Archive for How to Start

The Practical Implications of Differing Musical Styles

September 1, 2009 at 4:24 pm · Filed under How to Start, Worship Music ·Tagged

“Some people call it blended worship.  It brings together worship forms that have been tested and tried in Christian churches for centuries and joins them to contemporary musical styles.  Blended worship is one way Lutheran churches can retain public worship’s historic emphasis on gospel proclamation and at the same time accompany that proclamation with music many people understand and enjoy.”

 

“Blending the gospel-proclaiming forms of the church’s past with musical styles that are part of the church’s present may enable us to offer the people of today the timeless message that Jesus saves.”

 

- From “Blended worship that works” by Professor James Tiefel

 

If you find yourself at the crossroads of musical style, here are several paths to consider:

 

  1. Do nothing, stick to the one style you know best. 
    1. This is the easiest route and often the most effective. 
  2. Keep your current musical library but accompany some of the songs with different instruments.
    1. This is most commonly done by accompanying hymns with piano, guitar, flute, violin, tambourine, etc.  It can be very effective if done well but sometimes this requires the hymn to be rearranged or even rewritten a bit.
  3. Rather than do nothing, consider at least an annual alternate styled worship event.  It doesn’t have to be on a Sunday so that your regular worship service is not affected and it can also be combined with a neighboring sister church .
  4. Create an altogether different weekly service, offering two per week for example if you currently hold one service; one traditional and one contemporary. 
    1. This can work, but isn’t it better to be worshiping together?
    2. Consider inviting the usual traditional people to attend a contemporary service and vice versa to encourage an attitude of love and servant hood toward each other and to help build up the body of Christ.
  5. Include a mix of musical styles in any given worship service; perhaps a few organ-backed hymns, a few chants, and a few contemporary pieces. 
    1. This is one form of “blended worship” and literally applies Paul’s words to have musical variety (sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs) in one worship service.  This can be a very nice solution.
    2. This elevates musical lyrics and content above “style”, which is a worthy goal.
  6. Alternate styles between traditional weeks and contemporary weeks.
    1. This can also work but could be confusing to some people. 
    2. Can be alternated on an every other week basis or something different, such as one monthly contemporary service and the rest being traditional, for example.
  7. Start up a “sister church” with a different musical style.
    1. Nice!

 

Please consider voting on your favorite choices from the above list in the following anonymous poll.  If you received this document via email or through a reader, you will have to go to the BLOG directly to cast your vote.  Thank you in advance for your time and participation!

 

Leave a Comment

What is a worship leader and what does he or she do?

August 28, 2009 at 4:17 pm · Filed under BLENDED WORSHIP, How to Start, Messiah Lutheran Church ·Tagged

Within our “WELS circles”, the worship leader is the pastor; as it should be.  He is ultimately responsible for the spiritual care of his church’s members.  He is their shepherd.  But in today’s culture, the term “worship leader” now defines a person that assists the Pastor, primarily in the area of music, and is usually a volunteer.  This role has become more prevalent as contemporary and blended worship styles have increased in popularity, but it can also be helpful to the Pastor to have a close worship partner, particularly a Lay person, for traditional services as well.

 

The term “worship leader” is perhaps not the best term; some people refer to this position as “lead worshiper”, which I like a little better, or, “worship coordinator”, which is the term that my local church uses and is in fact my title.

 

I will define the role of this person based on my own personal experiences.  In the general sense, roles may vary depending on church size, doctrinal beliefs, congregational support and your own gifts and abilities.

 

Here are some of the functions that I perform in my role as the worship coordinator:

 

  1. Worked with the Pastor to develop a plan to start using contemporary music in worship.  This included the development of a worship template, or an “Order of Worship” that we follow on blended Sundays.
  2. Choose the contemporary music for use in worship with the Pastor’s review and approval*.
  3. Participate in the choir, the band and schedule practice times*.
  4. Pray for your Pastor, your musical team, your church and your Synod*.
  5. Be the administrator for your CCLI or equivalent copyright license.
  6. Stay abreast of new contemporary Christian music.
  7. Help to run the audio-visual equipment.
  8. Help with liturgical writing and responsive readings to be used in worship.
  9. Create videos for use in worship.
  10. Participate in the children’s message ministry.
  11. Fill-in as guest preacher when needed.

