egads! It seems like time is just slippin away like never before, especially this past week.
To catch you up to speed, a couple of weeks ago after discerning that my true calling was to church music ministry, I gave my notice at Guitar Center and put in a bid for the job that was open where I was currently subbing as organist. They accepted my proposal to make the job full-time, and since then have been taken off the schedule at GC and began to rally my forces to begin the job formally on February 1. Since then, Sheetz called and we made arrangements for me to start on the 14th, Monday working nights from 10pm - 6am. And yesterday I got the go ahead from Ressi to go to Guitar Center to purchase a drum set and new amplifier for the contemporary choir. What a strange turn of events!
So even tho I won't start at Ressi til February, I will still continue to share the task of playing servies with Walter, the dear 87 year old treasure of a man who still plays and is sharp as a tack! But this is not going to be a slacker job, as I have already attended 2 staff meetings this past Monday. One was a general meeting, the other a meeting of the dre's and personnel involved in the Confirmation that will take place at Ressi on February 5th. And yours truly is coordinating the involvement of the 3 area churches. In the meantime each day this week has brought a new adventure there. Just yesterday I spent all morning checking out the various possible angles for using the sound system, which, btw, sux at the moment. It is very inadequate, much like St John's was when I first started there. Anyway, Ressi's 100th anniversary is coming up, and on Fr Frank's wish list is a new sound system. Oh yeah, he also wants to relocate the music ministry area to the front of the church......I sure hope he has budgeted for a newer organ. The current one, and old Allen, has been struck by lightening 3 times, yet still, defiantly limps along, waiting for it's opportunity to die in a blaze of glory, I'm sure.
Anyway, I have using my free time this week to corral the forces that will constitute the new music ministry. This is going to be quite the job.....but this parish is hungry..... no - make that starving.....for a solid music program. And Frank is a wonderful and supportive pastor. And he loves music! He even goes before the congregation himself to review music before mass! That's definitely a first for me. He is going to be my new Peter Wittmann ..... what blessed men, the both of them!
Also, I have been getting music ready for Lent, putting it all together in Finale, making bell arrangements, designing liturgies etc. Something tells me I'm not in minnesota anymore, but that's OK, I am ready to make lemonade!
On other fronts, I talked with Mandy last night and she told me that her and Tonya are planning to move to Pittsburgh at the end of this school year. Tonya has already gone ahead to make arrangements for her teaching certification in this state. Wonderful news! It will be great to have us all in one general area, making it more likely for our orbits to intersect.
Also, talked with Janet yesterday, and she told me that Gethsemani had sent her a bunch of cards that came for me....they are from folks who were not aware that I had moved back to Pittsburgh. So I have a ton of letter writing to do....bad timing! I am so preoccupied with getting ready to meet in rehearsal with two of the existing choirs at Ressi next Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and I am consumed with making preparations for that.
I have just resigned myself to accept this to be my lot in life! Just think.... I could have just left well enough alone, and stayed at Guitar Center, in a boring humdrum rut of an existence. Now here I am, standing at the portal of a labyrnth of creativity and shared joy. O whoa is me!
....I'll keep you posted.....
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