Perhaps the discussion might turn to the situation for the person responsible for choosing and leading the music for a worship service-- I know several of us here hold that responsibility, and can speak about that.

When we began our Saturday night service several years ago, and ever since, that person is me. We had been asked to start a new service with contemporary music. I had heard and sung some, and agreed it would be a good idea. It was never planned that I would do the music, or engage someone-- but no one on the committee covered that base. The week arrived of the first scheduled service, and I found myself, autoharp and all, plunging in. We found, within a few months, that the service had attracted not mostly young people, but mostly older couples. My own musical journey at that time was turning to old hymns of other denominations-- like someone who posted above, I didn't grow up hearing them. They were easy on the acoustic instrumentation and very singable, and they made a greater impact with people present than the praise pieces had. They began to influence our mix.

Since then my musical journey has stayed just a half step ahead of our people... they gladly try anything I sing, and it's obvious which pieces work and should be retained for longterm use. As I have explored we have gone through patches of praise, old hymns, southern gospel, spirituals, black gospel, blues gospel, oldtimey Carter gospel.... bluegrass gospel...

If God inspired it, we sang it.

Hardi and I have spent many hours over the years trying to figure out why it is working so well. We are not that good, and we never do a piece so often that we get good, so good that it's lost its spontaneity. We are restless musically, and we move on rather than refine. We decided, in consultation with some of the people, that this is a large part of why it works for them. They aren't that good either, but they are happily willing to try something if we are trying it too.

My conclusion after several years of this, week in and week out, is that what we must do is choose music that meets a number of criteria. These are ours. What are yours?

Good theology. If it's absent or wrong, insert it or edit for it.

Singability. If it can't be sung upon hearing, it's not for us.

Instrumentation. Can a folkie pull it off?

Memorability. It needs to linger into the week, even if only the melody, to keep the heart lifted up.

Who is it About? Is it me, me, me, or is it about our Lord?

Results. Does it ask the hard questions and show a way to the answer? (Do lives change?) Does it support someone in something difficult? Does it return them to the sense of God that they had when they first met Him? Does the people say that it's come to mind when they have something to grieve or to celebrate?

Culture. Does the tune and language spring from the cultural gut of anyone present?

The Word from Outside. Does it bring in, from another culture, something good that we think our people's spiritual backgrounds are lacking, and that our congregation needs?

Respectful Inclusion. Not the PC kind-- I mean, do we include on a regular basis that which is familiar in sound and language to everyone present? Does everyone get their turn with what works for them, so that they can embrace what is new without a feeling of loss?

Desire. Do we love it so much we have to sing it, even if it isn't perfect? Has it been calling to us all week?

Inspiration. Is there a voice different from our own desires, beyond logic, telling us THIS is the piece we must present?

Affirmation. As we rehearse it, and after we do it, can we see that God brought us through it and has blessed it?

Redemptive JOY. Does it lead to a release of joy as the service ends, that we can see in the way the people relate to each other as they are leaving? Does it go beyond feeling good, to helping people become the person Christ says He created and can redeem them back to?


I think that's most of it. Mmario simplifies, and says it's like a good dish-to-pass supper complete with real strawberry shortcake.

~Susan