 

I have placed a star next to items 2-4 because these are the most important tasks.

 

As you can see, it is a critical position and a position that requires close coordination with the Pastor and it also requires the person to be in the scriptures and in prayer as much as possible.  I don’t claim to be a model worship leader by any means, but I offer these thoughts for those of you considering this calling.  If you want a role model, consider guys like Kenaniah or Asaph:

 

Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.  – Chr 15:22

 

He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to make petitions, to give thanks, and to praise the lord…  They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals… – 1 Chr 16:4,5

 

Or, let Christ himself be your role model and be an imitator of Christ.

 

In the end, this position is all about works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

 

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.  – Eph 6:7

 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

Leave a Comment

Thinking about either starting or joining a contemporary praise band?

April 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm · Filed under How to Start, Praise Band ·Tagged

We are indeed in the midst of a worship revolution.  Many WELS churches are starting to supplement and complement their traditional organ-based music with new contemporary praise bands.

 

Most people who volunteer to serve in these bands have gotten their experience by playing in a variety of secular music bands, be it folk, rock, jazz, country, classical or a school marching band and soon find out that things are a bit different.  This is new to most of us, because in the past, if someone decided to learn to play the organ, it was most likely for only one purpose – to play in church.  Following is a list of experiences you will most likely run across as you participate in a Praise Band:

 

  1. Your Praise band is open to all members.   If your church is large, you will be doing some occasional auditioning for replacement or additional band members and the requirements for being a band member are much different than in the secular world.  You might end up with some odd combinations – such as a two-piece band: piano and saxophone.  In the church world, one important characteristic is “heart.”  Each musician needs to have the heart of a worshipper.  Each musician needs to see their participation as an offering and as a service to the church.  Pastors and worship leaders need to value spiritual character over gifting when it comes to selecting musicians.  Pursuing musical excellence and a tight sound are still important but become secondary issues. 
  2. There is no need for an elevated platform, no need for special lights, no exclusive backstage area; in fact, the best place for the band is in the back where nobody sees you.  Your mindset needs to be, “make more of Jesus and less of me.”  Be willing to release that which you have, that you might become God’s channel of blessing in the life of another.   “Freely you have received, freely give.”  Mt 10:8b
  3. There is little to no need for long showy instrumental solos; OK a little riff or musical segue or turnaround here or there between the vocals can be done well and can be God glorifying but the motivation and mindset of the musician has to be right.
  4. The band is driven, and takes its direction, not from the band leader per say, but from God’s word, from the Pastor, and from the Worship Leader (who might also be a band member).
  5. Most secular bands concentrate on a particular set of music where they practice these songs over and over.  This enables them to perfect the songs and memorize the lyrics.  In the church world, this is usually not possible.  In fact, you will typically be playing new and different music each week.
  6. Pop bands have a following and a specific clientele or age group or demographic that they cater to.  In the church environment, your audience first and foremost is God.  But you also have a roomful of people, ranging in age from newborn to pushing 100,  and for the most part, the same people attend week-to-week; hopefully with a few new additions as well.
  7. You’re job is not to entertain.  You are there to help lead worship.  It is a high Calling.  Since you are helping to lead worship; church membership, adherence to doctrinal beliefs, and fellowship with your congregation is a must.

 

If you are a musician considering this high calling; first get your heart in the right place.   Here’s some help:

 

  1. Grow in the knowledge of God.  Being a church musician has implications of studying God’s word and listening to hymns, Psalms and spiritual songs in your leisure time.
  2. Pray regularly for things like musical proficiency, discernment of song lyrics, leadership skills, your Pastor and your other band members, and also to thank God for the gifts he has given to you.
  3. Be humble, boast only in Christ, because all things were created through Him and for His glorification.  You can do nothing without Him.   “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  - John 15:5
  4. You are part of a team.  This requires cooperation and teamwork.  Be prompt and diligent in your work.  Listen carefully as you play and make every effort to fit in and blend musically with your fellow musicians.
  5.  Realize that your part in leading worship is exclusively dependent and is grounded on Christ’s finished work at the cross.   “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”  - Colossians 1:18-20
  6. Seek the edification and opinions of others.  Receive criticism graciously.

