Comments for Koerts Music http://koertsmusic.com The Music of James Koerts Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:25:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by James http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-648 James Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:25:19 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-648 Great thoughts, Rebecca. And very valid. And you're right: I don't think those using hymnals in our primarily screen-driven service are not participating, or that they are being otherwise contradictory. It's just another option, and for some, a better option. Great thoughts, Rebecca. And very valid. And you’re right: I don’t think those using hymnals in our primarily screen-driven service are not participating, or that they are being otherwise contradictory. It’s just another option, and for some, a better option.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by Rebecca http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Rebecca Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:50:52 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-647 Hello, James. This is the first time I've commented, so I first want to express that I appreciate what you do and that I have benefited from your ministry and your blog! I'm not qualified to address the historic/cultural significance of the hymnal trend, but I can speak regarding what's practical for a church member like me. I don't consider myself a “music person,” but I have been a willing fill-in pianist at a small church for a long time. I've struggled with my eyesight for much of my life, so I naturally prefer words up close. I am also very much a visual learner, so I naturally pay more attention to what I see. These are two reasons a hymnal, or at least something with the words printed on it and in my hand, would best aid participation in worship for someone like me. I've had the great privilege (past and present) to be led in congregational singing by leaders who do all they can to direct worshipers' corporate attention to God. Maybe I'm just weird, but I believe my most heart-felt corporate worship participation occurs when I have my hymnal or program hugged close and my nose buried in it. When I'm paying careful attention to the words I'm singing—even words I memorized years ago—and not paying much attention to the leader, I think I am a more thoughtful worshiper. I'm actually less distracted from worship. But, there are many other church members not like me. I'm certainly not trying to say that I don't appreciate worship leaders. :) God has used these leaders to teach my husband and me so very much before, during, and after our participation in musical worship. Practically, I know a congregation needs a leader to keep the voices and the instruments together. I sometimes wonder if worship leaders use words on a screen to “minimize distraction” because they think it's a shortcut to more focused attention in worship. For many worshipers it just might be, but if you look over the congregation and see a near-sighted, visually- (rather than auditory-) inclined church member, with nose buried in hymnal, don't think I'm not participating. :) Hello, James. This is the first time I’ve commented, so I first want to express that I appreciate what you do and that I have benefited from your ministry and your blog! I’m not qualified to address the historic/cultural significance of the hymnal trend, but I can speak regarding what’s practical for a church member like me. I don’t consider myself a “music person,” but I have been a willing fill-in pianist at a small church for a long time.

I’ve struggled with my eyesight for much of my life, so I naturally prefer words up close. I am also very much a visual learner, so I naturally pay more attention to what I see. These are two reasons a hymnal, or at least something with the words printed on it and in my hand, would best aid participation in worship for someone like me.

I’ve had the great privilege (past and present) to be led in congregational singing by leaders who do all they can to direct worshipers’ corporate attention to God. Maybe I’m just weird, but I believe my most heart-felt corporate worship participation occurs when I have my hymnal or program hugged close and my nose buried in it. When I’m paying careful attention to the words I’m singing—even words I memorized years ago—and not paying much attention to the leader, I think I am a more thoughtful worshiper. I’m actually less distracted from worship. But, there are many other church members not like me.

I’m certainly not trying to say that I don’t appreciate worship leaders. :) God has used these leaders to teach my husband and me so very much before, during, and after our participation in musical worship. Practically, I know a congregation needs a leader to keep the voices and the instruments together. I sometimes wonder if worship leaders use words on a screen to “minimize distraction” because they think it’s a shortcut to more focused attention in worship. For many worshipers it just might be, but if you look over the congregation and see a near-sighted, visually- (rather than auditory-) inclined church member, with nose buried in hymnal, don’t think I’m not participating. :)

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by James http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-646 James Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:27:10 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-646 Good thoughts, Dustin. I particularly like your thoughts about introducing a song. (I feel another blog post brimming.) Good point about hymnal going back to the older format, although I think the "fault" of people not focused on meditating has little to do with the hymnal format, and more to do with the person. Good thoughts, Dustin. I particularly like your thoughts about introducing a song. (I feel another blog post brimming.) Good point about hymnal going back to the older format, although I think the “fault” of people not focused on meditating has little to do with the hymnal format, and more to do with the person.

]]> Comment on 8 places for background music in your worship service by James http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/8-places-for-background-music-in-your-worship-service/comment-page-1/#comment-645 James Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:10:55 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1715#comment-645 Hey, Mark. Glad it was helpful. (You can find anything on the internet!) Hey, Mark. Glad it was helpful. (You can find anything on the internet!)

