The weather is colder. Singers’ sinuses protest the changes. Seasonal allergies flare up. Every drugstore in town seems to have set out signs saying, “Get your flu shots here!”

Everyone has the sniffles. Both students and teachers are catching this fall’s crop of bugs (and passing them around).

Music ministries are not immune. This year’s variety of viruses, colds and flu can race through a choir in a New York minute, silencing tenors and turning sopranos into basses. This does not improve the choral sound.

Being prepared is half the battle. A supply of hand sanitizer at the entrance to the rehearsal room is a must. Many churches already have a supply for Eucharistic ministers, but music ministry members really need to have their own, and boxes of tissues as well. (The lotion type is kinder to sore noses.)

Those flu shot signs? Yes, it’s time. Although flu season usually peaks after the first of the year, it can hit at any time. It makes sense to have your immunity in place before the onslaught. The parish nurse might check with the local board of health about setting up a parish-wide vaccination program after all Masses one weekend.

We’re used to back-to-school physicals for kids, but we can forget that even busy grown-ups need checkups, too. I speak from experience: I’ve had cancer twice, 29 years apart, but early detection and swift treatment worked each time. Believe me, I get my flu shot every year. And the pneumonia shot, at the recommended intervals. And a one-time shingles shot, for folks over fifty; if you’ve ever had chickenpox as a child, you’re at risk.

Remember, staying as healthy as possible is not just for your own good; it’s for the good of everyone who comes into contact with you, especially those with whom you share ministry.

M.D. Ridge