 

This doesn’t seem like a very rosy picture for church musicians.  It seems so “Lutheran.”  But the truth is that playing music in church and accompanying God’s people in songs of praise is an extremely rewarding experience.  I look forward to it all week long and as soon as the Sunday service is over, I eagerly anticipate next week’s service.  If you pursue church music, God will stir a hunger and a passion in your heart, and you will feel God’s presence in your heart.  There aren’t too many feelings like it on this earth.

 

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  - 1 Peter 4:10

 

A Prayer for Church Musicians and Artists

 

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Prayer Source: Adapted from “The Book of Common Prayer”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

Leave a Comment

How to Start a Blended Worship Service Program at Your Church

February 21, 2009 at 9:05 pm · Filed under BLENDED WORSHIP, How to Start

How to Start a Blended Worship Service Program at Your Church

Note – You can download a copy of this file in my “file download area” (right column, grey box at the bottom) 

  

At our church, we used to do only Traditional, Liturgical, Lutheran Worship.  We used the various liturgies included in the hymnal, but we never varied from the organ-based accompaniment and the singing of hymns.  And by the way, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this.  In fact, it’s God pleasing, worshipful, inspiring and awesome.

 

Two or three years ago, we hired WELS Parish Assistance to evaluate our worship practices and to assess the needs of our local community.  Included in their recommendations was a suggestion to consider using more contemporary music in worship.  We were a bit bewildered with this idea and only knew of one contemporary artist and one or two songs; i.e. Amy Grant.  Being a guitarist and a servant at heart, I volunteered to spearhead the effort.  I still remember our Pastor at the time (Tom Mielke) sitting down with me and telling me that there was more to contemporary music than “Amy Grant.”  Of course he was right, but neither of us knew where to turn.  I started out by buying compilation CDs (WOW Worship for example) and building up a personal music library.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of listening to a lot of music and paying attention to lyrics.  Following is a chronological list of what we did; along with some other suggestions should you want to consider trying this yourself.  The italicized paragraphs are personal reflections that I have experienced in our journey down this road.

 

