New Side Job

Here's another one of those things I never though I'd find myself doing: being paid to be a church pianist. No, not in the Adventist church, clearly. Playing for our own dear church was something I never pictured doing as a kid either, but here I am doing that, and now I'll be playing for an Episcopal church as well. I'm not quite sure how it originally got started, but I have played for Episcopal church and Federated Church in Arlington as a sub when their organist couldn't be there. News travels quickly in a small town, and it soon led to me playing for the Arlington Elementary and High School, for their music concerts (A much greater pay I might add). It had been about a year since I had been asked to play for any of these place, though, when I got an email asking me to sub for the Episcopal church in Bennington, for their Christmas pageant. Another little side note about small towns: you see people you know everywhere. Sitting in the front row of that church during the pageant was my gynecologist! I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, because she is our neighbor as well, just 2 houses down.

After playing for the pageant, I discovered that the church had been without an organist for months. This seemed quite strange, as most churches try to get subs whenever they are to be without music. Due to this interesting fact, the members were overwhelmed with gratitude after being without music for so long. The arrangements have thus been proceeding for me to be a regular pianist there 2-3 Sundays a month. This surprised me, as most churches prefer the organ. Be that as it may, they wanted me to do it, and I am delighted to oblige. A few more $s every month lessens the financial crunch my schooling creates. God is good. :)