When it comes to singing the old songs, is the hymnal still necessary?

[righteousdude2]

I personally like to use the computer technology to project the words of the songs we sing in service on the screens.

I've encountered a few of the older folks [and mind you, I'm an older folk] who want their hymnals back! They are not for the projected words. And I agree that maybe it's a problem with vision clarity, so now I have hymnals in the back for anyone who may want to use them!

And to help keep the flow moving during worship, the name and page number, is not added to the projected material!

So, how do you feel about the hymnal usage if you combine the old with the newer?

Wondering it anyone encountered what I described? And how you would've handled it?

BTW - I enjoyed the thread on Lod Hymns and a case to use them!

 

[annsni]

We don't use hymnals anymore. If anyone needs help with seeing the screen, I work with them on where to sit or making sure I use a good contrast and bigger fonts if needed. I would like to hear the reasoning behind preferring the hymnal over the use of the screen - is it just preference? Fighting technology? Needing the music? Most of our songs do not come from the hymnal anyway so it is not a viable option for us.

 

[InTheLight]

By projecting the words to a hymn on a screen it forces disinterested people to read the words.

 

[nodak]

We do a blended service, with the words on the screen even on the old hymns. HOWEVER, we still have the hymnals and the worship pastor does announce the hymn number.

You see lots of folks scrambling for hymnals because, as our leader says, apparently lots of people DO still read music.

Which makes it easier to sing on key. Which might be why the songs for which the congregation have music are sung noticeably more loudly than those without music.

Enough difference there is talk of projecting music also.

 

[Salty]

...You see lots of folks scrambling for hymnals because, as our leader says, apparently lots of people DO still read music.

Which makes it easier to sing on key. .

:thumbsup: :thumbs:

 

[JonC]

You see lots of folks scrambling for hymnals because, as our leader says, apparently lots of people DO still read music.

Which makes it easier to sing on key. Which might be why the songs for which the congregation have music are sung noticeably more loudly than those without music.

I don't think I'd ever have a problem "singing on key" without the hymnal (not any more than I already have anyway). I pretty much have them memorized. So lets ditch the hymnals and give sheet music for all these new songs I don't know...or maybe one of those bouncy balls over the words on the screen.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[righteousdude2]

We don't use hymnals anymore. If anyone needs help with seeing the screen, I work with them on where to sit or making sure I use a good contrast and bigger fonts if needed. I would like to hear the reasoning behind preferring the hymnal over the use of the screen - is it just preference? Fighting technology? Needing the music? Most of our songs do not come from the hymnal anyway so it is not a viable option for us.

Did this to save time. In that past people would be flipping through the hymnal, and it was always part way through the first verse when every got to the page and joined the rest of the church! This is so much easier, and it also cuts down on the flapping of paper wings in the breeze LOL~

 

[OnlyaSinner]

We're completely "traditional" in our music, though we plan to add projection (equipment is on order), but will leave the hymnals in place. Some of us enjoy taking harmony parts, which means having the music unless one is skilled in free harmonization. Maybe I don't get it, but the no-hymnal time saving seems minimal. Our song leader announces the number and title (it's in the bulletin but not everybody takes one), the accompanist plays a few measures of intro, and by then nearly everyone is on the page. It takes more time for folks to turn to a Bible passage than to find a hymn number, and we certainly won't ask that people not do that.

 

[nodak]

This is just our experience. Yours may vary.

We didn't save any time when the hymnals were in the back room. And the simple fact that repeating a verse or chorus, using the screen, means confusing flapping back and forth with the leader doing one thing and another on the screen means screens are different, not better, than hymnals.

What we found was that when we dispensed with so many singers on the praise team, lowered the volume considerably, and as much as possible provided the people in the pew with the music, people actually sing. Before most folks just stood or sat and listened. Now with these changes we SING.

Last week 4 part harmony "just happened" as we sang songs, with the music, with the harmonies available to read, and people could actually hear if they were on key or not.

Your church may not be as much in favor of congregational participation as ours is. Yours may prefer to come and just listen to the musicians and praise team have a good time.

Or it may be just the praise team, worship leader, and band enjoying that part of the service.

It is something to consider. We often gripe that people are not as prone to attend church anymore. Maybe it is that we have built in some traps that prevent the average attender from actually participating in worship.

 

[Baptist4life]

I don't see a problem with using both. Personal preferences shouldn't be taken away for the sake of "progress". Most churches already have hymnals, so why not let people who want to use them, use them? We have both in our church, (I'm actually the audio/video tech), and everybody's happy. We put the hymn number on the screen at the start of each song, so people can look it up in the hymnal if they want. People use electronic Bibles in our church too, but most, me included, hate those things, and just prefer a paper copy of the Bible. Just boils down to what each person likes, why take that away from either side?

 

[Rippon]

I don't see a problem with using both. Personal preferences shouldn't be taken away for the sake of "progress". Most churches already have hymnals, so why not let people who want to use them, use them? We have both in our church, (I'm actually the audio/video tech), and everybody's happy. We put the hymn number on the screen at the start of each song, so people can look it up in the hymnal if they want. People use electronic Bibles in our church too, but most, me included, hate those things, and just prefer a paper copy of the Bible. Just boils down to what each person likes, why take that away from either side?

What's the deal b4l? You're making good sense in the above.

 

[annsni]

The key to using projection is for the computer operator to consider themselves part of the worship/music team and as such, need to be present at rehearsal and practice changing the slides at the right time BEFORE you sing the words. I do a training class on this because it is just that important.

 

[Salty]

I'm old fashion - Hymn books do just fine

 

[Alcott]

When it comes to singing the lod songs, is the hymnal still necessary?

No; I've never heard a hymnal sing.

 

[Baptist4life]

The key to using projection is for the computer operator to consider themselves part of the worship/music team and as such, need to be present at rehearsal and practice changing the slides at the right time BEFORE you sing the words. I do a training class on this because it is just that important.

Exactly right! We practice several times a week with the praise team. They like to see the words BEFORE they sing them. I usually go to the next slide right before they sing the last word on the previous one.

 

[just-want-peace]

Exactly right! We practice several times a week with the praise team. They like to see the words BEFORE they sing them. I usually go to the next slide right before they sing the last word on the previous one.

Could you come to my church and give some lessons?? :tongue3::tongue3:

 

[preachinjesus]

So, how do you feel about the hymnal usage if you combine the old with the newer?

We got rid of the hymnals. They didn't matter enough to keep when we renovated our worship center, and nobody was using them anyways. So we just got rid of them.

We use a progressive worship style that will redo hymns so they fit alongisde our other music. We enjoy hymns and integrate them often. We project all of our words onto screens with a clear, sans-serif typeface that is highly visible to all people in the worship center.

Wondering it anyone encountered what I described? And how you would've handled it?

BTW - I enjoyed the thread on Lod Hymns and a case to use them!

Occassionally we get folks that come through and ask about hymns, organ, and traditional music. We just let them know that isn't our approach and we don't offer that kind of service. We've made our decision about who we are and how we are going to approach worship and such. There are wonderful churches all over they offer these kinds of services. It just isn't our approach.

 

[annsni]

Could you come to my church and give some lessons?? :tongue3::tongue3:

Fly me in and I'm happy to teach this for your church! . There is a lot more to this than many people think!

 

[Revmitchell]

Very few people in our churches either of old or today can actually read music. It is just not a common ability in the church. Hymnals by and large are merely to have the words in from of people.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Hymnals are what taught me to read music.


And of course, holding a hymnal keeps you from raising your hands and swaying back & forth as if in a group trance. Always a good thing.