  1. The first thing you will need is someone who is passionate about contemporary Christian music (CCM).  And this does not have to be a pre-existing character trait, as it wasn’t with us.  You simply need someone who is open minded, enjoys music and is willing to really get into it.  It would be helpful if this person is also a musician but it isn’t required.  This person will become the driving force behind your blended service initiatives and will ultimately work closely with the Pastor.  This person needs to be solid in their faith, have a heart for God and leadership qualities.  Pastors, pray whole heartedly for help in finding this person.  It’s critical to your success.
  2. If possible, attend a blended service at a nearby sister congregation and talk to their leaders.  Go to lectures and seminars if they are available in your area and run by our Synod.
  3. Try a sample service.  Keep it simple at first.  Do a traditional service with all of the usual worship elements, including things like organ-backed psalm-of-the-day singing.  The only thing different is the substitution of contemporary songs in place of hymns.  Do your best to pick songs that go along with the readings and it goes without saying that your Pastor needs to review the lyrics for doctrinal accuracy.  Since it’s your first service, most people will be forgiving when it comes to lyrical and thematic adherence to the readings.  We actually held our first blended service on the night before Thanksgiving because evening, mid-week worship formats are often more contemporary feeling to begin with.  And, Thanksgiving, by nature, is a praise-focused service so it went well.  I remember one song was “Father I Adore You” because it was familiar and wasn’t in our hymnal!
  4. For help in evaluating CCM songs, check out “Text, Music, Context: A Resource for Reviewing Worship Materials” by LCMS Commission on Worship (ca $5 from CPH item# S05505).
  5. You will need at least a pianist and it helps to also have a guitarist and a few lead singers who can sing contemporary styled music.  You will find that singing contemporary style is different than singing hymns.  It takes a while to make this transition so be patient.
  6. Be sure to get the music into the hands of the instrumentalists and singers at least a week in advance and plan for some group practice time before the actual worship service as well as encouraging individual practice time at home.
    1. We actually struggled for more than a year with just a guitar, or using MIDI, or asking our organist to plow through the songs on the piano as best they could.  The results were satisfactory, but I prayed like mad for more musicians.  My prayers were answered; at least in part.  A music teacher by trade, pianist and vocalist with a passion for contemporary music was transferred to us from another congregation, the results of a job transfer.  Interestingly enough, she had not been using her talents much, because her church hadn’t tried blended worship.  It was a blessing to both of us and to our congregation.  To God be the glory.
  7. Pick songs that are easy to learn and to sing.  Once you find music, you will need to obtain permission from the publishers to copy the lead sheets for your bulletins or for overhead projection.  Some publishers will be accommodating, especially if you explain that you are just giving this a try, while others might not.  Ultimately, you will need to purchase a copyright license agreement or songbooks but we’ll touch on that later.  There are a plethora of music resources on the WEB and some are free and offered legally.  Look around.
    1. I’ll never forget the opening song of our second attempt at blended worship.  We now had me on guitar and six ladies (including two teenage girls) who helped out with singing.  We did not yet have the luxury of a pianist.  As a pre-service selection, we sang Tim Hughes’s song “Here I Am to Worship.”  It was an incredible worship experience for me.  There I was, the lone accompaniment, and to me, it sounded like there was a full band behind me.  Right in the heat of the moment; I was genuinely “affected.”  I was supposed to sing with the ladies, but I couldn’t.  I was too choked up.  Twenty five years of attending WELS worship services just came crashing down on me.  Twenty five years of holding back my gifts to the Lord just started to gush.  I was moved.  I don’t think anyone else in the congregation felt the emotions that ran through me at that moment.  Thank you God for allowing me to praise you through my gifts, which you gave to me and for forgiving me for waiting so long to use them to glorify your name.  Thank you for filling me with your spirit on that glorious day.
  8. Another option might be to use MIDI accompaniment if you have that capability.  Again, there is a lot of free, high quality, MIDI files available on the WEB for most of the popular contemporary songs.
  9. After the service, poll your congregation.  Did they enjoy the music?  Did it enhance their worship experience?  Do they want to try it again?  What do they want to do differently?
  10. Assuming that you get positive feedback, you next need to decide on the frequency of your blended worship services.  We started with one blended service per month and are still doing it that way.  We chose the second Sunday of the month which happens to be a non-communion service for us.  I think this is important because Communion has additional liturgical musical pieces which are more work to convert to contemporary accompaniment.  Having a regularly scheduled format is also better for your congregation because they can plan around it.  Especially if you have more than one service per week because people might want to make adjustments, either being sure to be at the blended service, or, choosing to go to the alternate traditional service on that week.
  11. We also added a small group of volunteer singers to belt out the lyrics over the congregation.  This helps to teach your congregants the new songs quicker and it helps to change the musical singing style from hymn-like singing to contemporary singing.  Don’t be afraid to have your “band” sing the song first, followed by congregational join in, especially for new songs.
  12. It is helpful to get your singers listening to the songs that you will be learning.  There’s several ways to do this.  For the more popular songs, each singer can search for the song on YouTube, at their leisure, and usually find a version that they can listen to for free.  Some of your singers might have the funds and the means to download their own MP3s.  There’s also a Christian MP3 download service called “Songtouch” that allows you to make up to 10 copies of each downloaded song for your band members.  “Songtouch” is associated with CCLI and is accessed through their website but I don’t believe that you have to be a contract holder to use it.
  13. Gradually, your blended service formats will start to change.  At our church, we completely phased out the organ during contemporary services.  The entire hymnal sung responses were eliminated.  You need to work with your Pastor and your worship team to add in contemporary replacements.  For example, for the psalm of the day, we sometimes read the psalm responsively or sometimes the pastor reads it followed by a contemporary song based on the text of the Psalm.  Keep all of your current traditional worship elements, things like the prayers, benediction, creeds, confession of sins and absolution of sins.  These are vitally important.  You will find that you are doing more talking and reading than singing.  You will also find that your people are reading more scripture as opposed to being read to.  This is OK.  This is part of the package.
