Had a "Dr Bob" Sunday Yesterday

Okay, I'll use my parents' church as a reference here. I hate the powerpoint stuff with a purple passion. I need to see the music (and nothing burns me quite like someone handing me a page with words on it when I've asked for the music). Most of the stuff they sing now, I've never heard before, and since they don't use the music, I have to sit through one stanza before I can join in, by which time they're ready to move on.

I have noticed that more people sing, and louder, since they're all looking up now that they use powerpoint, but the quality of singing sure isn't better than before. If anything, it's worse. But, it seems like they're singing from their hearts, and not self-conscious that they won't get the notes right.

 

Our minister of music is an older man but he has taken to those P & W songs printed in our bulletin... and we sing them over and over with no notes. I do not care for it at all! We almost never sing any of the old hymns and oh how I miss those days!

I do not care for power point. Our pastor doesn't use it! I do not care for unknown praise songs with no notes for me to follow. I do not care for singing the same praise song 5 times in different keys or with different instruments. I think all of the above is taking AWAY from the worship experience because if we have no idea what comes next...

Give me the old time religion. After all, I'm older than dirt!
Diane

 

My top three guesses on why the congregation singing was pathetic:

1. The hymn music is harder to sing then P&W.

2. The words are too often words that we no longer use in ordinary conversation, thus making the worship artificial

3. They don't have a clue what some of the songs are talking about, especially with "On Jordan's Stormy Banks."

Just my initial guesses.

I also don't like not having the music for P&W, but I understand the problem behind it. The P&W songs are so new and there are always new ones being written so it's hard to put them in a book and keep it updated. In 30 years maybe we'll be able to use electronic tablets and the problem will be solved. If I know the song, I actually prefer the slides/PP.

 

My Church is very traditional when it comes to Church music and are unfamiliar with P@W songs. It is amazing how many Baptists don't know "On Jordan's Stormy Banks" "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder""I'll Fly Away" "Sweet By and By"

 

There are some great Praise and Worship albums out there - Hosanna/Integrity Music - for example.

Here's the problem - those worship leaders are professional singers with professional background singers. The bands or orchestras are professional musicians. They have great sound systems - they practice and they sound great.

When I try to play those same songs on the old piano - and lead the congregation in singing those songs - all 25 - 35 of us just don't sound like those professionals with a congregation of perhaps thousands at the taping.

So most of the time we sing hymns. I've played the piano for most of my 35 years in the ministry. I play by ear as well as read music - so we let people have favorites most every Sunday. It all works fairly well.

Back to praise and worship - there are some beautiful songs out there - especially the ones that use scripture for the words.

Of course - the few times a year that we are not at our own church - we on occasion hear some praise and worship music - most of it is too loud and its usually just bad. Often we see members of the congregation get up and dance - sway - and some seem to go into a trance. I usually feel very uncomfortable and most of the time I do not believe it is Christ honoring.

Just my observation.
Dan Todd

 

We use our hymnals every service. On occasion I will print hymns or choruses in the bulletin. Generally we use the hymnal for the opening hymn, welcome hymn, offertory, doxology and invitation.

Our primary instrument is the piano. We have been looking for an organist for about 2 years. I remember growing up in Kantuky and Indianer. It seems that we had several that could play the organ. We also have an older man who plays guitar and harmonica.

 

We haven't had a regular piano player at our church for over two years. Our pastor plays the keyboard, but he only knows a few hymns out of the book.
I bought some P&W music (tapes and CDs), made songbooks with the words of the songs in them, and put them in the pews at church.
Now we mix the old hymns with the P&W; our pastor playing the keyboard with the hymns and the tape and CD player leading the P&W music as we sing along. It's worked out great, everyone loves it.

The singing/worship service should not be a time filler between Sunday School and the sermon; it should be time for praise and worship, lifting our voices up to God in thanks and praise.
Mixing the old and the new seems to have done that for us.

 

I'm wondering, Dr. Bob, you don't think music is worth separating over?

 

Doctor Bob,
You can count on me if you want to sing the `oldies` .... Our chapel always uses hymn books, and sometimes we have a `Sankey` evening, using a book called `sacred songs and solos`. For these evenings, all the local chapels come together to one place and praise God with songs we all know. and love. We have one of these evenings later this month
Gwyneth