THE MUSIC MINISTRY OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE
OFFICE OF PASTORAL MUSIC
 
 
The Music Ministry of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church is made up of nearly 30 individuals.  Consisting of volunteers and professional section leaders, who possess degrees from recognized national and international universities and conservatories, The Ministry is dedicated to enriching the various Liturgical Celebrations of The Parish. 
 
Together, as an ensemble, the choir of St. Mary Magdalene strives to encourage the Congregation to participate actively at all Liturgies and equally enhances the Celebrations in offering inspiration to The Parish in singing anthems which relate each week to the message of the Gospel.  The Ministry does not perform.  Rather, it helps to reiterate, in song, the moving message of the Liturgical Calendar. 
 

Included among the choral group are professional soloists and section leaders who lead the Congregation in Psalm responses and meditative selections solos which are chosen carefully to be the musical "unifying gesture" of The Parish Family's public prayer.
 
The Music Ministry also reflects the cultural diversity of The Parish, as well as the Church's 2000 years of sacred music making.  St. Mary Magdalene often incorporates 3 resources in its Liturgies:  The Hymnal 82, Gather, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II. 
 
The Adult Choir sings at the 10:30 Liturgy each week and is accompanied by various types of instrumentation -- organ, piano, brass, stringed instruments, and occasionally hand bells.  At the 8:00 Liturgy, soloists lead the Congregation in song and encourage the Congregation's participataion.  The Saturday Evening Liturgy is a less formal; however, the integrity of the music and its leadership in ministry are seemingly aware of their role as "ministers" Pastoral Music.
 
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Music Ministry of St. Mary Magdalene is the arrangements and compositions that have to be tailored to convey the musicality of the hymns, songs, anthems, solos, preludes and postludes at each weekly Liturgy. Under the direction of St. Mary Magdalene's Director of Pastoral Music, Arthur Nobile, Jr. with the assistance of Sy Pryweller, The Parish has developed its own library of compositions and arrangements.  Many of these pieces are in the process of being published for use in other parishes throughout the Diocese of Southeast Florida. 
 

Each week, the Director of Pastoral Music writes a column entitled A Journey of a Lifetime.  These articles extract certain phrases from the readings and how the music relates to the message of that week in the Liturgical Calendar.  The columns also provide some thought provoking questions that encourage the Congregation's dedication to building up the City of God in this part of creation, Coral Springs, Florida.  The articles also attempt to place a value on bringing awareness to the importance of one's life as a journey of faith and how one’s time, talents, and treasures can help reflect the essence of the Risen Lord.
 
Anyone who may be interested in becoming part of this important Ministry is invited to attend the weekly rehearsals, which are on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.