I have a question about SDA divine service and music

[amandatea]

I am fairly new to being SDA and I play the piano for my church. I have attended church since May 2012. The music director at my church is retiring this year and they asked me to take over for next year (I believe that is what's happening as I was only approached about this a couple of weeks ago). This is something I would be delighted to do but I have a few questions about SDA services.

At my church we have an Ordinary Music program - meaning we sing the same songs in the same order every service with the only variation being which worship hymns we sing. Those change every week. Do most/all SDA churches do this or is it possible that this is just how the music director at my church decided to run it? I have been to a few different SDA churches in my area (for study series', evening services or special events) but I don't recall having gone to any of their morning divine services, or if I have, I don't recall what their music program was like.

If I will be the director of music, I would like to do things a bit differently, if allowed by the pastor/board/etc. I don't like the idea of singing the same exact songs at the same exact time every week. I believe that when doing that, the songs lose meaning as it's just a routine. We're commanded not to worship that way, aren't we? I know that a church music program has to have organization, but I don't like the idea of just having everything the exact same week after week.

Perhaps this is the pastor's idea and there isn't really anything I can do about it, but I thought I would ask if this is a regular thing in the SDA church or if it's possible that it's just how my own church does things.

 

[Castaway57]

I am fairly new to being SDA and I play the piano for my church. I have attended church since May 2012. The music director at my church is retiring this year and they asked me to take over for next year (I believe that is what's happening as I was only approached about this a couple of weeks ago). This is something I would be delighted to do but I have a few questions about SDA services.

At my church we have an Ordinary Music program - meaning we sing the same songs in the same order every service with the only variation being which worship hymns we sing. Those change every week. Do most/all SDA churches do this or is it possible that this is just how the music director at my church decided to run it? I have been to a few different SDA churches in my area (for study series', evening services or special events) but I don't recall having gone to any of their morning divine services, or if I have, I don't recall what their music program was like.

If I will be the director of music, I would like to do things a bit differently, if allowed by the pastor/board/etc. I don't like the idea of singing the same exact songs at the same exact time every week. I believe that when doing that, the songs lose meaning as it's just a routine. We're commanded not to worship that way, aren't we? I know that a church music program has to have organization, but I don't like the idea of just having everything the exact same week after week.

Perhaps this is the pastor's idea and there isn't really anything I can do about it, but I thought I would ask if this is a regular thing in the SDA church or if it's possible that it's just how my own church does things.

Good questions! And I appreciate reading of your desire to serve the Lord with your gift of music!

Over 22 years or so; I have attended churches across the country. Southern Ont is where I grew up. I can assure you that not all of our churches do the same thing with music. For eg, in the one I attended today, here in Alberta, we had modern songs that i did not recognize, (Im a bit of an old-timer, lol), and the words to them were on a projector screen. But then I can also tell you of churches where the music is quite a bit more conservative. I lean towards the conservative side; but I also do try to get something out of all the other.

Brampton is a big enough place that there would be room enough for more than one taste in music styles; but it all comes down to ministering to the congregation, according to their local preferences and customs, as long as it isn't something outrageous.

I would suggest that before trying to change anything, just spend some time talking with everyone at your church, and have an initial period of just information gathering, and research, then suggest additions/changes once you get to know everyone and what they are thinking re music.

So; in summary, no. Not all churches do music the same. Local congregations have their own customs/traditions at each church.

 

[amandatea]

Good questions! And I appreciate reading of your desire to serve the Lord with your gift of music!

Over 22 years or so; I have attended churches across the country. Southern Ont is where I grew up. I can assure you that not all of our churches do the same thing with music. For eg, in the one I attended today, here in Alberta, we had modern songs that i did not recognize, (Im a bit of an old-timer, lol), and the words to them were on a projector screen. But then I can also tell you of churches where the music is quite a bit more conservative. I lean towards the conservative side; but I also do try to get something out of all the other.

