, […]
St. Francis Day Survival Guide: Practical Tips For Animal Blessings
“With all these details, don’t lose sight of the reason why people come: that moment when a pet is blessed in the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Ensure enough time, enough room, […]
Welcoming Children into Worship
Ed. Note: The way we welcome children into worship can make a difference for families and parishioners. While some say that children are the future of the Church, we need to remember that children are the […]
Effective Rehearsal Techniques
Editor’s note: As choirs around the country gear up for the first rehearsals of the program year we thought it would be helpful to outline some best practices for choir rehearsals. A choir’s performance is only as […]
Dear Ambrose:
My congregation has sung the same Gloria for years. I would like to introduce something other than a Gloria. Do you have any suggestions? The Book of Common Prayer gives us the option of singing a Kyrie […]
What Should We Sing as Gifts of Bread, Wine, and Money are Presented?
Each week following the Peace congregations are invited to make “to present the offerings and oblations of [their] life and labor to the Lord.” Ushers collect money, a symbol of food, our homes, and, indeed, our […]
Designing Worship Leaflets
As we look toward the fall and the beginning of the program year (and yes, we know that “program year” is not a liturgical term), you might want to rethink your service leaflet. When was […]
Vibrant Worship for All Ages
What Congregations Practicing Inter-generational Worship Have In Common What Is “Intergenerational Worship”? “Intergenerational worship” or “worship for all ages” is worship that seeks to equally value people of all ages. These are services that intentionally […]