#135: Spiritual Resolutions for a New Liturgical Year

In our final moments before the Christmas celebrations, Ministry Monday takes a brief moment to reflect on the "Spiritual resolutions" for the new year ahead.

This episode is meant to be a short moment's respite among the challenges in our world. We hope you find it short, sweet, and a quick release of the tension you didn’t even know that you were holding in your shoulders. (Yes, I can see you.)

Today’s episode comes from the November 2018 edition of NPM’s Pastoral Music magazine. The article “Spiritual Resolutions for a New Liturgical Year” was written by Margaret Felice. Now, full disclosure: keep in mind that this article was written at a time when masks were not required, “physical distancing” was not a phrase one heard each day, and public singing was more than welcomed in our sacred spaces. While I understand that all of these things our temporary in our society, it bears mentioning, as Margaret refers to singing during this article. We can’t endorse public singing with others just yet, but we hope the sentiment and core of Margaret’s message still sound true in your heart during these last few days of Advent.

#134: Pastoral Self-Care for the Pastoral Minister

The topic of self-care is an elusive one for pastoral musicians, as our calling is to serve others. It is a charism that extends to all that we do in ministry. We sacrifice our weekends, our holidays, our days off to play an unexpected funeral of someone we so value in our parish, and so on. I know that many of us are happy to do it because, again, we are pastoral ministers! But what are the unique needs for us, as ministers, in 2020? How does “taking care of ourselves” look like this year?

#133: Celebrating the Sacred This Advent Season (with Holly Mohr)

This episode of Ministry Monday is sponsored by ONE LICENSE. Did you know that ONE LICENSE offers comprehensive options for posting your worship services online during COVID-19 and has brand new blog resources on virtual choirs, practice-tracks, and updating your backdated reporting? For more information, and to view their blog, visit news.onelicense.net. ONE LICENSE — inspiring congregational song!

Today on the podcast we speak with Holly Mohr, Director of Religious Education for the South Side/Mount Washington Parish Community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Holly has the gift of seeing the sacred in the chaos which we all need during this pandemic year. If you’re feeling even a bit of uncertainty in your ministry or just in life this Advent season, this episode is for you.