Brampton is a big enough place that there would be room enough for more than one taste in music styles; but it all comes down to ministering to the congregation, according to their local preferences and customs, as long as it isn't something outrageous.

I would suggest that before trying to change anything, just spend some time talking with everyone at your church, and have an initial period of just information gathering, and research, then suggest additions/changes once you get to know everyone and what they are thinking re music.

So; in summary, no. Not all churches do music the same. Local congregations have their own customs/traditions at each church.

Thanks for the advice. It is good advice too. I definitely planned on talking to the pastor and the senior members of the church about any ideas of changing things. I am very much into the "old fashioned" music. I absolutely love hymns and I'm not so much into contemporary/christian rock type of worship music. So I wouldn't be going that direction. I just would like to have a bit more of a free flow type of program which will help people to continuously be reflecting on what God is doing in their lives or what they should be focusing on, etc. That is what hymns do for me. I find when it's the same songs over and over, it just becomes going through the motions, saying the words while they sort of lose their meaning. I desire people to think about what they're singing and who they're singing to/about.

I also don't hear the church's choirs sing much. I think that in the six months I've been there, I've heard the choirs sing a handful of times. I would like to have them perform more regularly and maybe even direct it if that is needed.

But, once again, thanks for the feedback and advice!

 

[Castaway57]

I also don't hear the church's choirs sing much. I think that in the six months I've been there, I've heard the choirs sing a handful of times. I would like to have them perform more regularly and maybe even direct it if that is needed.

I would love to see you post one day here that you are now directing that choir! That would be really something - a great testimony. Please keep us informed how things are going with your music ministry. And ask more questions anytime.

 

[E.T.Elijah]

If I am asked to give the message that week, I like to get ahold of the music group and let them know what I will be speaking on so that they can correlate the music to the message. For instance, if I am preaching on the Mountain of God, then they could choose songs containing mountain or rock, etc. Or being a light to the world then songs about light or brightness. Just an idea. That way it can be switched up and not seem to get stale. I do agree, I think if the same songs are played over and over in the same order, then they don't become special. It's hard to lift up our voice in praise and song if we are sick of the song lol.

 

[Stryder06]

I am fairly new to being SDA and I play the piano for my church. I have attended church since May 2012. The music director at my church is retiring this year and they asked me to take over for next year (I believe that is what's happening as I was only approached about this a couple of weeks ago). This is something I would be delighted to do but I have a few questions about SDA services.

At my church we have an Ordinary Music program - meaning we sing the same songs in the same order every service with the only variation being which worship hymns we sing. Those change every week. Do most/all SDA churches do this or is it possible that this is just how the music director at my church decided to run it? I have been to a few different SDA churches in my area (for study series', evening services or special events) but I don't recall having gone to any of their morning divine services, or if I have, I don't recall what their music program was like.

If I will be the director of music, I would like to do things a bit differently, if allowed by the pastor/board/etc. I don't like the idea of singing the same exact songs at the same exact time every week. I believe that when doing that, the songs lose meaning as it's just a routine. We're commanded not to worship that way, aren't we? I know that a church music program has to have organization, but I don't like the idea of just having everything the exact same week after week.

Perhaps this is the pastor's idea and there isn't really anything I can do about it, but I thought I would ask if this is a regular thing in the SDA church or if it's possible that it's just how my own church does things.

We have a praise team who usually sing during our service, but before hand we did have a normal song rotation so to speak for certain parts of the service. Like we'll sing the same song for the Invitation, and after offering. I believe you should be able to introduce new songs to the service, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to speak to the Pastor first. Some people can be adverse to change, but hopefully that won't be the case for you.

 

[amandatea]

Yep, I'm hoping they will welcome change but it's something I wouldn't do without talking to them first.

 

[Castaway57]

Yep, I'm hoping they will welcome change but it's something I wouldn't do without talking to them first.

Sounds good! Keep us posted how it goes.

 

[reddogs]

Good questions! And I appreciate reading of your desire to serve the Lord with your gift of music!