  14. As you pick up steam, you will need a permanent solution to your copyright needs.  This actually needs to be addressed fairly early.  There are a number of options.  Here’s what we did:
    1. We purchased a CCLI license agreement, identified a Lay coordinator of the contract, and assembled our own songbooks from music that was downloaded off the WEB through the CCLI songselect  service.
    2. Each month, we added four or five new songs into 3-ring binders that were used as our congregational songbooks.
    3. The CCLI coordinator worked with the Pastor to identify good song choices, downloaded the song sheets, tracked song usage, reported copy activity to CCLI (when asked to do so) and got all the necessary copies made.
  15. We did this for about a year, then decided to purchase song books.  Again there are several choices.  NPH offers a songbook called “Let All the People Praise You” and there’s another book called “the Best of the Best” from Fellowship Ministries.  We actually use both, and still maintain a CCLI license and a Onelicense agreement as well.  This gives us maximum flexibility but it’s not necessary.  There are additional song resources on the WEB, for example “Sovereign Grace Ministries” and “Getty & Townend” offer digital sheet music downloads for reasonable prices and their lyrics are usually beautifully crafted.
    1. We had another memorable moment when it came to songbook purchases.  These can be expensive.  We covered most of the cost of our books by a memorial donation from a member who had passed away; a member who enjoyed the contemporary services and even played guitar.  But we fell short, and needed an additional couple hundred dollars.  Two retired ladies, who both prefer traditional worship approached me and volunteered to purchase the remaining books.  I don’t remember their exact words but the sentiment they voiced was that they prefer the hymnal and the traditional services but they saw the passion that the Lord has stirred in me and the excitement of several members, especially teens, over the new music and that they wanted to help out.  Now that is a loving heart and a wonderful outpouring of faith.
  16. As you grow, you can add more contemporary ideas into your blended services.  Our Pastor started to use PowerPoint for his sermons for example during the blended services thinking that the people are more tolerant of “new ideas” in the more relaxed contemporary mood of the blended worship services.
  17. We also started a children’s message during the blended service that eventually led into a weekly offering at our church.
  18. On occasion we use worship videos for either sermon illustrations or for sing-along musical accompaniment.  There are many products available from outfits like Integrity, Igniter Media and Worshiphousemedia.com.
  19. On two occasions, we have even used art in worship.  One was a sermon based on a Renaissance piece by Matthias Grunewald titled “the crucifixion” and the other was using a piece of art from one of our teenage members depicting the seraphim in the Isaiah 6 account.
  20. Don’t forget to include occasional hymns in your blended services.  Give some of the newer arrangements a try.  Indelible Grace offers song sheets for free off their website that includes many of our Lutheran hymns.
    1. We had another memorable service once when we included “Amazing Grace” but accompanied it with piano and guitar.  It was another one of those worship moments when you just felt God’s fire inside of you.  At some point in the song, our pianist just stopped playing.  I continued strumming and the congregation continued singing.  On the very next verse, the pianist joined back in but the Lord started to affect me.   I got choked up again.  I’ve been playing guitar for 35 years and this three chord song was all of the sudden beyond my reach.  I was humbled right there before God and stopped strumming.  Something inside me just said to “stop”.  As the last verse rolled around, I joined back in.  After the service, I asked our pianist what happened to him.  He said, “I don’t know, I just couldn’t play.”  Incredible!
  21. Use pre-service music and Offertory music as a vehicle to introduce new songs to your congregation.  We used to use “next month’s” new songs as pre-service for “this month’s” blended service.  This requires you to do worship planning a few months in advance but it is worthwhile.
  22. We also use a lot of Lay readings and other Lay participation during the blended services.   This is exciting and should be encouraged.
  23. Build up a library of favorite songs and after several months, try to limit new songs to only one or two per blended service.  Phase into this, after two or three months, your library will be small, so try to have one familiar song per service.  After six months, have two familiar songs, then finally, after a year, maybe limit yourself to one new song per service.
  24. Be mindful, loving, respectful and considerate to those in your congregation who oppose the new music and/or instrumentation.   Pastor Mielke once told me “keep your lyrics biblically based” and you can’t go wrong.  It’s good advice.  Make sure that you keep attending the traditional services and keep your energy and spirit levels up while singing those hymns!  It’s not about favorites or our personal likes and dislikes.  It’s about God and God is infinitely above style.  Style doesn’t matter to Him, nor should it to you.  This should not become a divisive issue.  Something’s wrong if it does escalate.
  25. If your Pastor sings, ask him to solo or duet a contemporary song with you.  This “buy-in” will go a long way with people that are opposed to the musical style.
  26. It also helps if your Pastor quotes the lyrics of a contemporary song in his sermon where appropriate – even during the traditional services.
    1. I’ll never forget the time that Pastor Mielke quoted the lyrics of Richie Mullen’s classic song “Awesome God” in a sermon.  I was smiling from ear to ear because it showed open mindedness on his part, some acceptance, and it made a good point with respect to what he was saying.
  27. There are sound system and visual projection issues that come with contemporary media that will need to be addressed.  I’m not going to do that in this posting but be forewarned that you will need a good sound person to man the soundboard or to listen in the congregation (during sound check and during the service).  His or her job is to make sure that there is good volume and a good mix, so that the singers are loud enough to lead the congregation and the instruments (in the background) are loud enough to be heard (but not too loud that they distract).
  28. If you are the lead musician and work with your Pastor, become familiar with how worship is designed around a theme.  Learn to use the Lectionary Calendar, read your bible, and use your songbooks scriptural and thematic indices.  After you do this for awhile, you will begin to see common threads running in all three scripture readings for each Sunday.  Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you select music.
  29. Exercise your religious freedoms in these services.  You are not following a rigid script as its printed in your hymnal.  We have done such things as “Earth Day” creation based worship services in April, flag folding ceremonies on Veteran’s Day and Mother’s Day Litanies in May.  Just keep the focus on God.

