In the years when I served a military chapel, the choir makeup changed regularly. We started out with a small group mostly of male singers. Then military transfers and home leave took their toll and one year we did Christmas with one shaky soprano and three second-graders. (It worked, and we had a good time, but it wasn’t easy.) Then for a while, we had a small but honest-to-Pete SATB choir—wow! Every year or two, the balance shifted again, for no apparent reason. All I knew was that we could adapt to any change necessary, do good music and involve the assembly with what we had.

It was a useful life—and music—lesson.

But my civilian parish choirs had the same kinds of shifts—from lots of women, few men, to lots of men, few women, to reliable SAB—and back. But I knew we could adapt to any change necessary, do good music and involve the assembly’s participation with what we had.

Yes, I did say that twice.

We often forget that God is not judging our ministry by whether we have a huge SATB choir or handbell ringers or an instrumental ensemble or whatever. If our assemblies aren’t singing vigorously, that’s a problem. We may be choosing the wrong music for this community in this place and muting their response as a result. If the choir or cantors are so good that people say, “Oh, I just want to listen to them,” that’s a problem.

But how do we make the most of limited resources? By choosing appropriate music. By intros that firmly establish pitch and pulse within seconds. If we play more softly, they will sing more softly; if we play with gusto, that’s how they’ll sing. If we haven’t done something in a while, we should go over it briefly before Mass; they’ll appreciate the refresher course. By using the resources we have in creatively effective ways.

Just remember: the primary instrument is the voice of the assembly.

M.D. Ridge