Over 22 years or so; I have attended churches across the country. Southern Ont is where I grew up. I can assure you that not all of our churches do the same thing with music. For eg, in the one I attended today, here in Alberta, we had modern songs that i did not recognize, (Im a bit of an old-timer, lol), and the words to them were on a projector screen. But then I can also tell you of churches where the music is quite a bit more conservative. I lean towards the conservative side; but I also do try to get something out of all the other.

Brampton is a big enough place that there would be room enough for more than one taste in music styles; but it all comes down to ministering to the congregation, according to their local preferences and customs, as long as it isn't something outrageous.

I would suggest that before trying to change anything, just spend some time talking with everyone at your church, and have an initial period of just information gathering, and research, then suggest additions/changes once you get to know everyone and what they are thinking re music.

So; in summary, no. Not all churches do music the same. Local congregations have their own customs/traditions at each church.

Good Advice. Have to take it slow as the praise teams can turn into 'performers' and pretty soon its just a rock and roll concert with lots of clapping and heavy beat and presto a 'celebration' church, so good to keep it simple..

 

[Castaway57]

Yep, I'm hoping they will welcome change but it's something I wouldn't do without talking to them first.

I have a feeling your church will be blessed by any part you take in the music program.

 

[amandatea]

Okay. So my church has started getting 2013 committees into gear (starting last week) and I just wanted to come back and report about what happened.

I believe this was truly God at work. I am not the head of the music committee (which I'm actually glad about) but the lady who is, is very committed to making the music a ministry this year (I think the man who did it last year, as well-meaning as he was, didn't really see it that way). She has the same opinions as me, meaning, she didn't like the ritualistic music regimen and she wanted to change things quite a bit. We also have much more substance during the praise and worship segment - which is after Sabbath School and before Divine Service. The leader also wanted to make it very clear (as a leader should) that she had no interest in getting glory as the leader, but that she wants to simply direct the music ministry as a device to help people to praise God.

Another thing that I was hoping would change is that the old music director would constantly get outside musicians to come in for Special music. There's nothing wrong with having outside people come in, however, we rarely had people from the church sing. This is probably because nobody from the church wanted to, I'm not sure about that. The director for this year is going to have the choir and children's choir sing at least once a month, and she wants to start a men's choir. The rest of the time we'll have various people who are singers from the church do special music, including myself. We'll probably have others come in from outside, but much less frequently than what we had previously.

We have practice every Friday night and decide which songs we're going to play so that everything runs much smoother and people can concentrate on praising God and getting their hearts prepared for Divine instead of watching us figure out what to do on the spot.

We have only had 1 Sabbath so far where we have done this and it went so well, people were complimenting us afterward. Not to say that's our aim, but it is nice to know the church family appreciates it. I have a feeling this is going to be a great year for music.

I'm also going to work with the Choir director, helping her get the choir doing Harmony. I was warned that she is very sensitive about changing things - like she might take offense at me offering to help her - she might feel like I would be saying she wasn't any good as a choir director. But when I approached her to ask, she said she had been meaning to ask me about that. I think God has awesome timing and it makes me very happy.

 

[amandatea]

If I am asked to give the message that week, I like to get ahold of the music group and let them know what I will be speaking on so that they can correlate the music to the message. For instance, if I am preaching on the Mountain of God, then they could choose songs containing mountain or rock, etc. Or being a light to the world then songs about light or brightness. Just an idea. That way it can be switched up and not seem to get stale. I do agree, I think if the same songs are played over and over in the same order, then they don't become special. It's hard to lift up our voice in praise and song if we are sick of the song lol.

This is something that we want to do too - Check with the pastor a couple of weeks ahead of time to tie our music to the message for that week.
I'm also on the AY Committee and they want to do the same thing.

 

[stinsonmarri]

I am fairly new to being SDA and I play the piano for my church. I have attended church since May 2012. The music director at my church is retiring this year and they asked me to take over for next year (I believe that is what's happening as I was only approached about this a couple of weeks ago). This is something I would be delighted to do but I have a few questions about SDA services.

