Music in church

[DeWayneTN]

I noticed in another thread several people talking about their favorite type of music in church - hymns, modern praise choruses, southern gospel. So what is yours? If you had your druthers, what do you like to hear when you walk in? Any songs in particular?

[darylscook]

I like a combination of a Hymn along with a couple older Praise/Worship and a couple newer Praise/Worship.

Sample:
Amazing Grace or He Abides

Amazing Love
Fill my cup lord
Holy Spirit Rain Down
Awesome in this place

Pastor Daryl

[FLgirl]

I voted "other" because I really like a combination of several of the choices. I love Israel Houghton and Martha Munizzi, but I also enjoy Chris Tomlin, as well as the old faithfuls like "Victory in Jesus". I lead worship in a church that has such a range of people that I have to try to blend worship in a way that everyone gets something out of the worship set. Typically, I'd do something like this:


O, I Want to See Him
I Go To The Rock
Shout To The Lord

*offering*

You Are Good - Israel
Lift Him Up - Martha Munizzi
How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin
Enough - Chris Tomlin
Draw Me Close To You - ???

*message*

[Gerald Creasy]

I like music people can sing. Or even will sing.

For the last ten years our church has been plugging along singing these forgettable choruses projected on the wall EVEN WHEN It's only the WORSHIP leaders and one or two in the congregation that actually sing.

Everyone else either stands respectfully or suffers through it.

I consider it a success when I can get to church JUST AS THE "Worship" ends.

[Paully_44]

I really dig the old hymns redone to a modern/rock style.

[HogWild]

I agree with Shellie in that I like a variety of stuff. I tend to prefer more contemporary worship - for me that includes the modern stuff, black gospel, and some of the 'white' worship (lol - easy listening stuff).

As I side note, every time I hear Don Moen I say out loud, "Man he sure is white!" But one song that has ministered to me extensively over the years has been "God Will Make A Way".

I have to admit though every now and again I have to hear an old song - you know - the one's we cut our teeth on. He Abides is one of my all time old favorites. I think it's cool to sing that and say "you" instead of "He."

I have a pretty vivid imagination. I like to think the writer was writing "He abides, He abides" and then the truth of it all hit him and he shouted "HALLELUJAH He abides with ME!"

[MacUser]

I really dig the old hymns redone to a modern/rock style.

Sounds cool. Do you have some recorded? I'd love to hear 'em.

[dolfan]

I really dig the old hymns redone to a modern/rock style.

Sounds cool. Do you have some recorded? I'd love to hear 'em.

Jars of Clay CD -- Redemption Songs
My fave.

[Pastor Bill]

I really do like a mix, and one of the reasons I like a mix is exactly what Gerald pointed out, Worship Leaders should LEAD worship, it may just be a pet peeve of mine, but I hate to see worship leaders who gets so caught up in the worship themselves that they leave the congregation out. I've seen this done by poor selection of music, by constant stream of new songs that aren't easy to learn, by dragging things out too long, or just by never making that connection with the people.

I'll take anything from bluegrass to rock, if we can worship together, and sometimes mixing it up a little pulls people in since the whole church probably doesn't have the same tastes in music.

[sweetpea]

I like a good mixture of the older hymns and the praise songs,I even like some of the chorus,but I have to go along with Gerald,I don't like them when no one except the worship teams knows the words.I really don't like for them to be sung over and over until you get tired of standing.

[SBW]

I voted "other". We tend to mix it up. We will do a couple of "Blue Book" songs; then some contemporary praise and worship; may even have a couple with "country" leanings.

If you mix it up a little, you cover everybody. You have some that don't like hymns; you have some that don't like contemporary; no use in doing one thing and having part of the congregation "suffering" through it as Gerald mentioned.

Worship time is for everyone. Mix it up a little.

[paul]

I voted "other". We tend to mix it up. We will do a couple of "Blue Book" songs; then some contemporary praise and worship; may even have a couple with "country" leanings.

If you mix it up a little, you cover everybody. You have some that don't like hymns; you have some that don't like contemporary; no use in doing one thing and having part of the congregation "suffering" through it as Gerald mentioned.

Worship time is for everyone. Mix it up a little.

with the majority also...mixed with comtemporary and hymns. Don'r care for it when the worship leaders throws in to many new songs at one time and no ones know the tune. confusing especially to new comers.

[DeWayneTN]

I kinda think it's best to introduce new songs during offerings or as special songs if they're not really easy to learn.

In fact, Darlene Zschech told me that was her first inclination when she wrote "Shout the Lord" - let's just do it during the offering and see if anyone likes it. She had no idea it would be so popular.

[HogWild]

The beef of those who love the tradition and liturgy of the church has always been that the congregation has 'forgotten' how to sing.

'They' say that when choruses and the projection of lyrics became more popular and hymnals with printed music faded, the congregation began to lose the ability to sight read and follow the tune of the music.

Most people might be shocked to know that years ago when hymnals were a constant companion, the congregation almost always knew how to sight read enough to actually sing parts and harmony.

I've always thought it would have been kewl to hear some of that.

[Poimen]

I prefer a blend of all, with a dominant use of hymns for congregational singing.