This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by Ministry Scheduler Pro. Manage your volunteers, accommodate service preferences, and create fair ministry schedules, all from your laptop, tablet or phone. Learn more and start your free 30-day trial at MinistrySchedulerPro.com.

The next episode in Ministry Monday’s Advent series features a conversation with Dr. Benjamin Cornelius-Bates, Professor of Musicianship at Duquesne University. Dr. Cornelius-Bates shares tips on how to improvise on traditional and contemporary Advent hymn tunes this Advent and Christmas season. Ben’s tips are practical for well beyond the Advent season, but I hope that they spark some creativity during a trying time like Advent for the pastoral musician.

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Saint Meinrad’s mission is the effective formation of the clergy and the laity for the life of the Church. Discover all the programs and events that Saint Meinrad has to offer at saintmeinrad.edu.

The first episode in Ministry Monday’s Advent series features a conversation with Fr. Jan Michael Joncas. Fr. Joncas helps us explore the liturgical texts we will be hearing in the weeks to come. How can we hear them with a sense of newness? And how can we, as pastoral musicians, be renewed in a season of Advent preparation, so often fraught with extra responsibilities and stress? How can the wisdom of the Church and its prayers guide us?

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by the Saint Meinrad Music Institute. Registration is now open for the winter chant workshop, January 24-28, at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana. All skill levels and backgrounds are welcome. Join presenters Br. John Glassenap and Dr. Alison Altstatt, and immerse yourself in the Church's rich tradition of both Latin and English liturgical chant. For details and registration, visit www.saintmeinrad.org/chant-workshop.

Today we speak to John Angotti, composer and music director in the Nashville, Tennessee area. John's passion is truly fostering the youth of today, and it shows: this episode is a great framework for how to attract youth into a music program, and how to establish a foundation of prayerful, intentional music ministry. John is a fabulous, self-proclaimed “music missionary”, and this interview was just plain fun to record.