I was leading worship yesterday and thinking about this thread. Our church is very relaxed about timings (to the point that my father-in-law is very amused every time he visits), and it an attitude I appreciate. I don't think it is disrespectful, I think God welcomes all who come to gather in His name, whether they are on time or not. I would hate to think of churches turning people away at the door because they were a few minutes late - who does that benefit?
Yesterday was our first -25ºC day of the winter. We still had our typical size of congregation. Sure, not so many were there for the first song, but everyone gradually rolled in and by the time we got to the prayer of confession, four songs and a welcome/shake hands into the service, I think everyone was there. One of the last to arrive? My wife and two kids (ages 1 and 2), who had a rough morning but still managed to make it to church despite my not being there to assist due to my musical commitments. I'm glad they made it, and I think God would be too.
To me one of the great things about our multi-denominational faith is that it has opened up different ways to worship so that we can each find a fit that we are comfortable with. Even within the CRC there are churches that sing more traditional hymns with organ or piano accompaniment and also churches with contemporary worship styles or various types. Not all worship has to be the same, and people feel more comfortable singing in different environments. If worship at the church you attend does not work for you personally, it may still for the majority of the congregation so it may be time to look elsewhere for something that allows you to worship more. Not everyone is wired the same.
We have a reasonably small congregation in a reasonably large building. We also have five different sound techs with wide variation between the volume they like to set. As a worship leader, I feel the congregation is much more engaged with the music when the volume is a little louder - when I am in the congregation myself I feel much less exposed and more able to sing loudly when there is more volume to the music. That said, I think even our loudest levels are nothing like as loud as concert levels (our drum kit is not amplified at all). Excessive volume may be bad, but not enough can also be an issue. But there's also a freedom in lots of volume in some circumstances - the times I have felt closest to God through worship have been at big conferences with lots of worshipers singing to a loud worship band. That's not something I would want every week, but it is great on occasion.
Variety in the choice and arrangement of songs is important. You can do quiet songs, loud songs, fast songs, slow songs... even quiet parts in louder songs. Each allow different people to connect in different ways.
Finally, it isn't always about the voices. Sure, it's mostly about the voices, as that allows for congregational worship, but the musicians are also worshiping through their playing, and that doesn't always need to take a back seat.
Psalm 150:
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Posted in: Getting Worshipers in the Service on Time?
I was leading worship yesterday and thinking about this thread. Our church is very relaxed about timings (to the point that my father-in-law is very amused every time he visits), and it an attitude I appreciate. I don't think it is disrespectful, I think God welcomes all who come to gather in His name, whether they are on time or not. I would hate to think of churches turning people away at the door because they were a few minutes late - who does that benefit?
Yesterday was our first -25ºC day of the winter. We still had our typical size of congregation. Sure, not so many were there for the first song, but everyone gradually rolled in and by the time we got to the prayer of confession, four songs and a welcome/shake hands into the service, I think everyone was there. One of the last to arrive? My wife and two kids (ages 1 and 2), who had a rough morning but still managed to make it to church despite my not being there to assist due to my musical commitments. I'm glad they made it, and I think God would be too.
Posted in: A Closer Look at Corporate Worship
To me one of the great things about our multi-denominational faith is that it has opened up different ways to worship so that we can each find a fit that we are comfortable with. Even within the CRC there are churches that sing more traditional hymns with organ or piano accompaniment and also churches with contemporary worship styles or various types. Not all worship has to be the same, and people feel more comfortable singing in different environments. If worship at the church you attend does not work for you personally, it may still for the majority of the congregation so it may be time to look elsewhere for something that allows you to worship more. Not everyone is wired the same.
We have a reasonably small congregation in a reasonably large building. We also have five different sound techs with wide variation between the volume they like to set. As a worship leader, I feel the congregation is much more engaged with the music when the volume is a little louder - when I am in the congregation myself I feel much less exposed and more able to sing loudly when there is more volume to the music. That said, I think even our loudest levels are nothing like as loud as concert levels (our drum kit is not amplified at all). Excessive volume may be bad, but not enough can also be an issue. But there's also a freedom in lots of volume in some circumstances - the times I have felt closest to God through worship have been at big conferences with lots of worshipers singing to a loud worship band. That's not something I would want every week, but it is great on occasion.
Variety in the choice and arrangement of songs is important. You can do quiet songs, loud songs, fast songs, slow songs... even quiet parts in louder songs. Each allow different people to connect in different ways.
Finally, it isn't always about the voices. Sure, it's mostly about the voices, as that allows for congregational worship, but the musicians are also worshiping through their playing, and that doesn't always need to take a back seat.
Psalm 150:
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.