On new songs

May, or must, a church use new songs? Songs written by and for the current generation?
New songs may in truth speak of God’s work today, but I sometimes feel the need to probe what it is, really, that a contemporary songwriter is speaking of. These really aren’t the days of Elijah or Ezekiel, [...]

How not to lead

Here are a few miscellaneous “how-not-to” suggestions for musical leadership in the assembly. Not all will apply to your context, but perhaps you can glean something useful.

Don’t lead with your head down in the hymnal.
If leading an a cappella congregational song, don’t lead without a sense of a pitch standard. Half-octave discrepancies are detrimental.
If [...]

Shorter, please

A more expressive, meaningful purpose is attained to when the congregation responds with brief punctuates.

God vs. humans

John Brooks of the Church of God (Holiness) argued that human law in the church was “not only unnecessary, but presumptuous.”

Protected: Follow-up: unity singing event

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Specific corporate changes

Might there be changes I’d like to see in churches that already feel they are doing things differently. Why, yes!
Let’s start with the Lord’s Supper. Those churches that feel (perhaps to our surprise?) they are already pretty progressive in this area might be doing something like coordinating the preceding prayers with a song [...]

A Once-Ailing Word Is Healed

Those churches that have the gift of thoughtfully approaching method and doctrine are likely to think they are more progressively different than they really are.

Now hold on there!

It does a soul good to have this question asked of it periodically:  What am I holding on to?
In my years of congregational life as an adult, I have often observed a strong tendency to hold on to things that do not merit such tenacity.  I have been guilty, too.
There is One worthy of our clinging, though . [...]

Reverence in the assembly

The song “The Lord Is In His Holy Temple” was sung relatively often in my early years. Although leaders in my congregation were relatively thoughtful in the use of this song, it was mocked in other circles–as though its only purpose were to guilt people into being quiet.
What of quietude in church assemblies? [...]

Where do you worship?

Asking about where one worships is sort of a code-phrase.