Question:
Describe how you go about picking out worship songs for a service(mention what kind of service it is for).
Answer:
The same way that our good friend Jonathan Hayes does:
"We usually throw all the music on the floor and then turn on the fan. We trust that the songs that blow the farthest are the ones that the Holy Spirit wanted done that week."
In His love,
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate The same way that our good friend Jonathan Hayes does:
"We usually throw all the music on the floor and then turn on the fan. We trust that the songs that blow the farthest are the ones that the Holy Spirit wanted done that week."
In His love,
Nate Hmmm, we'll have to try that next week.
Answer:
I start with the sermon topic and scripture reference that the pastor provides. After that, I usually rely on the indexes to the songbook resources that I use. They’re displayed by topic, as well as by key. Sometimes other ideas strike me as I’m planning.
I’ve also created a master song list, which can be sorted by key, topic, or song “type” (communion, call to worship, etc.).
Answer:
Ok, time to be serious.
I, like Tony, usually start with the sermon topic and Scripture reference provided by our pastor. Occasionally, the topic of the sermon and/or the Scripture the sermon is based on will immediately bring a song or two (or more, in some cases) to mind. If that happens, I generally plan the service around those songs by selecting other songs with similar themes, similar musical styles, or similar keys (I often transpose songs, though, so this isn't usually too big of an issue... it comes down to whether I can actually sing a song in the key I'd like to do it in).
In the cases when the sermon topic / Scripture reference does not bring to mind any particular songs, I often select songs that are more "generic" (bad word to use, haha)... these usually end up being songs either of declarative praise ("Praise To The Lord The Almighty", "All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name", "Holy, Holy, Holy", etc) or of prayerful petition ("Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing", "Be Thou My Vision", etc).
Also, I love introducing new songs to our congregation (mostly, and perhaps selfishly, because I myself enjoy learning new songs), so I usually will include a new song or two in the line-up each week. Often, when the song is completely completely new, I will surround it on either side with slightly more familiar songs that have a similar theme.
Furthermore, I sometimes select songs based solely on the part of the service in which they will be played. "Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder", "Come, Christians Join To Sing", "Come, Now Is The Time To Worship", and the like are regular openers, for example.
Really, though, this all makes it seem so complicated. It doesn't really take me as much time or effort as I've made it appear.
In His love,
Nate
Answer:
Yes Nate, it does sound complicated. But if you are doing it every week you need to use a scientific method.
I get to lead a Sunday morning service this month for the first time in years. One of the smartest guys in the church told me, "You should pick songs you do really well."
I'll be the first to say I don't think God rarely cares what songs we sing, but about whether we worship from our hearts. If it takes a certain song or style to help you do that then go for it. But remember that a church is a family whose members have different tastes. Ideally we put up with each other's quirks and enjoy seeing other family members worship God. I'd rather see worship leaders worshipping from the heart singing the same old lame tunes week after week than those who work so hard trying to please everybody and do it right that they forget to worship.
random thoughts .....
Answer:
When I pick worship songs, I like to start with a scripture verse or a theme, and build from that. I have tried to get away from what I used to do, picking songs I like, because I like them, and for little other good reason.
I try to match tempos and keys, so as to not put people on a rollercoaster, but more importantly keep a common theme running through the songs. I try to avoid non sequious worship sets.
I usually try to do a mix of songs that are more along the lines of edifying and teaching, full of doctrine and such, and songs that are simply songs of praise and worship to God. I feel both are important parts of coorporate worship.
I do something similar to what Nate does, in that some songs often find themselves in the same part of a service. Some songs lend themselves well to be a first song, and some work well to bring closure to a worship set.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Furthermore, I sometimes select songs based solely on the part of the service in which they will be played. "Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder", "Come, Christians Join To Sing", "Come, Now Is The Time To Worship", and the like are regular openers, for example. Do you do all six verses to Let us Love, or just five? We've always done Let us Love as a hymn of response or a departing hymn. It never made sense to me as an entrance hymn unless you included the final verse (in which case it no longer makes sense as anything else).
Answer:
Originally Posted by Luke Do you do all six verses to Let us Love, or just five? We've always done Let us Love as a hymn of response or a departing hymn. It never made sense to me as an entrance hymn unless you included the final verse (in which case it no longer makes sense as anything else).
I think the fifth verse works as a gathering song..."Let us praise..."
Answer:
Originally Posted by Luke Do you do all six verses to Let us Love, or just five?
Five. Whichever five are on the RUF hymn site.
We've always done Let us Love as a hymn of response or a departing hymn. It never made sense to me as an entrance hymn unless you included the final verse (in which case it no longer makes sense as anything else).
Well, considering our denomination/church treats the "entrance hymn" as a "call to worship" (basically, calling the people who are currently fellowshipping in the sanctuary to turn their attention towards worshipping God), I think the hymn works nicely. I think of it as a hymn that serves as a reminder of why we gather together (to "love and sing and wonder" and "praise the Savior's Name"), which seems appropriate at the beginning of said gathering together.
In His love,
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by georgeo Describe how you go about picking out worship songs for a service(mention what kind of service it is for).
Well, after a long night of drinkin...I usually...Oh wait, that was the old rock band I had during the 80s. My bad.
I usually start with a theme that fits with the sermon topic and plan around that as my "cornerstone" song if possible. I then work with tempo, key and "text direction" so I can focus people in and get them ready to receive the message from the pastors.
Answer:
We use the 'pin the tail on the donkey' method. It works quite well. Basically what we do it take music and post it all over an open wall and then blind fold one of the sunday school children and spin them around a couple of time and we end up with our set!
Actually, no. We choose our music based on the season (in the summer we use all old familuar ones and in the fall we introduce new ones etc.) and the scripture lessons of the day. It works quite nicely.
Peace and love,
Rhonda.
Answer:
It depends on the service and it depends on the church. We do a lot of youth services at different churches in the city and sometimes we're given a list of exactly what the pastor/speaker would like us to play. I don't enjoy that quite as much as picking out my own songs, but anyway ... when we're given the choice, we try to center our songs around the theme of the service. We'll all toss out any songs we can think of that go with the theme, then narrow that down to songs we can actually play ... songs the congregation already knows ... etc., etc. If we're leading the worship service at our home church, with the whole congregation, we generally stick to songs we know well and songs we know the congregation knows well. I haven't decided if I think that's a cop-out yet or not ...
Answer:
Originally Posted by sothenhesaid If we're leading the worship service at our home church, with the whole congregation, we generally stick to songs we know well and songs we know the congregation knows well. I haven't decided if I think that's a cop-out yet or not ... Why would that be a cop-out?
Oh, and welcome to CGR!