Keeping the Congregational Music Fresh and Heartfelt

MRI 2015 – Jason Jett –

A man can never have too many tools. Something about them excites men more than most things. My default answer to the age-old December question of what I want for Christmas is usually simple—tools. My motto at the hardware store is, “Who cares if I have one (that’s never been used), a deal this good can’t be passed up. You never know when a second might come in handy.” When I dare to think that I may never use it, I remind myself that a tool can only be used if I have it. If I don’t, what good is it? This reasoning makes sense to men. Let the ladies apply these principles to shopping for clothes. Men apply them to tools.

Tools are necessary in all areas of life. We need them in ministry as much as in house building. I have been in music ministry for a number of years, and the longer I do it the more apparent it becomes that tools are important in keeping our music services what they ought to be. When you consider the significance of church music—leading an assembly into corporate praise of an audience of One—we ought to take seriously our role to keep it what it ought to be.

The significance of tools was never so apparent to me than a few years ago when my wife and I decided (against all marriage counseling) to build a house together. The process could have been much worse, for sure, but it also could have been better in one particular way. I found myself saying more times than I could count, “If I only had the right tools.” When I couldn’t get the job done right and was at the end of myself, that phrase jumped to my defense. My gracious wife even drank the Kool-Aid. By the end of the house-building process she was saying it, too. Neither of us believed it, but it made at least one of us feel better.

Like anything else, what doesn’t get our attention trends downward; and, when things sink far enough, we have a tendency to knee-jerk our way into reaching for something new. We react by assuming everything must be thrown out and replaced because it no longer works. It is this tendency that has led many churches to ditch what has always been used in order to provide a quick fix to the apathy.

I suggest that we look at it differently. Why assume that what we’re doing doesn’t work when it might be that we (as leaders) haven’t placed it in a lofty enough position to give it much thought or creativity? If the music services (specifically the congregational singing) are an afterthought to us, how can we expect them to seem significant to anyone else? Perhaps it is those of us in leadership who need to change our approach to the music services, to do something more than open a hymnal and randomly pick three songs before services. This ministry deserves creativity, time, and ideas. The problem is, sometimes we’re not sure what tools to use. Let me make some recommendations that, if applied, might keep us from using that old excuse, “I just don’t have the right tools!”

Tool #1 – Create an environment in which the Lord remains the focus.

Strive to have everyone in place when the music service begins, starting with the platform party. Make sure those on the platform are engaged, not visiting with each other, distractedly talking to someone, noting absentees or reviewing notes for their message. Church leadership should be obviously plugged in, singing out and holding a hymnal. Musicians may be driven to a greater desire for excellence when they are able to attach what they’re doing to a nobler call and a higher purpose. They will take their responsibilities much more seriously when they realize they are helping point hearts toward God and not simply the next part of the schedule. This will help create a mentality that causes people to approach their role in the service more deliberately. Realizing that every part of the service impacts God will reduce the temptation to approach the music service as filler time.

Tool #2 – Choose hymns deliberately.

Carefully select songs that fit the purpose and flow of the service rather than simply choosing those that are familiar to the congregation. Work at developing a theme for each service and use the congregationals to help contribute to that end. Don’t wait until right before the service begins to choose songs. Work two or three days ahead so the Holy Spirit can use your creativity to add interest to the upcoming services. Keep good records of services so the hymn rotation stays fresh.

Tool #3 – Introduce new songs.

There are so many good songs in the hymnal that many people don’t know. Don’t be afraid to learn new ones and “teach” them to the congregation during an evening service. Teach it by either having a soloist or the choir sing it once, then ask everyone else to join in. Reinforce it by reviewing it in one of the following services.

Tool #4 – Make use of service themes.

A themed service can be effective. Focusing the thoughts of the congregation on one subject such as grace, God’s love, or heaven can have a tremendous impact on the service. It is especially helpful when the subject of the message is known and the two parts of the service come together in unity.

