Using Contemporary Song

Using Contemporary Song

in Uniting Church Worship

Within the Uniting Church, people of all ages (and especially young people) appreciate lively and joyful praise along side the more reflective moments of worship.

Worship the Lord with joy;

come before him with happy songs. Psalm 100:2

For them, faith and church is something which needs to be lively and relevant. Culturally, music is one of the most apt of ways for this to happen. This has long been the case. John Wesley in his Seven Rules for Singing Methodists urges the faithful to "sing lustily and with good courage ...". Of course, Wesley gave equal time to singing of a more sombre note!

At the outset, let's not limit discussion on the use of contemporary song to worship involving young people. National Church Life Survey data strongly supports the notion that all ages want opportunities to use contemporary song in their worship of God. We need to go beyond the hymns v. choruses debate, and realise that choruses are just one contemporary style out of many currently in use in Uniting Church worship. The guidelines which follow suggest at least seven varieties of contemporary music for worship.

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Why the impact and desirability of contemporary song in the church today? I would suggest at least three reasons (among many others) for this:

1. Contemporary song .... as with many hymns, is often TO God, instead of ABOUT God.

Christian music both passes on the beliefs of the church down through the ages and expresses what faith in God means to the here and now. When someone has reached a milestone in their journey of faith and discipleship, they will often want to give relevant expression to this. The melodies, rhythms, moods and lyrics of contemporary song will aid this expression; they are the moods of our lives - joy, hope, longing, love, sadness, excitement ....

2. Much contemporary music is catchy and memorable. Is there wrong in a Christian, hours after

worship, singing to themselves a “chorus”, Taize’ or Iona piece in which God, often through the

direct singing of scripture, has impacted on their life? I think not. Yes, much contemporary song will be "here today, gone tomorrow". But once we can acknowledge it as an opening for the movement of the Spirit of God, and an encounter with the discipleship demands of the crucified yet risen Christ, we can be giving thanks to God for the gift that contemporary song can be.

3. Rhythm is a strong feature of contemporary music, and not just within the genre of rock music.

When "moving" to music (even if that movement is purely handclapping), many worshippers are able to enter more purposefully into the song, making the writer's words, rhythms and melodies their own. Hymn singing also gives wonderful opportunities for life and creativity; a challenge to churches which lose sight of this possibility.

Some guidelines ...

1. Be balanced.

Avoid an almost-exclusively “praise” orientation. This denies the opportunity in worship for music that is confessional, intercessory or educational. The danger of a narrow praise orientation is that it presents a less than holistic picture of faith and discipleship. The Lutheran All Together series and Willow Connection’s As One Voice 1 & 2 collections significantly rectify this imbalance. 2. Use it with purpose.

Use it as a genuine act of praise, a response to the word of God, to nurture Christian community, as an act of offering and commitment to God. Never as a "filler" or to whip up emotion.

3. Is the material theologically, musically, lyrically & culturally appropriate?

Worship leaders, preachers and musicians need to choose material responsibly. Always remember the “demographic” composition of your people; keeping in mind children, the disabled ...

4. Select from a variety of sources.

At least nine sources of contemporary song come to mind ...

1.. Australian and New Zealand writers such as Robin Mann and Trisha Watts, Publications like the All Together .... series, Praise for All Seasons, Covenant Songs and New Journeys Songbook have gained wide usage.

2.. Resource Christian Music, “The Source”, Scripture in Song, Vineyard Fellowship resources and similar publications, with music primarily from the U.S.A. and Great Britain. Much of this music is based specifically on scripture, and emphasises healing, praise, personal faith, spiritual warfare etc. Graham Kendrick is a respected exponent.

3. Together in Song (The Australian Hymn Book 2) released mid-1999 brings together the “best” of the AHB & Sing Alleluia, supplemented by a wealth of extra music. Version 2 also caters for those using overheads and CD-rom/computer technology in music preparation and leadership. Excellent Biblical and thematic referencing.

4. The music from the Taize' and Iona communities - surprisingly appreciated by young adult-age people who in this life stage are often deep in their search for spirituality. The music of these communities ... with their ecumenical / world church perspective has gained wide acceptance in the church worldwide.

5. Contemporary hymn - a considerable quantity has been written in recent years; often using older tunes to new lyrics. Shirley Murray, John Bell, Brian Wren and Elizabeth J. Smith are contemporary writers. Keith Pearson (Ready to go forward, Celebrating God’s goodness) is a well-known Uniting Church writer in this mould.

6. Music of a similar variety from Australian writers such as Geoff Bullock, Phil Pringle and Darlene Zchesch ; Songs such as Shout to the Lord, The Power of Your Love, My Redeemer Lives , All Things are Possible and Fear Not are well-known songs. Hillsongs is a well-known leader in this field.

7. The quality contemporary music from the Roman Catholic church worldwide. The St. Louis Jesuits and Marty Haugen in the U.S.A, Bernadette Farrell in the U.K., and Monica Brown & Frank Andersen in Australia have been in the forefront of this genre.

