Are churches moving away from using hymnals?

[BigBossman]

I have noticed something over the years, maybe its just me. Does it seem like more & more churches are eliminating the use of hymnals during the worship service? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I never have cared for them using the newer songs in the worship service. Nowadays, alot of churches are using projecters to put the words on a screen. It sort of defeats the purpose of having hymnals in the pews.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

We have hymnals on hand is case we have technical problems, but we keep them put away. We are a small church meeting in a community centre.

There is a lot more variety available with a music licence and on screen words.

 

[SBCPreacher]

If I were starting a church from scratch, hymnals would be the last place I'd spend money. I'd still sing hymns (and worship songs - it's called blended worship) but I wouldn't spend money there.

 

[Rippon]

Not my church.We still use hymnals.No overhead projectors or anything else.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Like it or not, it is very much a trend. In our traditional, liturgical service, we use hymnals. The average of these attendees is probably 60+ or more. In our more contemporary, blended service, we use the screens. The average age in this service is much younger -- families with children.

 

[annsni]

We haven't used hymnals at all in our church since we got there 13 years ago. Well, we've used them but they're usually used to prop things up. LOL We use the projector (and it's my job to do all things on the projector) because we can do more contemporary songs, do medleys much more easily and make the text large enough for even the sight impaired to see. The ONLY complaint we've heard is that with the projector, those who read music can't see the notes and so don't know the song - but that's not really a true issue because we introduce the song through "special music" time (during offering) and will do a song numerous times so most songs are completely familiar very quickly. Finally, as a person in the congregation, I prefer to lift my head and sing rather than have my head in a book - and by not holding a book, I can raise my hands in worship much more easily.

 

[ray Marshall]

Not my church.We still use hymnals.No overhead projectors or anything else.

Ourchurches around the area and probable most area are old fashion. we use Hymnals. Befor our preaching service, we sang songs that anyone may ask to sing. About a half hour. We don't use any musical instruments. It is so good when through the years we may be a few minutes late and hear those brethern singing songs It is so uplifting.

 

[thegospelgeek]

Oh No!!!

Not Projectors... they're evil:laugh:

Believe it or not.... I've heard more than one preacher preach this in our denomination.

Never have heard one give me chapter and verse though.

 

[rbell]

I have noticed something over the years, maybe its just me. Does it seem like more & more churches are eliminating the use of hymnals during the worship service? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I never have cared for them using the newer songs in the worship service. Nowadays, alot of churches are using projecters to put the words on a screen. It sort of defeats the purpose of having hymnals in the pews.

The pluses of using projected lyrics:

• Expenses of purchasing hymnals & replacing them...especially now that projectors have come down so much in cost.
• It gets people looking up as they sing...no more "noses in the book;" better projection of congregational singing.
• The question of "what verse do we sing?" is answered on the screen.
• You have a "portable hymnal" as you add songs to your saved list in your powerpoint show. They can be done anywhere with a projector & screen.
• If you wish to change the lyrics (for instance, we sometimes take a hymn/chorus and add Christmas lyrics to it), you can do so easily.

The pluses of using hymnals:

• It allows people that read music to see their written part...and maybe encourages people to learn to read music.
• It takes two potential snafus out of a worship service: technical difficulties, and errors by the person running the presentation.
• For those more traditionally-minded, they feel more at home.
• If you already have the hymnals, the expense is much less.
• (This one is true more for Powerpoint than other software) You can't change something "on the fly" very easily with Powerpoint (it is a bit easier with other presentation software); but with a hymnal, you can add/change a hymn...if your pianist can handle it .

Each church needs to just weigh it out. And I'm fine with people saying, "I like hymnals more," or "I like projected lyrics more."

We should avoid the concept of, "God wants it done my way." (thankfully, we don't see that too much here on this issue)

 

[THEOLDMAN]

Get rid of hymnals ? What's next ....The Bible ?

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

The pluses of using projected lyrics:

• Expenses of purchasing hymnals & replacing them...especially now that projectors have come down so much in cost.
• It gets people looking up as they sing...no more "noses in the book;" better projection of congregational singing.
• The question of "what verse do we sing?" is answered on the screen.
• You have a "portable hymnal" as you add songs to your saved list in your powerpoint show. They can be done anywhere with a projector & screen.
• If you wish to change the lyrics (for instance, we sometimes take a hymn/chorus and add Christmas lyrics to it), you can do so easily.

Here are a couple more:

1. You can move from song to song to song rather quickly (almost fluidly) rather than having the leader say, "now let's turn to page # so and so" & the congregants then go flipping thru the pages. [And many song leaders always feel like they need to editorialize the upcoming hymn (a pet peeve).] We normally sing several worship songs consecutively and it almost is like a medley. Much, much easier with a screen.

2. It is much more visitor/seeker friendly.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Oh No!!!

Not Projectors... they're evil:laugh:

Believe it or not.... I've heard more than one preacher preach this in our denomination.

Never have heard one give me chapter and verse though.

I know -- they lead to dancing. :laugh: :laugh:

 

[annsni]

I know -- they lead to dancing. :laugh: :laugh:

So THAT'S what happened!!!

 

[Jim1999]

If I want to go to a picture show I will choose the theatres. They do a better job of it.

I like the old hymnals and the song leader doing his/her thing. What is the point of singing hymn after hymn after hymn. One hymn should help define the service, not many.

It is not a music theatre. Next thing you know we will be going to the stage to preach the word.wait, a lot of preachers are already actors, aren't they!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[thegospelgeek]

Get rid of hymnals ? What's next ....The Bible ?

There is no direct correlation between the two. You are presenting a slippery slope argument.

 

[thegospelgeek]

If I want to go to a picture show I will choose the theatres. They do a better job of it.

I like the old hymnals and the song leader doing his/her thing. What is the point of singing hymn after hymn after hymn. One hymn should help define the service, not many.

It is not a music theatre. Next thing you know we will be going to the stage to preach the word.wait, a lot of preachers are already actors, aren't they!

Cheers,

Jim

Nothing at all wrong with the hymnals. We use them at our church and I probably preffer them also. I just hate to hear someone preach that something is sinful because it is different than what Grandma and Grandpa used. In fact that is what one preacher said in a revival. "It was good enough for Grandma and Grandpa, it's good enough for me!"

There's plenty enough scripture to preach from, I wish they would spare me their opinions. :BangHead:

 

[SBCPreacher]

Get rid of hymnals ? What's next ....The Bible ?

There is a HUGE difference in not having a hymnal and not singing hymns. I don't hear anyone saying that we should no longer sing hymns.

 

[Jerome]

Oh yes, off the wall songs is all the rage.
Today's trendy songleader usually has Pips too.

 

[rbell]

I sure do hope Oldman's post was in jest or sarcastic.

 

[Alcott]

Get rid of hymnals ? What's next ....The Bible ?

Wasn't that done long ago in the sense of replacing the songs in the Bible with hymn books full of 'new' songs?