June/July 2011
Volume 38 Number 5

The toughest job you'll ever love

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ON THE COVER: Pipe organ installed in the gallery at St. Mary's Church in Auburn, N.Y. For more about this organ, visit http://www.stmaryauburn.org/music.html.
Photo by Glenn Gaston.

From Inside ML:

Way back in the 1960s, when the Peace Corps was launched, someone came up with their slogan: It's the toughest job you'll ever love. That may be true within the realm of government posts, but when it comes to positions in parishes, for my money it's the musicians in our churches who have the toughest job. I suppose I don't come to this conclusion with complete objectivity. I've been a pastoral musician for more years than I care to admit to. I can tell you this: parish music ministry is not for the faint of heart. It is demanding beyond most people's comprehension. Being a pastoral musician wouldn't be so difficult if the only thing that one had to do was simply be a musician. In most parishes, that is not the case. Musicians are called to wear a multitude of hats — sometimes simultaneously! At times the church musician must be a secretary, counselor, janitor, babysitter, sacristan, graphic designer, librarian, chauffeur, courier, computer expert, copier repair person, referee, peacemaker, or nurse. Musicians are the first to come and the last to leave(More)

Beyond words: A true renewal
Seeing beyond the text
David Haas

How are we going to set and sing these texts? A composer reflects
New texts, new rhythms
Paul Inwood

A journey through our musical legacy … with a few bumps along the way
An historical overview of liturgical change
David E. Fedor

Clergy and musician: An ever-changing relationship
Models of relationship
Virgil Funk

Inside ML  The toughest job you'll ever love / Ada Simpson

Worship Times  Roman Missal's advent; ICEL chants available; and more/ Todd Flowerday 

Bulletin Inserts / Paul Turner
Singing Dialogues
Mystery of Faith

Liturgical Spirituality 25th to 31st Sundays in Ordinary Time 2011/ Kay Murdy

Ritual Formation I can't chant! / David E. Fedor

Go Make Disciples of All Planning parish adult faith formation / Cecelia P. Regan

Sacred Space Attending to the weightier things / Mary Patricia Storms

The Word Alive Music to read by / Anne Louise Bannon

Bridge Work Lost among translations / Ron Raab

Moving Rite Along Graced notes / Donna M. Cole

Sung Prayer Who chooses and prepares the music? (part 2)/ David Haas

At the Table of the Word On working in God's vineyard / Bruce Janiga