Worship Perspective
During our vacation we visited our relatives' churches for worship. Both churches are about the same size as the church where I serve. One was a country church in Mississippi and the other was a church in Branson, Missouri. I thought I would outline their worship styles and some observations that I made while there.
Wade Baptist Church in Mississippi has two identical morning worship services using a blend of contemporary praise and worship music and traditional hymns. They had a small orchestra of about five wind instruments along with a bass player, organist, pianist and acoustic drums. They projected the lyrics of the songs on three screens (two at front and one for the worship team). They used a choir and soloists with the worship leader standing behind the pulpit leading the congregation. The choir was able to sing without folders during the congregational singing because of the rear screen projecting lyrics for them. The congregational singing was not very strong, but most of the people were singing. All of the songs were done at a tempo that was very fast regardless of style. The instruments and singers were not always in sync and there were some harmonies that did not always fit. None of the instrumentalists or singers were professionals. There were a few issues with the sound, the projectionist (a youth I believe) did an excellent job, and most everyone that participated in leading worship seemed to smile.
First Baptist Church of Kimberling City in Branson, Missouri has two identical morning worship services using a blend of contemporary praise and worship music and traditional hymns. They used a praise band consisting of two baby grand pianos, an organ, keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and digital drums. They projected the lyrics of the songs on three screens (two at front and one for the worship team). They used a praise team with the worship leader standing together with the singers. They usually have a choir as well, but the worship pastor had been on vacation the previous two weeks. The praise team was able to sing without music or stands in front of them because of the rear screen projecting lyrics for them. The congregational singing was energetic, but the sound was so loud I could not hear them. Surprisingly the youth were very energetic and exuberant during the singing. The first song was very worshipful and slowly built up energy. Of all the songs song, only one was very fast in tempo and it was a hymn. The singers and band were not always in sync, but the pitches and harmonies were all done well. Several of the musicians were professionals and have played for famous singers. There were several sound issues, the projectionist was excellent even though the font color was sometimes difficult to see with the graphic used, and the worship leaders not only smiled, but some also waved at friends or family in the service at times (including one of the singers who sang for the offertory).
As you can see, both churches were very similar in style, both had large attendance for their area, and both had some problems or mistakes. But the people at both churches regardless of age really seemed to enjoy their worship times. One member mentioned that even the elderly sing out strong on the contemporary songs and the youth sing out on the hymns. I am convinced that the reason for this is that these churches are completely united in their worship. They are not split between contemporary and traditional...they join together in both.
It has been my experience that churches which use a blend of worship styles in all of their services seem to experience stronger and more energetic singing. But it is not something that is easy to accomplish at a traditional only church, a contemporary only church or a church which uses multiple worship styles independent of each other. Often those kinds of changes will result in the end of the ministry for the pastor or worship pastor or both due to the large number of disgruntled church members that result from these changes. But I loved what the pastor said at today's service at FBCKC: "Anyone who comes to a church or leaves a church because of the worship style has something wrong with them spiritually." When your heart is right with God, you can worship at any church regardless of the style of music or the style of sermon.
Wade Baptist Church in Mississippi has two identical morning worship services using a blend of contemporary praise and worship music and traditional hymns. They had a small orchestra of about five wind instruments along with a bass player, organist, pianist and acoustic drums. They projected the lyrics of the songs on three screens (two at front and one for the worship team). They used a choir and soloists with the worship leader standing behind the pulpit leading the congregation. The choir was able to sing without folders during the congregational singing because of the rear screen projecting lyrics for them. The congregational singing was not very strong, but most of the people were singing. All of the songs were done at a tempo that was very fast regardless of style. The instruments and singers were not always in sync and there were some harmonies that did not always fit. None of the instrumentalists or singers were professionals. There were a few issues with the sound, the projectionist (a youth I believe) did an excellent job, and most everyone that participated in leading worship seemed to smile.
