Free The Treble Wore Trouble (The Liturgical Mysteries) by Mark Schweizer

volunteer position and he's indicated that he's happy to help. Kimberly will still be in charge of the Sunday School curriculum and our Wednesday night programming, but she'll now also be in charge of the scheduling of the building. Hayden is in charge of the music. Nothing could be simpler."
    No one said anything.
    "I know what you're all thinking," said Mother P, "and you'll get the story from Bev soon enough, I expect. I did not fire her, nor give her any cause to leave. We sat down this morning and had a frank and earnest discussion about the role of a Parish Administrator, and Bev was forthcoming about her concerns about changes I've made since I've gotten here ... and will continue to make. That's my job as your rector."
    Silence.
    "Anyway, I'm sorry she felt the need to leave." Another pause. "I've invited the rest of the Worship Committee to come in just a few minutes. We need to think about the services through Lent and Holy Week. Let me get us some coffee." She got up and left the room followed closely by Herb.
    "I guess she's letting us comment without her being here," said Joyce.
    "I never thought we needed an administrator, anyway," said Kimberly Walnut.
    "What do you think, Hayden?" Joyce asked.
    "We certainly did need an administrator while we didn't have a full-time priest and Bev was good at keeping everything running smoothly. Rosemary's right, though. If she wants to do Bev's work, the transition probably won't be difficult." Well done, I thought. That wasn't too hard.
    Mother P opened the door and came back into the conference room carrying two coffee carafes. Herb followed with a metal painted tray of coffee cups, a bowl of sugar and non-sugar packets, some spoons, and some of that white powdered creamer. Behind Herb was Elaine Hixon, Billy's wife. Shea Maxwell and Wynette Winslow brought up the rear.
    "I've asked Fred May to be on this committee, since he's the Senior Warden," said Mother P, "but he can't meet with us during the day. We might decide to have a few meetings in the evening. We'll just have to see how that works." She looked around the room. "By the way, in my meeting with Bev, I asked her to join the Worship Committee since that is where her gifts lay, and she agreed, but declined, understandably, to attend this morning. She'll be here for the next one."
    I poured myself a cup of coffee, then one for Marilyn. The other carafe was making its way around the table during these announcements.
    "I've been wondering," said Mother P, "if the season of Lent might be a good time to experiment with some alternate forms of worship."
    It wasn't a question.
    "It seems like a good time, a new beginning, the start of a new season. I wonder if a 'blended' service might work and serve to bring back some of the people who find traditional worship a little too stodgy. Maybe even bring in some new folks."
    Again, it wasn't a question. Everyone looked at me.
    "I couldn't say one way or the other," I said. "We've never had a 'blended' service since I've been here. We've tried a lot of things, make no mistake: a Clown Eucharist, puppets, spirit sticks, shoe polishing, liturgical dance, musicals, you name it."
    Mother P seemed to consider this.
    I said, "If I may ask — and I mean this in the unsnarkiest way — what is it exactly that you want to do?
    This was a test, of that I was sure. An Ash Wednesday test. Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
    "We want to blend the traditional and the contemporary," said Mother P, obviously ready for this question. "We'd like to have your choral music along with something in a 'Praise and Worship' style. No drum kits or guitars or anything like that yet, but I have some choruses that I brought from my previous parish and I've already signed us up for a CCLI license." She looked around the table. "I can't believe we've never had one. Every church does."
    I gave