Kevin Soodsma

Hi Christy,  I grew up in my rural church singing that very song after a silent prayer time at the beginning of the service.  We have prayer requests in the evening and we have the tradition of singing a song either before or after or both.  We like to keep a song for a season (such as Advent or Lent) or about a month during the Ordinary times.  This way the congregation really gets to know the song.  Song additions to your list:  

• O Lord, Hear My Prayer (SNC 203, LUYH 903)
• The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation (LUYH 885, SNC 206)
• Come Now, O Prince of Peace (LUYH 905, SNC 209)

It is amazing what is "old" is now "new" again.

Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies is reformed/Calvinistic in its approach.  http://iws.edu/ Also, several Christian Colleges and universities have worship/music "schools".

The Worship Sourcebook is an excellent guide with a variety of worship elements for any genre of worship.  We typically mix it up according to the mood/tone of the service, as to what/how we start worship.  Sometimes we sing a "gathering song" or we begin with a prayer, or we begin with scripture, call to worship,  etc.  But the overall idea is that we set the tone/mood/theme of the service based on what we use to begin the service.  I'm not in favor of the "johnny Carson" monolog of announcements, etc.  An invitation, yes, but not a monolog of unnecessary announcements of game scores, etc.    

Thanks for the posting.  I have sung this song with both lyrics.  I think the overall sentiment of the lyrics are the same.  Preparing us for heaven,  but going about it differently.  the "CRC version" of kingdom work.  Is preparing us for heaven by living gratefully in this kingdom.  Crosby's version of "bliss" is more of a dream that prepares us that puts in the "wonder" of what heaven will be like.  Fanny Crosby was good at that - dreaming of heaven.  Which is a very good thing - that's what we long for.  Isn't it?

The "Lift Up Your Hearts" hymnal has gone back to the original text and has included "rapture" in the second verse of "Blessed Assurance". It is also has an * with an explanation at the bottom as a "sense of glory, ecstatic joy. So the CRCNA has re-introduced the word "rapture" in its lyrical repertoire, we just need to realize that. They have also have included "ebenezer" in the "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" with another explanation at the bottom as well. Many of the songs have gone back to the "original text" that we know from the evangelical community.

Welcome aboard, Christy!  Blessings in the coming year.

Hi Al.  As a music/worship director of a church, in my case the elders are more concerend about visiting and congreational care than worship matters.  I agree they should have a more "hands on" approach to worship regarding content and theology.  However, I feel that most elders that serve in today's churches don't have much theology education to know what is a good liturgy content that is reformed and what is not.  They know what they like by what they hear on the radio, etc. but sometimes I have a hard time thinking that they would know how to discern what is theologically reformed or not.  Personally, I am discouraged at our own worship directors for not knowing as well.  If we all spent more time on what is reformed worship vs. a "copy" of what everyone else does we might have a more unifed and united denomination.  As a worship director, I initially put the service together and I include things like the Heidelberg Catechism, Apostles' Creed, the Law, as appropriate to the service.  I use multiple resources published by Faith Alive and others as well.  But the ultimate decision is left up to me and the pastor to be theologically responsible for our worship service.

Just read through most of the postings. First of all I'm an organist. I have played contemporary music on the organ as a part of the group but not as the only accompanist.

First, Look at the organ as a synthesizer and not a pipe organ.
Secondly, look at the song being used in worship. Does it lend itself to long melodic lines or is it rhythmic in nature?

Do I play on every song? aboslutely not! We do blended worship and I turned a few heads when I played the organ on some of the contemporary songs and caught some flack for it becuase the organ "was not meant for contemporary music" But the piano, guitar, and drums are as old as the pipe organ. Its the attitude of both the praise team and the organist!

I have musicians who read music quite well but do not improvise. So for me finding actual arrangements with a chord chard is key. So I've turned to arrangements by Word. Inc. publishers for hymns, etc. it gives some of the hymns a contemporary rhythm and simplifies the chord structures. Also if you have anyone who has had a year of music theory, they can give you the essential chords to most hymns. Not every hymn will work with guitar but I've been able to be pretty sucessful at this.