hymn issue

[Megan Furlong]

I have been attending church and myself and a few other woman in the congregation have got some comments from others in Congregation that we should not be singing the hymns in a classical style. I sing that way in choir and that is way I feel most comfy singing, it has never been an issue in the years I have attended church. Do you have any advice.

 

[timf]

Music and singing are acts of emotion. To ask someone the express emotion in a way that is counter to how they feel is to suggest a type of emotional hypocrisy.

If I went to a church where people sung hymns in a "rap" style I would have to find another church as I could not adapt myself to that style of expression.

Sometimes contemporary churches have a traditional style service for the older people (who often give more money).

 

[ByTheSpirit]

You are singing to God, not to man. If it was me… I would 100% sing louder if someone approached me and asked me to stop or change how I worshipped. 100% If it gets too bothersome, maybe approach a leader about it and talk to them. That would give you a very good indication if the fellowship is right for you or not.

Something that happened to me years ago, a member of the church wronged me and I approached the Senior Pastor about it. They told me basically to grow up, that problem people would always exist within church. Well their lack of concern for my request showed me I should look elsewhere for fellowship. If the leadership of your group/fellowship is lacking, that trickles down to everyone else. But it is possible your leaders will help you in whatever way they deem best.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I have been attending church and myself and a few other woman in the congregation have got some comments from others in Congregation that we should not be singing the hymns in a classical style. I sing that way in choir and that is way I feel most comfy singing, it has never been an issue in the years I have attended church. Do you have any advice.

Welcome to CF! Have you posted your query in the Orthodox Forum? I cant image someone rejecting any type of singing.

 

[Norbert L]

I have been attending church and myself and a few other woman in the congregation have got some comments from others in Congregation that we should not be singing the hymns in a classical style. I sing that way in choir and that is way I feel most comfy singing, it has never been an issue in the years I have attended church. Do you have any advice.

Reminds me of the time where adding or not adding a pinch of salt to the coffee brewed after service became an issue for some people to make enough comments back and forth to create a controversy. Then the pastor got involved and neither side liked the answer because it became something else and was no longer about the coffee.

 

[All4Christ]

Maria, please consider posting this in The Ancient Way.

You mentioned that several people in your congregation said that to you. Was it your choir director? Were they saying that about the style of the choir as a whole, or the styles of individuals?

When you say classical singing, do you mean more of an operatic style? Or a classical choral style? Or something else? The main thing in the choir is for no one to stick out over other people and to blend.

Also, are you in a Greek Orthodox Church? Russian? OCA? Antiochian? Something else?

 

[BobRyan]

I have been attending church and myself and a few other woman in the congregation have got some comments from others in Congregation that we should not be singing the hymns in a classical style. I sing that way in choir and that is way I feel most comfy singing, it has never been an issue in the years I have attended church. Do you have any advice.

What do you mean by "in the classical style"? - Do you mean "the same hymn but in a different style"? or do you mean "not the same hymn at all"??

 

[StillGods]

that's a tough one because theres also some sort of responsibility not to distract others from worshipping God aswell...... maybe they are struggling to worship if the choir singing is really loud. I've had people in front of me turn round when I've been singing and realised I am distracting them from worship so sometimes I am careful to sing quieter so we can all worship together.