THE WEDNESDAY REPORT: December 10, 2025

Dear Partners in Ministry,

It's Gaudete time! We celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent this weekend, and arrive at our concert at last this Sunday at 4. Be sure to mark all the information I've shared on the concert order (rep update included) so that we're all doing our part to make this as smooth as possible.

Here's one thing all of us must do for sure, for the sake of the concert and all we do as a ministry:

LET'S TALK TALKING. We're getting back into some bad habits of late regarding extraneous conversation in rehearsals and liturgies. Let me be clear to every one of you: Simply put: if you hear music, don't talk. Whether in rehearsal or liturgy, from the first note of the first bar of any hymn, psalm, song, reflection, or acclamation, we are in the active role of ministry. Even the seemingly innocent moments of "what page" or "what verse" only serve to distract your fellow ministers— or worse, the assembly.

This also applies to when Steve or the Bell Choir are playing (it's insultingly disrespectful to just talk over someone else's music making, and none of us have any right to dismiss each other's hard work like this) or when I'm improvising at the piano ( I can't tell you how hard it is to do the already daunting work of inventing an improv in real time while watching what's going on at the altar and trying to communicate with other musicians while someone's chatting away within earshot.)

We're generally a really supportive family of ministers, but this is one area where we really drop the ball and need to make some changes.

Another thing to remember: you're behind a mercilessly good set of mics. The microphones we use for the choir are really, really sensitive. This means that any extra noise—chatting, page rustling, singing or humming along with a cantor or instrumentalist, saying "bless you" when someone sneezes— is just as audible to the assembly and the livestream as the music you're singing. The mics don't know or care what your intent is in making a sound; they're going to amplify it loud and proud regardless.

Just so we all know when those mics are live: I do mute them as soon as possible after everything we sing, to minimize chances for unintended sound and feedback, and to prevent us from overpowering the voice of the assembly during spoken acclamations. If we're within ten seconds of starting a piece, though, you should assume that they are not muted and all sound is live. One big favor you can do for yourself to help keep noise down is to open your book or binder to the next piece we're doing as soon as we conclude the current piece, not waiting until just before to scramble. This not only helps avoid all the noise of hurried preparation, it takes that last-second stress off of you and lets you prepare to sing or play the next piece with a calmer mind.

Thanks all. Let's keep up the really good work you all do, and let go of those things that get in the way!

Peace be with you,
Tony

REHEARSAL AGENDA: December 11, 2025

Like last week, tomorrow night will be devoted to the Gaudete concert. If you won't be singing with us, you're off the hook.

Come, O Lord: We'll give the weekend's cantors a chance to run their verses.

After that, it's all Gaudete rep! "Christ, Circle Round Us" is in your folders if you haven't picked it up already.

THIS WEEK IN LITURGY

DECEMBER 14 · Third Sunday of Advent

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 7
2026 Workbook: p. 12
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 40
Cantors: Rich W (5:00); Jack G (9:00); Charlie M (11:00)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:

Gathering: 58 · 4.012 · Emmanuel (Angrisano) Verse 4
Penitential Act: BB p. 3 · JS 145 · Order of Mass: Kyrie
Responsorial Psalm: WA · 4.023 · Advent Psalm: Come, O Lord (Ward) Set 10 (Ps 146)
Gospel Acclamation: 106 · JS 261 · Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation (Bridge)
Prayer of the Faithful: 1010 · JS 268 · O God, Hear Us (Hurd)
Preparation of the Gifts: 49 · JS 277 · Patience, People (Foley)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 881–886 · JS 248–253 · Mass of Glory: Lamb of God (Canedo/Hurd)
- Holy · We Proclaim Your Death · Amen · Lamb of God
Communion: 305 · JS 766 · Gather the People (Schutte)
Sending Forth: 579 · JS 593 · Lift Up Your Hearts (O’Connor)

LOOKING AHEAD

DECEMBER 21 · Fourth Sunday of Advent

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 10
2026 Workbook: p. 16
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 42
Cantors: David R (5:00); Carolyn C (9:00); Greg E (11:00)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:

Gathering: 58 · 4.012 · Emmanuel (Angrisano) Verse 1
Penitential Act: p. 6 · JS 145 · Order of Mass: Kyrie
Responsorial Psalm: WA · 4.023 · Advent Psalm: Come, O Lord (Ward) Set 1 (Ps 24)
Gospel Acclamation: 106 · JS 261 · Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation (Bridge)
Prayer of the Faithful: 1010 · JS 268 · O God, Hear Us (Hurd)
Preparation of the Gifts: 65 · JS 293 · Litany of the Word (Advent Litany) (Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 881–886 · JS 248–253 · Mass of Glory: Lamb of God (Canedo/Hurd)
- Holy · We Proclaim Your Death · Amen · Lamb of God
Communion: 1022 · 3.047 · O Christ Our Life (Ward)
Sending Forth: 39 · 5.100-11 · ACH 11 · O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (plainchant)

DECEMBER 24/25 · The Nativity of the Lord

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 14
2026 Workbook: p. 24
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 47
Cantors: Anthony S (Vigil, 4:30 p), Tony (Vigil, 7:00 p), TBD (Night, 10:00 p), Pam P (Day, 11:00 a)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:
All music will be provided in a printed worship aid.

Gathering: ACH 10 · O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Glory to God: 1.001 · Mass of Creation: Glory to God (Haugen)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98: Complete Setting (Ward)
Gospel Acclamation: JS 261 · Christmas Season Gospel Acclamation (Bridge)
Prayer of the Faithful: 1JS 268 · O God, Hear Us (Hurd)
Preparation of the Gifts:
- Vigil (4:30 p and 7:00 p) 5.100-2 · ACH 2 · Angels We Have Heard on High (GLORIA)
- Night (10:00 p) ACH 7 · It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (CAROL)
- Day (11:00 a) ACH 4 · Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Eucharistic Acclamations: 881–886 · JS 248–253 · Mass of Glory: Lamb of God (Canedo/Hurd)
- Holy · We Proclaim Your Death · Amen (now a double refrain!) · Lamb of God
Communion:
- 5.015 · O Tidings (GOD REST YE MERRY/Ward)
- 5.100-17 · ACH 17 · The First Nowell (English carol)
Postcommunion (Dec 24 only): 5.100-15 · ACH 15 · Silent Night (Grüber)
Sending Forth: 5.100-8 · ACH 8 · Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)