It’s not uncommon within parish ministry transitions for music to be the vehicle of stability. I know of many parishes that experienced conflict or difficult clergy transitions in which the music ministry and its musician leader were the primary sources of stability. Yes, God was at work, guiding it all, but God was doing so through music. Good Shepherd, Rosemont, is no exception. In the past decade as the parish transitioned from challenges into new life, our music ministry under the direction of Matthew Glandorf was a source of vitality in the parish. And the parish vestry rightly decided that to compromise funding and support of music would be destructive to the parish’s future. I am continually thankful for the parish’s leadership and their commitment to supporting music at Good Shepherd.
We’ve just emerged from a brief time of transition in our music ministry after Matt Glandorf’s move to Germany. Last Sunday, we gave thanks for Jack Burnam’s fantastic work in leading our music program through a time of transition. And this Sunday, we welcome our new Organist and Director of Music, Robert McCormick.
Our call of Robert as our next musician is a significant moment in our parish life. The music search committee and vestry recognized that through music, Good Shepherd is poised to expand its ministry in remarkable ways. Indeed, in this parish, music is not superfluous; it is integral to our life together in God. Robert will soon be discerning ways to grow the Parish Choir through the addition of capable adult volunteers, and this spring, he will be laying the groundwork for a children’s chorister program to begin in the fall. Through such programming, music can become an evangelical (in the best sense of the word, that is, good news!) witness from out of this parish.
Robert brings enormous gifts, not just of musicianship but also of liturgical intelligence, pastoral sensitivity, administration, and importantly, of community building within choirs. In his previous positions, he has grown children’s chorister programs to robust levels and led adult choirs that were highly integrated within the lives of those parishes. Robert is known not only for his exceptional musicianship and choir-training but also for his gift of improvisation, an essential skill in Anglo-Catholic parishes. Robert has already planned to play an organ recital at Good Shepherd on Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m., so please mark your calendars. This recital will be a fundraiser for our music program.
You can read more about Robert in our parish email, but I hope you will plan to be present this Sunday as we welcome Robert to our parish staff. Please join us at coffee hour as well, and then stay for adult formation with Dr. Ellen Charry.
I am grateful to our music search committee and vestry, who shepherded the parish through our music transition. This is an incredibly exciting time for Good Shepherd, and may our witness to the community and world be strengthened and heightened through God’s marvelous gift of music!
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle