Silent Sunday?

From Patrice Fitzgerald, a section leader for the Hartford meeting house choir:

I am saddened to hear of the financial difficulties at the Universalist Church which make it necessary to discuss the elimination of any part of your first-rate music program. As you can imagine, I am a firm believer in the importance, and even necessity, of music to an effective worship service.

As a section leader, I am also aware of the skills which are brought by professionals to a choir. I am currently pursuing a graduate degree at Hartt, which requires a personal expenditure of time and money, in order to improve my ability to contribute to the Meeting House choir. Frankly, it's not that easy to do what we do. To be able to read music, produce a convincing accent in varied languages, guide and support a section, follow the conducting of the director accurately, and show up every Sunday morning in good voice, is somewhat akin to being an athlete. It's a lot harder than it looks. And it takes years to achieve. You can find volunteers to lead your choir, and to lead the sections. Typically, they won't be as good.
There is a reason that people get paid for highly developed skills.

I have a suggestion: try a "Silent Sunday." Have your usual service, without the music. See whether folks notice. See whether they feel that what is missing is critical to their worship experience.

I think they will discover that it is pretty empty without the music.