First Baptist Church of Kimberling City in Branson, Missouri has two identical morning worship services using a blend of contemporary praise and worship music and traditional hymns. They used a praise band consisting of two baby grand pianos, an organ, keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and digital drums. They projected the lyrics of the songs on three screens (two at front and one for the worship team). They used a praise team with the worship leader standing together with the singers. They usually have a choir as well, but the worship pastor had been on vacation the previous two weeks. The praise team was able to sing without music or stands in front of them because of the rear screen projecting lyrics for them. The congregational singing was energetic, but the sound was so loud I could not hear them. Surprisingly the youth were very energetic and exuberant during the singing. The first song was very worshipful and slowly built up energy. Of all the songs song, only one was very fast in tempo and it was a hymn. The singers and band were not always in sync, but the pitches and harmonies were all done well. Several of the musicians were professionals and have played for famous singers. There were several sound issues, the projectionist was excellent even though the font color was sometimes difficult to see with the graphic used, and the worship leaders not only smiled, but some also waved at friends or family in the service at times (including one of the singers who sang for the offertory).
As you can see, both churches were very similar in style, both had large attendance for their area, and both had some problems or mistakes. But the people at both churches regardless of age really seemed to enjoy their worship times. One member mentioned that even the elderly sing out strong on the contemporary songs and the youth sing out on the hymns. I am convinced that the reason for this is that these churches are completely united in their worship. They are not split between contemporary and traditional...they join together in both.
It has been my experience that churches which use a blend of worship styles in all of their services seem to experience stronger and more energetic singing. But it is not something that is easy to accomplish at a traditional only church, a contemporary only church or a church which uses multiple worship styles independent of each other. Often those kinds of changes will result in the end of the ministry for the pastor or worship pastor or both due to the large number of disgruntled church members that result from these changes. But I loved what the pastor said at today's service at FBCKC: "Anyone who comes to a church or leaves a church because of the worship style has something wrong with them spiritually." When your heart is right with God, you can worship at any church regardless of the style of music or the style of sermon.
Comments
On churches and blended worship - I could be wrong here, but I think you're talking about older, established, traditional churches that are in the midst of change. I have seen plenty of younger churches that have always had a "contemporary only" worship style and had no problems with style.
I think it's because those churches didn't start out, say, 80 years ago with a traditional mindset. Instead, from the start they had a more contemporary mindset and style. Because of that, people visiting knew what to expect, and they haven't had to go through those growing pains in worship style - because they didn't need to. They were already there.
On attending a church because of the worship style... you quoted the pastor at FBCKC saying "Anyone who comes to a church or leaves a church because of the worship style has something wrong with them spiritually."
I wonder - does that mean he would have been comfortable at Bob Beeman's Sanctuary churches of the 80's and 90's (heavy metal church)? Or would he have left it because of style?
OK - being just a bit snarky there. But still... I certainly get what he's saying, but I'm not sure I totally agree with him. I can think of a couple of examples from my life:
- not attending a church because the music was so bad I couldn't worship. Musical train wreck on stage, basically - the piano player was playing a triplet/shuffle feel, and the rest of the band was playing straight. Personally, I had trouble worshipping - all I could think of was "can't they hear that?"
In my mind, that also says a few things about the church:
- they don't value worship enough to attract good musicians/worshippers
- their worship pastor either has a bad musical ear, or is a bad leader (ie., hasn't had "that talk" with the offending musicians)
So that's one. Here's another: I can't use my gifts in a traditional church. I've tried - it doesn't work. Nothing wrong with the worship style - just not a place I can use my gifts and talents.
So - just some other thoughts to ponder!
I am sure that the pastor in question was speaking of simply style differences although he did talk about how while he does not like rap music he could see himself worshiping to a rap song as well as a hymn.
I can understand how difficult it would be for a musician to attend a church where the music is not something they enjoy. However, I know a dean of music who left his comfort zone of high church music to attend a small church with hokey music because it was a better fit for their teen children.
I believe that I could worship with any style of music, but I would also want it to be done well. On the other hand, I would rather worship with sold out for Jesus musicians who are not the most talented rather than worship with professionals who are not playing/singing for God.
And for the same reason that a drummer has trouble using his talents in a traditional church, a bassoonist has trouble fitting in a contemporary service. That is why I feel that blended worship works well for almost everybody. I attended some very large blended services (4000+) which used a praise band section within their full orchestra and had very dynamic, energetic hymns and contemporary singing led by the worship leader, praise team and a choir.