Thank you Steve! So many good thoughts and points there!

Steven, I can relate to your story of leading people in songs we were both learning, and you are right in that the Holy Spirit works in those moments to buoy us up and move us forward. I wrote this blog wondering why people have stopped trying. It’s not true of every church, but I can’t help but be surprised when I have attended great churches with good teaching, and solid Biblical truth and when it comes to congregational singing, there appear to be more drop-outs. There are beautiful voices on stage, the band is well rehearsed, and the congregation is dis-engaged from their own voice being a part of the collective. Maybe like the Children of Israel, we are content to let “Moses” do it. I am sure there are as many reasons as there are melodies, but I hate seeing the trend of silence, and I wonder how we can better engage our hearts and voices through the generations.
What is missing when our older generation no longer joins our melodies? What is missing when the younger generation doesn’t show up to share in the testimony, heritage and legacy?
I mentioned in my response to Bryan that my kids didn’t know the National Anthem outside of the SNL version which we all watched repeatedly to laugh at because the lyrics were so distorted. They never sang it, and when they thought about the song, the goofy lyrics were all that came to mind. I realize the National Anthem isn’t gospel, but it used to be a song everyone knew and everyone could sing. When did that stop? I’m just curious….
Thank you for your comments, and thank you also for your leadership in worship for so many years. You are a blessing!

Thank you Bryan for your thoughts, words, and heart. I think your church tradition gives you another view into the effect of congregational unity through singing and prayer, and I appreciate it!
I was in a music workshop class one year where the teacher, a highly skilled and talented musician and worship leader was taking Christian worship songs, and changing just a few chords here and there to give it new life. People sang along and noted the feeling that happened with chords being different. Some became jazz chords, and some were pulled from other key signatures for effect. Some majors became minors, and it felt like a new way to hear the song. Then he pulled in a hymn to do the same thing, and that is when the train ultimately wrecked. Those who knew the hymns not only knew the tunes, they had memorized their harmony parts, and when they joined in to sing this hymn with new chord structures it was ruined. Melodically it was awful. It was an interesting “experiment”, and one we all decided in the class should not be done on hymns. This was, I am sure do to the fact that people used to memorize musical harmonies because of the written notes, staffs, and lyrics laid out in hymnals.
Ultimately, worship is our gift to God, not what the church music brings us, but I do find it interesting that we can de-rail through music and even withdraw our voice from the collective and feel ok about that. I’m saddened by the trend.
Politics aside, I still wonder when we stopped singing the National Anthem together? My kids only knew the SNL version for many years (which was satire, with ridiculous lyrics.)
Thank you for your response!!

Because of how my church does their services, we don’t have a music “team” as most churches have today. We have a VERY large hymnal which is heavily infused with Charles Wesley hymns. The cantors, of which I’m one of them, stand at the back of the church when they sing an entrance canticle of 1-3 verses. The canticle changes from week to week depending on the day. The only other time the cantors sing by themselves is near the end of the service just before Communion when they sing a short hymn (1 verse) and then the Communion song (1-2 verses) before everyone goes to the altar rail for the Eucharist. The rest of the music is comprised of congregational singing and everyone is able to sing/follow along with the provided hymnal.

I attended a dinner several years where a large number of churches participated. The host church provided the music and the team was comprised of a more “contemporary” setup. 🙂 The music leader told everyone they were going to play “Amazing Grace” and invited everyone to join in with the singing. The words were, indeed, “Amazing Grace” but the tune was SOOOOO completely different that I had NO idea what was going on at the time. I did smile a bit since it was obvious who attended the host church since they were the ones who were singing along to the “foreign” tune and worshiping. 🙂

Ed, I admire and appreciate your talent of being able to write music. I personally like songs that are “high in the rafters” as I have a higher singing voice. I can appreciate some singers who are able to riff different songs. Keep on using your gift! 🙂

In my opinion, one of the things that song leaders need to remember is that not a lot of congregants can sing at a high technical level. I am one of those people. Yes, I can sing but I’m very much of a sing what’s written on the score. If I hear any sort of creative riffing going on with a song, I will immediately stop trying to follow along and just listen. I think one of the other issues is when modern songwriters, well-meaning though they may be, re-write one of the old standards like “Just As I Am, In The Garden, or (as mentioned above) “Amazing Grace”. My first thought is “Why reinvent the wheel?” I admit to a bit of frustration when I hear that happening.

I know that a lot of churches have either discarded their hymnals or simply disregard them. Would it be possible to maybe use the hymnals just to sing one or two of the old standbys each Sunday?

Cate, I hope I came across as respectful and kind. I am not trying to slam any one group nor am I trying to sound like an old curmudgeon (for the record, I’m 51) but I do believe you raised some valid concerns. Thank you for starting this discourse. Hope you’re doing well! 🙂

Ed, you raise some great points about artistry and creativity in writing, composing, and performing music. It is also an expression of worship and I don’t want to see it go away. What I am wondering is how do we bring others with us? Why are people opting out? I cited possible reasons, and things I have observed, but I really want to know why too.
Keep the conversation going. It can be very educational!