This past weekend was a gift. It was one of making music together, eating together, and worshipping together. I believe the process of creating, sharing a meal, and giving thanks to God is part of the gift of iron sharpening iron and helps us be more Christlike in our relationships. All this happened both with …
This coming weekend (Aug.16-18) at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC our church is kicking off the fall season with a hymn sing on Friday evening. Then, our choirs and orchestra will gather for rehearsals all day Saturday as we prepare music for the next day. It will even include a string workshop led by …
It’s rare to have a conversation about church sound systems that doesn’t include some frustration. Sound systems are clearly a blessing and a curse. They enable the sound source to be heard, and yet they can make it unbearable. A post on sound could go on and on, but I will make just one comment …
Untune that String. What happens when we disconnect music from the created cosmos? In this final Sunday School lesson from Cornerstone Presbyterian, I cover the implications and attitudes that result when music becomes more about personal expression than a reflection of the order of creation. “Take but degree away, untune that string,And hark what discord …
During the Reformation of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the church worked to find a biblical principle that would guide the way we worship. Two main approaches have become common. The normative principle of worship (typically practiced by Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans) says that whatever is not prohibited in the Scriptures is appropriate, while the …
Rise of Hymnody To understand the changes and developments in church music, we start with the ideas of Humanism, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Revivalism and what impact these movements had on what we sing. In addition to Gospel hymns, the role of the great 19th century hymn text translators and the publication of Hymns Ancient …
Recently, I visited a church which meets in a wonderful historic building. The architecture was beautiful, the music was well executed, and even the sound was decent. Even better, the content was great, the preaching was solid, and the final hymn fit well with the scriptures. All in all, it was very good. Unfortunately, it …