At my church we have an Ordinary Music program - meaning we sing the same songs in the same order every service with the only variation being which worship hymns we sing. Those change every week. Do most/all SDA churches do this or is it possible that this is just how the music director at my church decided to run it? I have been to a few different SDA churches in my area (for study series', evening services or special events) but I don't recall having gone to any of their morning divine services, or if I have, I don't recall what their music program was like.

If I will be the director of music, I would like to do things a bit differently, if allowed by the pastor/board/etc. I don't like the idea of singing the same exact songs at the same exact time every week. I believe that when doing that, the songs lose meaning as it's just a routine. We're commanded not to worship that way, aren't we? I know that a church music program has to have organization, but I don't like the idea of just having everything the exact same week after week.

Perhaps this is the pastor's idea and there isn't really anything I can do about it, but I thought I would ask if this is a regular thing in the SDA church or if it's possible that it's just how my own church does things.

amandatea:
I am not from Canada and I am also a Afrikan American. I love gospel and our church in Atlanta has drum, keyboard guitar, horns and more. We love all types of music. Now my sister doesn't and she lives in the north west. Now days more and more churches are becoming more upbeat. But I feel you should pray and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to lead you and many blessings on your leadership.

Blessings with love,
stinsonmarri

 

[Castaway57]

amandatea, this sounds really good. Sounds like you are off to a good start. Thanks for coming back & keeping us posted! Isn't it awesome the way God works it all out?

 

[amandatea]

amandatea, this sounds really good. Sounds like you are off to a good start. Thanks for coming back & keeping us posted! Isn't it awesome the way God works it all out?

It sure is. It brings tears of joy to my eyes most of the time. It proves how much He cares for us and how we can unreservedly trust him with every part of our lives!

 

[E.T.Elijah]

Thanks for the update! God is good! I'm glad to hear that things are going well.

 

[OntheDL]

The book of Psalms was the hymnal of Old Testament church. Imagine how people complained about singing the same old songs for all those centuries?

Seriously though, the worship service should attract people because of the message. The music is to complement the service. It shouldn't be a spectacle that people go to church for. Music should be reverent and convey the Adventist message. That doesn't mean it has to be boring.

Music can be used to glorify the Lord. It is also used to destroy souls. The council of Vatican II which ended 1965 devised the plan for ecumenical union of protestants and Catholics which is through the liturgical and theological convergence. For the Roman Catholic church, music plays a big role in bringing the protestants back into her fold again. Since the pentecostal style of music invaded the protestant churches, the protestants have ceased preaching their historic message that office of papacy is the embodiment of the man of sin and the Roman Catholic church is the harlot of Revelation.

The inspiration behind the narratives of story of Daniel 2 points to the antitypical fulfillment of the worship of golden image. All kinds of music sounded and signaled the hour of worship to the image of Babylon.

 

[Castaway57]

Seriously though, the worship service should attract people because of the message. The music is to complement the service. It shouldn't be a spectacle that people go to church for. Music should be reverent and convey the Adventist message. That doesn't mean it has to be boring.

Your comments re the Catholic Church are quite out of place for this topic. But this part of your post makes a very good point. Too often, our "song" ("message" is simply a cookie-cutter list of sins or faults or errors, which essentially makes it a funeral dirge.

But yes; music should be reverent and portray the gospel of Jesus Christ

Psa_18:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
Psa_28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

As the people journeyed through the wilderness, many precious lessons were fixed in their minds by means of song. At their deliverance from Pharaoh's army the whole host of Israel had joined in the song of triumph. Far over desert and sea rang the joyous refrain, and the mountains re-echoed the accents of praise, "Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously." Exodus 15:21. Often on the journey was this song repeated, cheering the hearts and kindling the faith of the pilgrim travelers. The commandments as given from Sinai, with promises of God's favor and records of His wonderful works for their deliverance, were by divine direction expressed in song, and were chanted to the sound of instrumental music, the people keeping step as their voices united in praise. {Ed 39.1}