 

Here are some web resources mentioned in the above list and other resources that you might find helpful as you consider blended worship:

 

Copyright Resources:

 

http://www.ccli.com/

 

http://www.onelicense.net/

 

Songbook Resources:

 

http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?servingyou/music/songbook

 

http://www.thefellowship.com/?page=bob_songlist

 

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Worship/SongDatabase.aspx

 

http://www.gettymusic.com/usa/shopindex.asp

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/which-contemporary-songbook-should-we-choose/

 

 

MIDI Resources:

 

http://www2.mlc-wels.edu/dbauer/resources.htm

 

 

Video Resources:

 

http://www.ignitermedia.com/home

 

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/

 

http://www.sermonspice.com/

 

http://www.integritydirect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category__10151_-1_10051_15735_15735_Y

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/music-videos/

 

 

Song Sheet & Lead Sheet Resources:

 

http://www.leadworship.com/resources/songbook.html

 

http://www.worshiptogether.com/

 

http://www.greatworshipsongs.com/

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/ministry-tool-where-to-find-free-legal-sheet-music/

 

 

New Hymn Arrangements:

 

http://www.igracemusic.com/hymnbook/home.html

 

http://www.freewebs.com/sonsongs/

 

http://hymncharts.com/

 

 

Song & MP3 Resources:

 

http://musicstore.songtouch.com/

 

http://www.greatworshipsongs.com/

 

 

Choosing and Evaluating Contemporary Music:

 

http://www.cph.org/cphstore/Find.asp?find%5Fcategory=WEB%5FALL&find%5Fdescription=&find%5Fpart%5Fdesc=

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/how-to-choose-music-wisely/

 

“Blended Worship that Works” by James Tiefel  (Forward in Christ, January 2004)

 

“The Church and Its Ministry – Music/Worship (01) WELS available here:

 

http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=65&cuItem_itemID=2067

 

http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=65&cuItem_itemID=2081

 

 ”Lutheran Hymnody: Orthodoxy in Song (Lutheran Worship: Why we do what we do) by Dr. Chad Bird available here:

http://www.lmsusa.org/tt-05-03.htm#05034

 

“Pietism: Past and Present” by John Brenner available here:

http://wlsessays.net/files/BrennerPietism.pdf

 

“Choosing Hymns” available here:

http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2755

 

“It’s about Substance” by Pastor Johnold Strey available here:

http://pastorstrey.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/its-about-substance/

 

“Proclaiming the Gospel in Worship” by Johnold Strey, available here:

http://pastorstrey.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/gospel-in-worship-version-4-3-wlq-corrected5.pdf

 

“Worship Wars at the Dawn of the New Millenium” by  Richard Krause:

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/KrauseWorship.pdf

 

Song Lists & Good CCM Song Selections:

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/a-few-of-my-favorite-contemporary-song-choices-for-the-church-year/

 

http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/files-for-download/

(CCM Songs.xls by John Kehl)

 

Source: A special note of thanks goes to John Kehl (from Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI) for proof reading this document before publishing and for adding comments and additional helpful information.

