I love the old hymns! I grew up singing them and knew so many by heart that my mother and I spent hours, as we drove from Indiana to Pennsylvania, singing multiple verses of all the ones we'd stored in our heart.
I love praise music too! I grew up on Maranatha Music. My mom loves to tell the story of how I, as a 4 year old, would walk around the apartment lifting my hands up as I sang along to Maranatha 1, "I lift my hands up unto Thy name, my lips shall praise Thee, thus will I bless Thee, I will lift up my hands unto Thy name." I still lift my hands to worship. My mother loves to worship, my dad has a fabulous baritone voice and always belted out the old hymns, and they have handed down that heritage to me. I've put a lot of effort into passing along my love for these hymns to my own children. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Hymns for a Kid's Heart series of books by Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth. They are exceptionally well-done and it has brought great joy to my heart to hear my own children singing Trust and Obey.
More recently, I have attended contemporary churches, where the old hymns have been mostly forgotten, if they were ever known at all. There are many people who were saved later in life and never learned the old hymns. So we don't sing them much, and I miss them. I've been excited to hear contemporary Christian artists singing more hymns and incorporating parts of the hymns into new songs. Selah, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band and others are bringing back the timeless songs that I've loved since infancy. Recently, I purchased the new WOW! Hymns, and it's one of the best modern compilations that I've heard. I don't HEART every song, and still get annoyed when people mess with the original variations too much, but overall, I'm enjoying listening to Nichole Nordeman sing Just As I Am and Casting Crowns sing I Surrender All. More than anything, I'm just thrilled that these precious hymns are being introduced to a new generation.
I believe the worship pendulum is swinging away from the "7-11" (same seven words, sung eleven times) praise songs back toward the doctrinally and musically rich ancient hymns. There is a place for both, and my hope is that we can preserve the best of both words and move toward more balanced worship. That being said, I was really excited when our worship leader asked Chris and I to lead worship this Sunday, because I want to sing hymns, and when you're leading you get to choose what you sing. :) It's not as easy as it sounds. Playing hymns on the guitar can be tricky. We've tried it in the past and it's tough. Chris has spent a lot of time tweaking and modulating, to make it work this time. But we're just about ready, and we're both very excited about what God is going to do. I don't know how our very casual, wear your shorts and flip-flops church that meets in a fitness center is going to respond, but we're praying that the Spirit will be moving in our midst, that God will be glorified as He is worshiped in spirit and in truth and that the congregation will be blessed.
I thought I'd take a page out of Renne's book and post our worship service here. I always enjoy when she does that! I wish you could join us!
Days of Elijah
Greeting, Announcements
O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
In Christ Alone (with The Solid Rock)
The Wonderful Cross (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
How Great Is Our God (with How Great Thou Art chorus)
Sermon
Jesus Lover of My Soul
I Surrender All
Optional: God of Wonders (with Holy, Holy, Holy) & Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Days of Elijah |
