Screens and Hymnals

[Scarlett O.]

Not all of these songs are off-the-wall. Many are spiritual and contain proper theology.

I'd rather sing "This I Believe" or "10,000 Reasons" from a screen than "God of Earth and Outer Space" from the hymnal.

I think some of you who despise songs not in the hymnal haven't heard a lot of them - only the outliers. And there are outliers in the hymn book.

It's just a preference, folks. And some of you here are marching to a King James Only like attitude when it comes to music and technology.

 

[Reformed1689]

Not all of these songs are off-the-wall. Many are spiritual and contain proper theology.

I'd rather sing "This I Believe" or "10,000 Reasons" from a screen than "God of Earth and Outer Space" from the hymnal.

I think some of you who despise songs not in the hymnal haven't heard a lot of them - only the outliers. And there are outliers in the hymn book.

It's just a preference, folks. And some of you here are marching to a King James Only like attitude when it comes to music and technology.

Actually, I like the hymnal "Hymns of Grace" that include quite a few modern songs including "In Christ Alone" and "Ancient Words."

 

[rlvaughn]

IThen there is the issue of receiving text messages and surfing Facebook or Twitter (or worse) during the worship service. I see that all the time.

Made me think -- we used to have to read the church covenant to be distracted!

 

[Reformed1689]

Made me think -- we used to have to read the church covenant to be distracted!

HAHAHA I totally did that as a teenager.

 

[rlvaughn]

Not every old song is good and not every new song is bad. There are some "7-11 choruses" that I like, but a steady diet of them is like living on snacks and fast food, in my opinion. I don't think it is just about preference, though. The 7-11 chorus praise band culture usually tends towards a performance orientation. Even when the congregation is encouraged to sing, we find many of these songs were not written with congregational singing in mind.

 

[church mouse guy]

Isn't there a fee you must pay to project these, off-the-wall songs? How much $$$ do they charge churches now?

Now I will forever think of the shallow choruses as "off-the-wall songs!" Very funny!

 

[Reformed]

The 7-11 chorus praise band culture usually tends towards a performance orientation. Even when the congregation is encouraged to sing, we find many of these songs were not written with congregational singing in mind.

When I first moved to where I live right now I was looking for a church. I visited a church not too far from Disney that had very good preaching. However, the music ministry rivaled many professional bands. There was no congregational singing. It was all performance. Even if your preference is praise choruses at least have theologically sound songs that the congregation can sing to.

 

[Just_Ahead]

Putting the words up on a screen, either words of scripture or hymns, forces the people in the congregation to read them....

Not if you:
Grab the back of the pew in front of you...
Close your eyes...
And wait for the elbow in the ribs!!!

 

[Just_Ahead]

We all bring bibles, they are just digital....

Rob

Speak for yourself.
I take a print Bible and lay it open on my lap
or
on top of my ghost- color backpack on my right
or
on top of the hymn book wall on my left

No digital stuff on my person at all

 

[Just_Ahead]

... "God of Earth and Outer Space" from the hymnal....

 

[InTheLight]

Speak for yourself.
I take a print Bible and lay it open on my lap
or
on top of my ghost- color backpack on my right
or
on top of the hymn book wall on my left

No digital stuff on my person at all

Well, you've got an interesting avatar, then.

 

[Just_Ahead]

Well, you've got an interesting avatar, then.

Just because you asked.
I changed my avatar.
This is me--the real me.
Sitting on a log with my dog.

 

[Salty]

1) I prefer song books as the music is shown
2) When the words are on the screen - its hard to make a change
- for example - "lets sing the third verse again" or Lets read the second verse, ect
3) The Worship leader is the senior pastor, the one that leads the music is the music director.
4) as the poster said in # 25 " tends towards a performance orientation." )
5) Theology
6) I give more later

 

[robycop3]

the first known written hymnals came about shortly after the first movable type printing presses did. And complete written Bibles aren't really ancient. If God didn't want us using modern tech to help preach/teach His word, we couldn't do it; that simple.

 

[alexander284]

We’re all bring bibles, their just digital.

You preachers just want to hear the pages rattle when the pages are turned

Rob

My favorite sound in the world!

 

[alexander284]

You can't really say that universally. For example, there are UMC churches in very rural areas that don't have any type of modern technology in the church (including digital thermostats).

Oh, let me clarify what I meant by that:

I'm saying I've visited mainline Protestant churches in the past that do not have (or do not use) those screens, but those in attendance still do not bring Bibles with them (relying on the pew Bibles, as needed).

I apologize. Sometimes I'm so anxious to display my sense of humor that I leave out pertinent details!

 

[rlvaughn]

If God didn't want us using modern tech to help preach/teach His word, we couldn't do it; that simple.

Nonsense. What would you think if someone wrote, "If God didn't want us to commit adultery to have sex, we couldn't do it; that simple." Or, "If God didn't want us to baptize babies into the covenant of God, we couldn't do it; that simple."

 

[OnlyaSinner]

Supposing "Nothing but the Blood", "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", "Holy, Holy Holy", etc. etc. were projected on screens. You have a problem with that?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

No, unless it would mean taking the hymnals out of the pews - I 'd prefer 'both-and' rather than 'either-or'. Personally, I like singing a harmony part if there's plenty of folks taking the melody, and while I can improvise harmony I'd rather sing what's shown in the hymnal. Screen use for music at our church is mainly to display songs/hymns not in the hymnal ("Living Hymns") that we use, or to show the words being sung as special music.

 

[Deacon]

Isn't there a fee you must pay to project these, off-the-wall songs? How much $$$ do they charge churches now?

And how much do hymnal cost now-a-days?

I use my IPad because I can read it without my glasses, ... well, on a bright day, I can read it without my glasses.

(True, I’m going other places on my devise as the pastor is preaching... but we usually end up on the same page ).​

Anyway, I can see the overhead screens without my glasses.

Rob

 

[Salty]

And how much do hymnal cost now-a-days?

I use my IPad because I can read it without my glasses, ... well, on a bright day, I can read it without my glasses.

(True, I’m going other places on my devise as the pastor is preaching... but we usually end up on the same page ).​

Anyway, I can see the overhead screens without my glasses.

Rob

Hymnals - one time cost
Music license, ect continuous payment