 

 

 

Comments (1)

The Case for Blended Music in Worship

January 29, 2009 at 5:35 pm · Filed under BLENDED WORSHIP, Contemporary Christian Music, How to Start, Hymns ·Tagged

If you are a regular reader of this BLOG, you know that I post on both Contemporary Music and hymns.  The fact is that I see a place for both in worship.  The following paragraphs describe reasons and advantages for each musical style.

 

  1. God himself encourages musical variety, twice in fact, using the words of the Apostle Paul:

 

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  – Eph 5:19,20

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  – Col 3:16

 

  1. We worship an incredibly creative, expansive and powerful God.  I think that it’s safe to say that he has been offered god-pleasing worship in all cultures and throughout the centuries.  This in and of itself implies that there is no one right way to worship.  He can be worshiped with chanting by monks in monasteries at one extreme and by Africans to drumbeats at the other.  We cannot even hope to capture all of his worth and majesty with one style of music.  He simply deserves more. 
  2. God deserves the best musical offerings that we have, and quite frankly, many of us have been gifted by Him in the area and instrumentation associated with contemporary music (guitars, keyboards and drums for example).  We need to use our gifts to glorify Him.
  3. “God is not Western; God is not Eastern; God is not exclusively the God of classical culture or primitive culture; God is the Lord of the plethora, the God of the diverse, the redeemer of the plural.  Likewise, God calls for responses in different languages, dialects, and idioms, accepting them through the Son.  Pentecost tells us that one artistic tongue is only a start and a thousand will never suffice.  There is no single chosen language or artistic or musical style that, better than others, can capture and repeat back the fullness of the glory of God.  This truism cannot be avoided.  No single culture can hold the wholeness of praise and worship or the fullness of the counsel of God.”

 

- Harold Best, in MUSIC THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH, Chapter 3, “Musical

Pluralism and Diversity,” Harper Collins, 1993, p. 66.

 

  1. Charles Spurgeon Quote: “Let us not present old worn out praise;  put life and soul and heart into every song.  Since we have new mercies every day and see new beauties in the work and word of our Lord.”
  2. Bob Kauflin quote: “Differing musical styles allows people of differing backgrounds, ages and experiences to worship God wholeheartedly together.”
  3. “The Scriptures include or allude to just about every approach to worship there is: organized, spontaneous, public, private, simple, complex, ornate or plain. Yet there is no comment anywhere about any one way being preferred over another.  Rather, it is the spiritual condition of the worshiper that determines whether or not God is at work.  This fact alone countermands the tendency to assume that if we could just find the correct or fashionably relevant system, all will be well and God will come down.  This doesn’t imply that we have no responsibility to make intelligent and sensitive choices or to be creative.  But whatever these choices eventually are, they are incapable all by themselves of establishing the superiority of one system over another.”

 

-Harold Best, in MUSIC THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH, chapter 7, “The Nature of Worship, Faith, Grace, and Music Making,” Harper Collins, 1993, p. 146.

 

