The Church Gig: Singing During The Holidays by Theresa Werba at Classical Singer Magazine

https://www.csmusic.net/content/articles/the-church-gig-singing-during-the-holidays/ What nice opportunities can there be for someone who loves to sing sacred

classical music? Singing in a beautiful, acoustically superior space, to an audience that

appreciates what you are doing? Singing church gigs can be very rewarding and career-

building. It is helpful to look at some of the realities of singing in churches if you have

never done it before.  Church solo singing can range from singing an aria or hymn on

Sunday to an afternoon recital series to your being a member of a small ensemble

(possibly with accompaniment) or with the church's own choir or a full-scale

performance of an oratorio such as Handel's Messiah or a Bach cantata.

Your church contact will probably be the director of music or choir director but it

may be the pastor or church warden or secretary. It may be a manager for higher-level

performances, such as soloist with a professional orchestra or chamber ensemble. 

Here are some things to expect to deal with:

1. Incense. Some churches (and synagogues) use incense during their services.

This is usually during high holy days such as Christmas or Easter.

Denominations that use incense include Episcopal/Anglican, Eastern and

Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic and others. Not all individual congregations

within these denominations use incense, and not every service within a

denomination or congregation uses incense.