Your Church Song Service

[rlvaughn]

I'm curious about the musical practices in the Baptist churches represented by the different members who post here on the Baptist Board. I did this many years ago, but a lot of the members have changed since then. Here's an informal question and answer survey.

What is your:

1. Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?
2. Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?
3. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, how many/what kind of instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them? Are any "instrumental only" selections used?
4. Authority or Responsibility - who selects which songs will be sung (and played)?
5. Source - what hymnal or other sources do you use for songs/music?
6. Add anything else you may think we will find interesting about the music/singing in your church (for example, are morning and night services might be conducted differently; any special music events, etc.).

Thanks.

 

[Deacon]

1. About 5 - 6 songs during a typical service, less during communion services; 25 minutes. A church-family prayer usually occurs later iduring the worship song service time.
2. No special music.
3. Electric organ, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums. We rarely sing Acapulco,
Keyboard music often accompanies a pastoral prayer and communion time.
4. Within the last year we have hired a part time song leader who picks the songs. He tunes each service to the theme of the sermon.
5. No hymnals or written music. Song words are projected to a central screen.
Modern contemporary music with an occasional traditional hymn.

Rob

 

[Revmitchell]

1. Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?

We have a total of six songs with often one special. The six song is the invitational song. This takes up about the first 30 minutes but that does include announcements and tithe& offerings.

1. Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?

There is only ever one special and the rest are congregational unless we have s special group in.

1. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, how many/what kind of instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them? Are any "instrumental only" selections used?

We do at times have instruments only. I do not allow acapella unless it is for emphasis on a single verse. We have use of guitar, piano, keyboard, flute, tamborine.

1. Authority or Responsibility - who selects which songs will be sung (and played)?

The Music minister selects the songs in concert with me.

1. Source - what hymnal or other sources do you use for songs/music?

We have hymnals but due to the use of the overhead screen they really do not get used. We sing hymns and praise songs. We have a blended music service

 

[Rob_BW]

1. Usually 3 to 4 songs before the preaching, and 1 afterwards. Not counting the doxology sung after passing the collection plate. So about 25 minutes total.

2. Usually a choir only song perhaps 2/3's of the time. Solos/Duets and other special music maybe once a month.

3.We have a pianist and an organist. Current music director favors the guitar, but is a multi-instrumentalist. Bass guitar and percussion on occasion.

4. We have a dedicated music director.

5. We have the Baptist Hymnal in the pews, but also use a projector for more contemporary music.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?

Three at the beginning, an altar call at the end, and then a closing song.

Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?

Specials are pretty rare. I remember we had children come up front and sing, maybe two times.

Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, how many/what kind of instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them? Are any "instrumental only" selections used?

Guitars and drumkit, usually. We have a piano, too, but our pianist passed away last year. I don't recall ever not using instruments, unless the people who played them weren't available. No instrument only.

Authority or Responsibility - who selects which songs will be sung (and played)?

There's a worship team who decides that.

Source - what hymnal or other sources do you use for songs/music?

That I am uncertain. I believe they have to select from a list of songs, due to copyright issues. Some songs the church is legally allowed to use.

Add anything else you may think we will find interesting about the music/singing in your church (for example, are morning and night services might be conducted differently; any special music events, etc.).

The youth group leads worship on Sunday morning occasions known as "Youth Sunday", or "Fifth Sunday".

 

[rlvaughn]

1. Scope - We have an opening song and closing song, then range from about 3 to 6 songs in between the Bible study time and preaching time.
2. Proportion - Most of the songs are congregational, but once in awhile someone sings a special song.
3. Agency - We have one instrument, a piano. No instrumentals only. We sing more accompanied than not. We sometimes sing a cappella on purpose, and (since we are a small church) once in awhile also sing a cappella because no one is present to play the piano. The concluding song at the Lord's Supper is always a cappella.
4. Authority or Responsibility - We have a song leader (unpaid) who leads the songs and chooses the selections. Once in awhile I lead the music, and sometimes when I do I ask for selections from the congregation.
5. Source - We have the American Baptist Hymnal and Heavenly Highway Hymns, and may at times sing from copies (and, rarely, from memory).
6. We like to sing more than we usually get to during regular services, so sometimes we meet at the church just to sing.

 

[StefanM]

I'm curious about the musical practices in the Baptist churches represented by the different members who post here on the Baptist Board. I did this many years ago, but a lot of the members have changed since then. Here's an informal question and answer survey.