  1. All music was at one time considered to be contemporary.  Yes even hymns.  In fact, Martin Luther, the writer of many hymns, used contemporary music of his time as the melody for many of his hymns.
  2. Contemporary music uses simple words and simple phrases that are easy to comprehend.  Visitors, children, and those young in faith can often times relate better to CCM than to deeper, theological hymns with “churchy” words.
  3. Contemporary music offers an exciting approach to leading congregations in worship with a modern sound that might help the church to facilitate worship to a new generation of worshippers.
  4. Contemporary Christian music, usually brings with it a Lay “lead worshipper” to assist the Pastor in worship planning and song selection.  Soliciting the laity in the works of the church and worship in general, is always a good thing.
  5. “The music of the strings makes you glad.” – Psalm 45:8
  6. “I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,” – Psalm 144:9
  7. “The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.” – Isaiah 38:20
  8. As a practical matter, it is getting more and more difficult to encourage young people into learning to play the organ. 
  9. “As a songwriter I can tell you that the greatest moment of encouragement comes not from awards or high numbers on some chart but from the singing of a new song for the first time.  To sing new words that have never been sung just this way before, to play combinations of notes that have never been heard, to wonder whether they will have the desired effect on the listener, whether people or God – the sharing of the new song is an experience unlike any other.   In the wisdom writings of the Old Testament (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) we see excitement about the singing of a new song. The simple act of writing and singing something new demonstrates that the truth contained in the Scriptures can now be placed in the heart of the community as they sing together the truth of who God is. By singing the new song, they have made this truth their own.”  – Singer/Songwriter Michael Card

 

— + —

 

And now, the case for hymns (and it is strong I might add). 

 

  1. Hymns cover a broad range of scripture, which simply do not exist in all of contemporary music.  Even the concept of the Trinity is hard to find in most contemporary Christian music (CCM) today.
  2. At funerals, at Christmas and Easter, and at Reformation services, CCM just doesn’t carry the weight that hymns do.
  3. Hymns teach doctrine and being better theologians makes us better musicians.
  4. Hymns connect theology to real life applications.
  5. Hymns are mini-sermons.
  6. Hymns have been passed down to us through the centuries.  The bad and questionable ones have been eliminated.  We are left with “musical gold.”
  7. Hymn texts are written by scholarly Pastors and theologians, while the music is often written by learned musicians.  We get the best of both worlds!
  8. Hymns are our heritage.  Some of our ancestors may have died defending them.
  9. Hymns are incredibly poetic.
  10. Hymns are making a comeback.
  11. You can find a plethora of hymns for any holy day, and Holiday, or any portion of scripture that you are interested in.
  12. Hymns are reverent.
  13. Scripture tells us that we are to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  – Col 3:16  To me, “dwell in us richly” has hymnody written all over it, as does “teach and admonish”.
  14. Hymns more than adequately cover both Law and Gospel.  CCM concentrates more on Gospel.
  15. There are biblical examples of singing hymns:

Matthew 26:29-31 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Acts 16:24-26 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

I Corinthians 14:25-27 What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

  1. Hymns engage our minds and imaginations for more than a few minutes.  One can actually spend hours on meditating over one hymn.  That’s how rich the lyrics can be.
  2. There’s something endearing about hymns.  My grandmother sang the same music that I sing today!
  3. Hymns remind us that the God that we worship is HUGE.  Bigger than our denomination, and bigger than our country.  He expands time and culture.  Hymns are written in hundreds of languages and the “Thees” and “Thous” remind us that God transcends time as well.
  4. Hymns allow us to connect with something that is bigger than ourselves.
  5. Do you realize that “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” is over 800 years old?  I think it’s still fresh enough today to be a hit on FM radio.
  6. Hymns aren’t easy to comprehend always.  They engage our intellect and exercise our mind.

 

In the end, we cannot become too enamored with how we currently “do” worship.  All of our worship and all of our musical offerings are but filthy rags in the eyes and ears of an infinitely holy God.  Our job, is to offer him our best – instrumentally and lyrically.

 

I have heard it said that Lutherans, especially WELS people, are an immovable bunch.  This just isn’t true.  I remember as a young man – say 20 years or so ago, it was forbidden to use cameras or video equipment during worship.  Now, most WELS churches are fitted with video and sound recording equipment so that they can podcast their services on the Internet or on local TV networks.  Things change.  God is doing something new today.  So should we.

“This precious gift (of music) has been given to man alone that he might thereby remind himself that God has created man for the express purpose of praising and extolling God.” – Martin Luther

Might I add that we share the gift of music with angels as well!  It says in Rev 5:13:

 

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

 

Now go sing with all that is in you!

 

These are my thoughts.  No mud slinging at either side; just peace, oneness, harmony, fellowship and an understanding that resounds with love, obedience and honor towards Jesus. 

Comments (2)