8. The new music written for and/or popularized through such events as the biennial National Christian Youth Convention. Songs like Why Do You Love Me, Dreams and Visions, Breaking New Ground, We Will Love and For you, deep stillness have moved into the contemporary song repertoire of many congregations across the land .

9. The 1991 World Council of Churches publication: In Spirit and in Truth has material drawn from around the world, all of it contemporary.

5. Use contemporary song in a wide variety of worship contexts.

Don't use it solely with young people. Just as young people will benefit from hymn-singing, older folk can be enriched by contemporary song ... often in surprisingly refreshing ways.

6. Think in terms of Christian "song". Sing a new song to the Lord Psalm 96:1a

The concept of Christian "song" (not "songs") can prove a helpful one in breaking down traditional v. contemporary .... hymn v. chorus biases.

7. Ensure the "song" chosen is appropriate for the liturgy.

This will mean taking into account the tempo, melody, mood and other attributes of the music.

8. Teach the song adequately.

11. Look for songs directed to God, rather than to ourselves.

The best contemporary song avoids the over-use of the pronouns "I", "me" and "us", and instead are songs from the community of God's people offering worship to God. Having said this, it must be remembered that our faith response must always be grounded in the personal relationship we have with the triune God.

11. Avoid too much "new" song.

In a service of worship, limit the amount of new music to two pieces, and ensure that for these, there is opportunity in the near future to re-sing them. This will help break down the impression of contemporary song, especially choruses, as instantly disposable.

11. Be prepared to explain the wording of some song.

This way, those present will better enter into worship.

11. Copyright

With the development of copyright licence agencies, the scope exists more than ever for the "picking and choosing" of song from a vast variety of material. In this way, contemporary song can have a richness about it that Hymnody has long had.

For churches to truly use contemporary song with variety, creativity and integrity; consideration must be given to obtaining several copyright licences. Using the categories listed in guideline 4: select from a variety of sources, the following copyright licences will apply:

Category 4 & 5 Christian Copyright Licensing International (C.C.L.I.)

2,3, & 8 Copyright Agency Limited (C.A.L.)

2,3,6,8 Licensing (Mediacom)

6 Word of Life

Please note: this allocation is far from exhaustive and is simply meant to assist those wanting to make headway in the area of copyright. Synod agencies will be able to give far more comprehensive assistance.

Conclusion

Let’s heed the words of Marva J. Dawn in her excellent: Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down:

Let us reach out in the Church and to the world with the best music we can offer from the Church’s entire history, from the distant past to the present. The congregation can “sing a new song” not because we are trying to appeal to the culture, but because God is present in our midst in new ways. As we respond to God, the subject of our worship, our song will reach out to the culture surrounding the Church with the Church’s best gifts - without dumbing down the faith.

David MacGregor (Assembly Working Group on Worship) January 2000

** revised from a paper written December 1994, (for the National Commission on Liturgy - Uniting Church in Australia)

Contemporary song options for worship ... just a sample!

Element of worship Song suggestions Source

Adoration and praise Come Let Us Sing SIS

As the Deer SIS

Santo, Santo, Santo ISAT

Shout to the Lord HS/others

This Kingdom HS/Geoff Bullock/others

Jesus Put This Song SIS/ATE/others

Behold I make all things new WGWG

Lord I lift your name on high P&W

Confession The Power of Your Love HS Kyrie Eleison TAIZE

Change My Heart, O God SIS/others

Refiner’s Fire (Purify My Heart) P&W/Vineyard

Bible reading Thy Word ATE

Creed/affirmation of faith Lord, Be Glorified SIS/others

We Believe SIS/others

Dreams and Visions ATE

The Lord is My Light TAIZE

Together to Celebrate NCYC '91

Offering Jesus, Take Me as I Am SIS

Give Thanks SIS/others

Prayers of the people O Lord, Hear Our Prayer TAIZE

Baptism You draw your people, gracious God GWPY

Father Welcomes ATN/various

Welcome BKGU

Holy Communion Ubi Caritas TAIZE

Eat This Bread

There is a Redeemer SIS/others

Around the Table P&W

Jesus Christ, you came among us GWPY

Sending out Christ be our light ATO/others

Here I Am, Lord SIS/others

Thuma Mina ATE/others

The Servant King ATE/others

We Will Love NCYC '93

Community of Christ IECS

We are marching P&W / various

Blessing/benediction Father Bless Us ATN

Benediction (May the kindness ...) Various (Andrew Dutney)

For you, deep stillness NCYC ‘99/Robin Mann

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SIS ................ Scripture in Song TAIZE .......... Songs & Prayers from Taize'

ISAT ............ In Spirit and Truth (WCC) ATE ............. All Together Everybody

HS ............... Hillsongs ATO ............ All Together O.K.

NCYC .......... National Christian Youth ATN ............. All Together Now

Convention P&W ............ Praise & Worship

WGWG ........ Wild Goose Worship Group (Resource Christian Music)

(Iona Community) GWPY ........ God we praise you (Keith Pearson)

IECS .......... In every corner sing (Shirley Murray) BKGU ........ Big kids, little kids, grownups, everyone (David MacGregor) - JBCE