We spoke last time about plans for your Advent music. Now you’ve got the possibilities winnowed down to a pair of manageable goals. Say the highest-rated “dream” is having a Christmas cantata. Look at the December calendar and pick a weekend—any weekend except Christmas itself.

Resources: The music director will probably be the one to choose the particular cantata, keeping in mind the capabilities of the community. But you need someone else with a lot of energy to take on the practical tasks of publicity, recruiting, perhaps simple costumes, publicity, etc. (Yes, I did repeat the word publicity twice. That was on purpose.) The entire community needs to be involved, not just the music ministry! A really good lector might be the narrator if the script calls for it. Those who create the weekly environment for liturgy can be invaluable in creating a workable “stage.”

A cantata requires money: money for scripts for the performers, singers and musicians; sometimes rehearsal tapes are available. (Do try to do this with the community’s own resources instead of relying on a prerecorded music background. This project is for the community, by the community—interposing another layer defeats that unity.) Can the finance committee find the money in the budget? Figure out the expenses in advance (music, cost of possibly hiring musicians, etc.); you can “sell” the idea by talking about how many in the community will be involved in the project, and how it will benefit the whole community. And yes, there are always bake sales.

Start regular rehearsals during the summer, if possible—certainly not later than September. You want this to be a community priority, and last-minute hoping-for-the-best efforts won’t do.

As the prophet Zephaniah said, “Fear not, O Zion; be not discouraged! The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty savior.”