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Introduction
Singing is an activity of great power engaging our physical and emotional resources. Some people think that they can’t sing – usually someone has told them so; but if we allow ourselves to try, we tap into the depths of our being. This page looks at the tradition of singing in worship.
Singing is a central part of worship. The OT Psalms show us how in moments of joy and praise, and in sorrow and despair, the sound of the voice (accompanied or unaccompanied) expresses our deepest emotions.
Congregational Singing
Not everyone will feel able to sing in a choir, but most of us can sing in the bath and in a larger group – where either only we hear ourselves, or nobody really hears our individual contribution. In the congregation (the Body of Christ met for worship), we can all sing. We are not singing to show how wonderful our voices are, we sing to praise God. Together, we express our faith in good times and bad.
The Choral Tradition
Choirs have held a special place in Christian worship, and they have had two main roles:
singing special music written to give focus to particular moments or sentiments within worship;
leading the congregation in the music written for all to perform.
In each case the choir must practice in order to fulfil its tasks.
Free Churches have had a strong choral tradition in the past, but choirs have mainly given way to music groups as hymns have given way to songs. While choirs still have a role, the major task of singing belongs to the congregation as a whole. This congregational singing is not meant just to fill in the gaps in worship; rather, its task is to move the worship along. This movement is accomplished in hymns and psalms as well as other sung elements.
How Hymns Work
Hymns move us from one part of the service to another. For example, the opening hymn of worship not only expresses our sense of the holiness of the God who calls us together; it also moves us to prepare to hear the scripture.
Hymns enable us to tell the story of our faith together, and they root that story in our minds and bodies as we make the physical effort that singing demands.
Psalms
Many Baptist congregations have lost sight of psalmody. Chanting was seen as “Anglican”, although Presbyterians have always chanted the Psalter and would resent being considered Anglican! Modern settings of the Psalms are widely available, and it might be good for us to recover this tradition of singing the scripture.
Other Sung Elements
There are plenty of other occasions when we can sing in worship: at the collection of gifts, we can sing the Doxology; during the prayer of thanksgiving at the table we can sing “Holy, holy, holy” (the Sanctus); we can sing an Alleluia to welcome or respond to the reading of the Gospel. Meanwhile, choirs can lead us in setting a mood for reflection of thanksgiving in anthems and the like.
Singing is an extremely basic human activity; we all sing to our children. Should we not sing to God our Father, our Mother?
Further Thinking
Should we sing more or less in worship?
Is some music inappropriate for worship? If so, why?
Are some instruments inappropriate? Note that early Baptists disapproved strongly of organs, since they were not “scriptural”! What about fifes and drums?
Have you thought how singing helps you remember? (Think of nursery rhymes)
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