Music Matters

January 2008
Sing a New Song!

● How can new songs be taught to a congregation that’s not happy when asked to learn and sing anything but “old standbys”?

How can we not teach news songs to our congregations?

Imagine for a moment how we would feel if we experienced this: the Auditorium Conference Chamber filled to capacity. Those gathered anticipate experiencing an extremely energetic and Spirit-filled Hymn Festival. Sadly, in the midst of more than 5,800 worshippers is a group 300 (or so) strong, sitting together in the very center of the main floor. They are attending to sing when “old standbys” are used. They have vowed, however, to sit silently and not participate at all when new songs are introduced. The aural impact of such a group is, actually, minimal if we consider the collective sound of the other 5,500+ participants, organ and orchestra. The group is, however, not invisible and their visual impact of non-participation is both disruptive and not in harmony with the spirit of the gathering.

Without citing chapter and verse, consider a few well-known, (somewhat) paraphrased admonitions from Scripture:

• The whole multitude knelt as the Son of God descended and appeared among them.
• Sing to the Lord a new song; bow before Him, all on Earth.
• Sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord.
• Be in the forefront [of organizations whose work is gathering from the four corners of Earth new psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs] and welcome “treasures I have opened for you, my people, elsewhere.”
• New arts shall bloom of loftier mold, and mightier music fill the skies!
• The glory of God is intelligence, light and truth. Learn and joyfully sing songs in their native language of the many nations whose people comprise the Community of Christ. Purposefully be inclusive of languages other than English. Therein we warmly welcome and bless God’s people from all places.

It is unimaginable that any members of a denomination which espouses an open-canon of scripture would not joyously welcome new hymn-texts and tunes which amplify new revelation. The Hymn Explosion which has doubled or tripled previously existing Christian hymnody began in the 1970’s and continues today. With some exceptions, the contents of Hymns of the Saints (1981) and the three supplements published since then bear fruit of this explosion. World Conference service bulletins and hymn festival booklets have also borne witness that God is continuing to inspire authors and composers of other Christian denominations and is also blessing many of our own church members in making available well-written texts and tunes which address themes of worthy worship and praise, peace and justice, world-wide community, and Zion the Beautiful.

World Conference hymn festivals (and other similar services) are perhaps the best example of an inspiring mentoring process for congregations. They exemplify ways in which to engage members and learn new expressions and materials for music in worship. The process: sometimes a single leader sings a phrase (“lines out”), followed by a repetition of the phrase by the whole assembly. Other songs are taught as we silently read words and melody and listen first to a quartet or other ensemble, i.e., combined Graceland choirs or the Conference Choir; then the assembly gets its opportunity.

This same, general process can be done in local settings. Prayerful planning, advance communication, and several solid, musical rehearsals are keys to success. Repetitive use of the new songs not only raises the congregation’s comfort level in using new songs learned, but gradually works to help them welcome other periodic opportunities to learn new hymns. Perhaps it is time to return to the pattern established when The Hymnal (1956) was released, and engage in a church-wide Hymn of the Month process. Imagine learning 12 new hymns (or more) each year!

—Dale G. Rider

If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA

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