Tool #5 – Emphasize a verse by doing it differently.

Do something to highlight a specific verse in a hymn. This can be planned or spontaneous, but don’t miss opportunities to shine a spotlight on a stanza that is especially rich. Have a soloist, the choir, or an ensemble sing it. It can also be effective to have just the ladies or men sing a verse. When people listen to someone else sing it often causes them to dwell on phrases they might normally miss by singing straight through every verse as a congregation.

Tool #6 – Use a key change to build toward a song’s climax.

A key change on the last verse of songs like “It Is Well With My Soul” and “Amazing Grace” can provide a natural climax that really injects energy into the song. Many accompanists can’t transpose on the fly, so do what you can to give them plenty of help. It is always better to practice a transposition first to get the timing down and make sure the transition chords are correct. If possible, find the music in the new key or transcribe it yourself to give to the pianist and organist. This will go a long way to help their development and give you some extra leverage when asking them to try something new the next time.

Tool #7 – Use A cappella singing.

Certain hymns sound wonderful when the instruments drop out and the voices sing alone. Gospel songs like “Just Over in the Gloryland,” “Come Unto Me” and “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” work well for this. Songs with a strong melody and repeating harmony parts tend to be good candidates for A cappella singing.

Tool #8 – Use a “Call and Answer” type song.

Similar to the style of songs good for A cappella singing, call and answer songs can add life to a music service. Have the men sing the first phrase and the ladies respond during a song like “Nothing But The Blood.” Know exactly how you’re going to give instructions so they are as clear as possible.

Tool #9 – Highlight phrases from a hymn or define words that are not very familiar.

While you could say something from the pulpit, you could also write a short excerpt in your church bulletin either explaining a phrase from a song that will be sung on that day, or pointing out specific phrases for the congregation to meditate on. Call it something like “Hymn Highlight” or “Hymn Spotlight.” So many hymns provoke great thoughts about God if time is taken to comprehend them. Here are a couple of examples:

“Jesus Saves”
“Waft it on the rolling tide – Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!” This phrase is taken from the second verse of our opening hymn this morning. The word “waft” is a verb that means “to convey or send floating through the air or over water.” The phrase is encouraging Christians to “waft” the message that Jesus saves!

“Love Lifted Me”
In the first congregational song this morning, “Love Lifted Me”, one phrase in the second verse reads, “Love so mighty and so true merits my soul’s best songs.” God’s love is so great that He deserves the best songs we can sing. That means the love of God is worth the best singing we are capable of. Don’t let the song service pass by without engaging your mind and singing from your heart to the Lord. God’s children have much to rejoice for, but if all we had to sing about was the love of God, He would still deserve, “My soul’s best songs.”

Tool #10 – Don’t underestimate the importance of developing yourself as a congregational songleader.

Three things to keep in mind as you develop your songleading skills:
Passion – There is no substitute for having a heart for the importance of congregational music. As Pastor Hardy said, “People pick up more on your heart than they do your tactics.”
Presence – Always be aware of your presence as a songleader. Be confident, sing out, have energy, and don’t do anything that will distract people from the lyrics of the song.
Pattern – Although not the end all for successful songleading, having a consistent pattern makes a statement. Not only is it easier to follow but it also tells others about your mindset toward excellence.

The congregational song service is so often undervalued in the grand scheme of ministry. I wonder how frequently God looks forward with anticipation to the singing of His people to Him, only to be grieved at the lack of passion and interest from the congregation. We know it needs to be vibrant and meaningful, but rather than fix what’s truly wrong, many find it easier to scrap what isn’t working in favor of something better or newer. When the excitement of that wears off, what’s next? That can’t be the solution. The better alternative is to put in some effort to help the congregation realize how much singing means to the Lord, while at the same time discovering how valuable it is to their own lives as a Christian. I believe what has always worked will still work, but it will take work. It may require more creativity, fervent prayer, and fresh ideas, but with the Lord’s help and the right tools, new life can be breathed into the music ministry.