It’s true that with enough money and marketing you can attract people, at least for a time. The continued persistence of the megachurch movement is evidence of this. But what is missed in their numbers is the farce of the whole thing. The complete and total disconnect with the history of the church. The shows they produce and claim to be “worship.” The nearly constant turnover in the bulk of their numbers. The way their constant pursuit of relevance has... Read more
Congregational singing is dead, and we have killed it. If it wasn’t dead before Covidtide, it probably is now. So let’s start again, and let’s get back to basics. The pop-worshiping house cover band style will never grow and sustain a culture of singing. Here is a new way forward. Teach. Teach your people. Teach them why we sing. Teach them why we sing the songs we sing. Teach them that anyone can sing, and how to sing as well... Read more
What Do You Think About Livestreamed Worship? I find the question difficult to answer because I feel like it is, along with all other aspects of social media, a mixed bag. There are undeniable positives. People who cannot or should not gather, whether permanently or temporarily, can be edified and encouraged. It is not the same as being there, but for some faithful believers, being physically present is not possible. Others with certain risk factors may need to avoid crowds... Read more
There are lots of ways in which one could conceivably convince themselves that they were remembering the true meaning of Christmas. But in the struggle to find the perfect “Jesus Is the Reason” yard sign, don’t forget the number one way to keep Christ in Christmas. Go to church. If I were so inclined, I could find any number of rubrics to let you know which services you are obligated to attend and on which days, but that’s not the... Read more
During Covidtide, my professional project has been improving my organ playing. So I found me a good teacher and a couple of churches to let me practice on their organs. It’s fun, but it’s hard. I’m no spring chicken. My bad keyboard habits have been reinforced by years of lousy Billy Graham Crusade-style piano playing. The neuroplasticity is at an all-time low. But still, it’s important for any serious liturgically-minded church music director. So I sit and practice. And practice.... Read more
In April of 2005 I was busy waiting tables and preparing to finish my undergraduate degree. Mike Dodaro was already thinking deeply about art and liturgy, and doing some writing about it. His blog, Alienated in Church, is a treasure trove of insight about the status of worship, and much of his work has proven to be prophetic. Mike recently shared this post with me in response to my own recent post, and I found it to be an incredible treatment... Read more
I was going to call this post “How to Make a Beautiful Hymn Ugly,” but I decided to soften it a little. The hack job wielded upon this lovely hymn doesn’t make it ugly, only a little uglier. I’ve long loved to sing the hymn “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” since I broke away from my pop worship roots in graduate school. I still think ultimate line in each stanza, “To God all praise and glory,” is one... Read more
I get too many emails. I don’t mind the personal ones. It’s the stuff I didn’t ask for cluttering up my inbox that feels overwhelming at times. Realistically, I probably long ago entered my email address into some form and gave tacit approval to be spammed by many organizations. And if I were to systematically go through my inbox and furiously unsubscribe, I would probably live a happier life. One day… Anyway, one of these organizations has been hassling me... Read more
If you’ve read much of what I’ve written over the past few years, you might have noticed I’ve been avoiding the term “contemporary worship.” I never really liked it, but I used it anyway because it was just easier and saved us all some time. But this was also problematic, since it was used in contrast with the term “traditional worship.” The terms were understood to mean this: “traditional” is old, “contemporary” is new. Except that’s not really the case.... Read more
Seeing that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Heb 4:14, 16 Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither... Read more
Ponder Anew
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