What is your:

1. Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?
2. Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?
3. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, how many/what kind of instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them? Are any "instrumental only" selections used?
4. Authority or Responsibility - who selects which songs will be sung (and played)?
5. Source - what hymnal or other sources do you use for songs/music?
6. Add anything else you may think we will find interesting about the music/singing in your church (for example, are morning and night services might be conducted differently; any special music events, etc.).

Thanks.

1. Usually around 4, 5, or 6. The number varies with song length, and can be lowered if we have several baptisms or a special video.

2. Only one is a special, but it involves the congregation, too. It's more of a partial special.

3. It's a contemporary praise band with some orchestral accompaniment. No instrumental full pieces. Partial pieces, yes.

4. The music minister

5. Wherever he finds them

 

[Rippon]

We rarely sing Acapulco,

Not meant for a church gathering --but Elvis did Acapulco.

Acapulco, sleeping in the bay.
Acapulco, wake up and greet the day.
Time to tell the guitars and sleepy eyed stars
To be on their way.
It's such a beautiful morning
For a holiday.

Hey come on, you old sleepy head.
See the sky turning red and you're still in bed.
It's fun in Acapulco.
Acapulco, look here comes the sun.
Acapulco, it's a day for fun.
I can't wait till I meet your sweet
senoritas -- kiss everyone.
This is no time for siesta, this is time for fun...

 

[annsni]

1. Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?

We usually do 6 songs - three in the beginning and three after the message. We just went to the format that has three at the end and I love it. Today hubby preached on worship and then we sang three songs that went with the message. It is wonderful to be able to sing in response to the Word of God that was just preached.

1. Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?

All are congregational. Usually a new song is introduced in the offering segment so people can listen if they want but it is expected that they participate as well.

1. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, how many/what kind of instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them? Are any "instrumental only" selections used?

We have usually guitar and bass and sometimes a djembe or a cajon. We have had keyboards as well but right now we don't usually.

1. Authority or Responsibility - who selects which songs will be sung (and played)?

Whoever is "leading" that week. We have a young man who usually chooses with input from my daughter, also a "leader" of sorts.

1. Source - what hymnal or other sources do you use for songs/music?

We use contemporary songs and get our resources from CCLI.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

Easiest for me to describe the usual order of service, then note when things are different.

The morning worship service begins, after opening prayer, with two congregational hymns chosen by our pastor. We use "Living Hymns", collected by Alfred B. Smith, traditional hymnody plus a section of choruses, many recent. Later versions also include some recently written/composed songs, but those also are of traditional flavor. Congregational hymns are generally accompanied by piano and electric organ.

We have an introductions/fellowship time, prefaced by singing a hymn verse, same pastor-selected hymn for a month or two, verse choice varying week to week.

The offering time has an instrumental offertory, often piano but sometimes other instruments. If there is special music (solo, small group, choir, orchestra) it is presented following the offering, and may have piano accompaniment or (except for orchestra) pre-recorded accompaniment through the sound system. We then have a third congregational hymn, same fashion as the first two.

Following his sermon and closing prayer, our pastor will often choose an appropriate hymn verse to close the service.

Sunday evenings and Wednesdays generally have favorite hymns chosen by attendees. When there are music presentations by folks from outside of our local church, there will usually be less congregational singing and more by the guests.

The elders have responsibility for the appropriateness of all music presented at worship/prayer services, though that doesn't necessarily mean that every piece is individually vetted; there's a trust factor involved.

Our church also presents several musical/dramatic programs during the year, Christmas, Resurrection, other, with music from several sources, including some written/composed by our pastor's wife.

 

[Jerome]

Sunday evenings and Wednesdays generally have favorite hymns chosen by attendees.

Aren't spontaneous hymn sings a blessing!

Charles Spurgeon describes a service from late 1890:

"a delightful meeting....Piano, with hymns ad lib., and I preached from Deut. xxxii. 10"

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Our Presby service is not that much different - especially our more contemporary service.

Scope? Usually about four before the sermon. Then a closing hymn after the sermon but before the benediction.

Proportion? All but one is congregational. Normally, during the offering will be some type of special music - which may be instrumental.

Instruments? All types. During the traditional service, normally piano and organ only. During the more contemporary service, piano, keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, etc. Depending on the service or Sunday, we may have more orchestral instruments - trumpets, violins, etc.

Authority or Responsibility? I believe it is joint between the senior pastor with the worship leader - though it wouldn't surprise me that there's a committee somewhere.

Source? For the traditional service, the hymnal (The Celebration Hymnal) is used - though words are shown on the screens. For the contemporary service, there is a wide variety of sources.

Thankfully, we are blessed to have extraordinary talent, some of whom are professional musicians.