#136: Co-Workers in the Vineyard: The Importance of Lay Leadership (with Brother Louis E. Canter)

I once had a cantor who recently had a baby. She wanted to minister quickly after her child was born, but balancing two children with varying work schedules was a constant challenge for her. I told her that we would welcome her back as a minister in any way that her schedule would allow.

One morning, her husband had an unexpected work commitment, so she brought her toddler and infant with her to church. They were both incredibly well-behaved until the preparation of the gifts, but this didn’t stop my cantor. With her toddler next to her leg and her infant on her hip, she sang “How Great Thou Art”. She looked at her infant as she sang, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made….” There was not a dry eye in the house. She ministered to all of us in multiple ways that day, and she reminded me of the power of lay leadership.

You know, we are so quick to cling to the role of the clergy, I think we often forget the presence of God that lives within us and flows through us as we minister.

And that is the conversation we’re having today. I sat down with Brother Louis Canter to discuss the importance of Lay Ecclesial ministry, a term that is either fresh or incredibly well-worn in your local diocesan vocabulary. Brother Louis believes that the key to the church’s future lies within the lay ministers who serve the church with their time, talent and treasures, big and small.

#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.