Msgr Pope ping
A Mighty Fortress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJHKzU_t1M
I can’t stand Christian pop music. Give me the old stoic hymnal any day. I occasionally go to my sister’s church. And they must play a full hour of Christian pop. BORING!
If I see a drum kit in a church I walk out immediately.
The charismatics have tried to take over the music at our church. Twice a month we have to use the special blue binder, but instrumentally they’ve only gone so far as to add cymbals and a guitar. We have an amazing pipe organ of which I’m a fan, and the organist always “jams out” after the benediction hymn. The praise music just is not my thing.
I don’t sing the modern 7/11 songs (7 words, repeated 11 times) because I don’t know the tunes and entrances. I can read music and so can join an unfamiliar tune when following the music. And to those who can’t read music: LEARN HOW! It isn’t that hard. As it is, we are not presenting our best to God.
The above really isn't so. An overhead slide with the words, and many many of the contemporary songs are great for congregational singing. There is also a genre that combines the old hymns with words of praise or new rhythms that is absolutely praise worthy. "Glorious Day" comes to mind by
The Methodists in the Methodist town of Ocean Grove, NJ, have a choir that sings the great Protestant songs during their services - pure Americana. Not only do they have a great choir, they hire four singers every summer from the Metropolitan Opera to augment the singing. So somebody is doing it right!
The reason why the contempary Christian is being played more in Evangelical churches, so it is to bring in a much more younger group of believers.
bttt
I am married to the worship leader of our church....we rock the place every Sunday morning.
I grew up with the Hymnal.....boring. And not always relevant...who knows what a sheave is anyway?
Perhaps the crux of many Protestant celebrations is the praising of the Lord through song.
O God O Lord of Heav’n and Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBomcCQmwgk
The parish I attend sings this with gusto and at a faster pace than in this video. Young and old alike. My family and I would be hard pressed if we ever had to move, becuase it is a rare thing to find a parish that considers the Word of God first, and leaves human preferences in the dust where they belong
All other ground is sinking sand!
Our church’s 11am service is very traditional with that “old time” religion and music. Very formal, somber even at times, more “respectful” I think.
Our early service, 8:30am, has always been more contemporary, to include, more recently, instruments and “drop down screen” accompaniments, with an A/V guy off to the side. A lot of skill and talent go into the service, without a doubt. But, I prefer the later service.
Several years back, a new green-covered hymnal was introduced and used almost exclusively in the early service. The wife didn’t appreciate my humor when I nicknamed it the “Yahni Hymnal”. Dull, boring, repetitive...the book, not my humor.
A few years ago, a teenage girl was talking excitedly about the megachurch that she attended. But when I asked if it had an organ, her face went blank. I quickly realized that she had never heard of an organ. Most likely, the only sacred music she had ever heard was “praise” music.
The music in the OCP is getting better. We sing “old time” hymns at daily Mass.
Why should the money go to some of these OCP lyricists and composers when they have come out as gay, or attend a Protestant church.
What I’m talking about is a report that is filed weekly so that the composers and lyricists get their two cents (or whatever the royalty is) for each time the song is performed.
Have faith. The OCP has changed quite a bit, and I think you know I have been one of loudest complainers. The cover is different. Some of the Hurd, Haugen, Schutte, etc junk isn’t in it any more. More and more chant is being printed in it.
Talk with your own priests and choir directors. Hymns are part of the worship — not a performance.
Off my soap box.
I agree with the author that a lot of songs now being used in church are rather sappy, and not very inspirational.
As a Catholic I always heard about the wonderful singing in Protestant congregations. I am sad to read that this is not so true anymore.
In my Catholic church, the people do sing, but not with a great enthusiasm UNTIL we are offered up an old song such as ‘Holy God We Praise Thy Name’. When people are familiar with a song and the tune, they usually participate with gusto.
I’m perplexed by professing Christians who say they “don’t sing”. There are both commands and examples of singing in the New Testament. What other parts do you throw out?