Help! How do I
"blend" the old and new in worship?
Oh, my. That is a good question and a hot topic. However, it is a
question worth answering.
You have probably already worked through your theology, beliefs, or whatever
else you need to deal with or else you wouldn't be asking this question.
You've probably decided that it's advantageous to your congregation to incorporate both new and old in your worship services. Therefore, we'll
skip past this part of the issue.
To overstate and over simplify, the problem with the new is that it's new and
therefore unfamiliar and perhaps even frightening. Meanwhile, the problem
with the old is that it is old and too familiar and perhaps even too worn and
predictable.
One of the ways to bridge old and new is by slowly adding newer music to your congregational worship
repertoire than
you are currently using.
For example, if the newest song your congregation sings is "Rock of
Ages" (written in 1776), then perhaps you need to start by introducing
songs written by Fanny Crosby or Bill Gaither.
However, if you are already doing Bill & Gloria Gaither's songs, then
maybe you can add "Majesty" to your list of good songs. There
are many songs that were written during the 1960's-1980's that have become
favorites for many congregations. These can be "safe" songs to add to your
worship experience since many of your people may already know them via radio,
Christian TV, tapes, CDs, etc.
One of the things we are doing for our congregation is making a conscious
effort to incorporate songs that the teens and college students enjoy.
Point? Determine your "invisible date line" (e.g.: the year that
your "newest" song was written in) and stretch it toward today.
Another way to blend worship styles is by "re-packaging"
traditional hymns. (I first came across the term "repackaging"
applied to worship in Sally Morgenthaler's book, Worship Evangelism.)
Repackaging hymns is something Birdnote Music specializes in.
We take the old hymn that may have rich lyrics and a long history and modify
the accompaniment and harmonies, but usually keep the familiar melody
intact. (Obviously, some songs have a greater degree of modification like
our arrangement of "Standing on the Promises," while other songs are
simply "sweetened" such as "Doxology.")
Additionally, there are various other factors to consider as you prepare to
adjust your congregation's worship repertoire:
- Does your congregation need new songs? For example, a ministry to
elderly people in a nursing home may not want to incorporate "Shout to
the Lord."
- Make sure your church leadership is in full support. Spell out the
changes and remind them that there may be some resistance.
Ask them if they will support the changes even if a dear friend (or a
spouse!) is upset.
- Don't do it all at once! Add one new song or a repackaged hymn every
couple of weeks. Make sure you repeat new songs within a few weeks so
that people can learn them and eventually love them.
- Recognize your limitations whether they be in equipment, abilities, or
personnel. Regardless of what the good folks at Microsoft might like
us to think, Power Point is not essential to a meaningful worship
experience. If you've got an overhead projector, use it. If
you've got a synthesizer use it. If you don't have a bass player and
you want one, pray for him or her to show up at your church.
- Honor the past. Don't degrade any song or genre'. Perhaps you
could even introduce a "new old song" such as "Be Thou My
Vision" if your congregation doesn't already sing it.
- Be patient. Love the people you are serving. Don't be
defensive. Listen to both the positive and negative comments equally
with grace and humility.
- Be a worshipper before you be a worship leader. You can only lead
people into God's presence in worship by bringing them with you. You
can't "herd" people in worship.
- Beware of making worship into your "golden calf." I have a
friend who commented, "Sometimes we worship
worship." Too true.
- And the most important thing... Don't forget to pray! God can
work in the secret chambers of the human heart that you will never
see. I could tell you stories of people, old and young alike, that
have expressed their pilgrimage towards understanding and appreciating music
styles beyond their personal preferences. The task before you is not
hopeless!
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have additional questions that I can
perhaps help you with. Or perhaps you have something you'd like to add to
this list of suggestions. In either case, contact me at jeff@birdnote.com.
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