]]> Comment on 8 places for background music in your worship service by mark lewis http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/8-places-for-background-music-in-your-worship-service/comment-page-1/#comment-644 mark lewis Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:47:11 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1715#comment-644 Thanks for this info. You never know what you'll find when you start searching on the internet but this is what I needed. Thanks for this info. You never know what you’ll find when you start searching on the internet but this is what I needed.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by Dustin B. http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-643 Dustin B. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:07 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-643 Hymnals are an excellent way of teaching people new (or old) hymns they are not familiar with. But your reasons above give good credence to abandoning the week-to-week use of them. At Heritage Bible Church (Greer, SC), we use printed orders of worship 98% of the time. When Dr. Cook selects a new song, he introduces it with the text and notes printed in the order of worship, and also has the organist/choir/soloist sing it through first so that the congregation can get to know it before diving in. I'm of the persuasion that an undue emphasis has been placed on harmony. (See Kreider's article.) Love is what is supposed to harmonize us (Colossians 3), not musical notes. That being said, I wish more hymnals would go back to the format of having one stanza with notes above, and the other stanzas below. This, I believe, helps a meditator or congregational worshiper to best focus on the text and the truth rather than the notes. Hymnals are an excellent way of teaching people new (or old) hymns they are not familiar with. But your reasons above give good credence to abandoning the week-to-week use of them.

At Heritage Bible Church (Greer, SC), we use printed orders of worship 98% of the time. When Dr. Cook selects a new song, he introduces it with the text and notes printed in the order of worship, and also has the organist/choir/soloist sing it through first so that the congregation can get to know it before diving in.

I’m of the persuasion that an undue emphasis has been placed on harmony. (See Kreider’s article.) Love is what is supposed to harmonize us (Colossians 3), not musical notes.

That being said, I wish more hymnals would go back to the format of having one stanza with notes above, and the other stanzas below. This, I believe, helps a meditator or congregational worshiper to best focus on the text and the truth rather than the notes.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by Phyllis http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Phyllis Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:29:57 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-642 Tonight I found reason to appreciate having a hymnal to use - with a stiff neck I could not tilt my head up/back to see the screen without my neck hurting - so I reached for the hymnal ... one of those little things you take for granted. Tonight I found reason to appreciate having a hymnal to use – with a stiff neck I could not tilt my head up/back to see the screen without my neck hurting – so I reached for the hymnal … one of those little things you take for granted.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by James http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-641 James Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:23:27 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-641 Great points, Jeremy. (I have to admit: the title was a little over the top.) At our church, we use both too. We still have some folks who enjoy reading from the hymnal, and we encourage that. It's also our primary hymnal for orchestrations. Great points, Jeremy. (I have to admit: the title was a little over the top.) At our church, we use both too. We still have some folks who enjoy reading from the hymnal, and we encourage that. It’s also our primary hymnal for orchestrations.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by Jeremy Van Delinder http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-640 Jeremy Van Delinder Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:37:01 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-640 James, Good article. I agree wholeheartedly with your rational. I would give most of your reasons the heading of "advantages of using the screen" instead of "advantages of not using a hymnal." I know that sounds the same, but we actually use both--simultaneously. Those that wish to use the hymnal may, but everything is on the screen as well. We feel this is kind of a "best of both worlds" approach. Those that benefit from the written music have it available--most just use the screen. Since we are a church plant, the songs in our hymnal are new to a lot of people, so we only have to use songs outside our hymnal occasionally to keep things fresh. I'm sure that will change over time. One other advantage to the screen--the kids sing better (our elementary age are in the service)! It's much easier for a 1st grader to read one stanza on the screen than trying to navigate the layout of multiple stanzas in the hymnal. Keep up the good work, my friend. James,
Good article. I agree wholeheartedly with your rational. I would give most of your reasons the heading of “advantages of using the screen” instead of “advantages of not using a hymnal.” I know that sounds the same, but we actually use both–simultaneously. Those that wish to use the hymnal may, but everything is on the screen as well. We feel this is kind of a “best of both worlds” approach. Those that benefit from the written music have it available–most just use the screen.

Since we are a church plant, the songs in our hymnal are new to a lot of people, so we only have to use songs outside our hymnal occasionally to keep things fresh. I’m sure that will change over time.

One other advantage to the screen–the kids sing better (our elementary age are in the service)! It’s much easier for a 1st grader to read one stanza on the screen than trying to navigate the layout of multiple stanzas in the hymnal.

Keep up the good work, my friend.

]]> Comment on The blessing of the demise of the hymnal by Rich Hibbard http://koertsmusic.com/church-music/the-blessing-of-the-demise-of-the-hymnal/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Rich Hibbard Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:28:28 +0000 http://koertsmusic.com/?p=1788#comment-639 I believe we are missing a huge part of church history by not using the Hymnals. Most of the attendees in a non hymnal using church don't sing the old hymns or know them, in fact many do not sing at all. Looking up does sound better when singing and as long as you can legally post the music on the walls that would solve many of the problems with harmony. You must admit that the praise songs would sound a lot better if there was a harmony present. Of course the songs would be better if the writers could find more than seven words to sing to a song! A blend of new and old would most always be the best way to approach congregational singing. Why is it usually just new and no old? I believe we are missing a huge part of church history by not using the Hymnals. Most of the attendees in a non hymnal using church don’t sing the old hymns or know them, in fact many do not sing at all. Looking up does sound better when singing and as long as you can legally post the music on the walls that would solve many of the problems with harmony. You must admit that the praise songs would sound a lot better if there was a harmony present. Of course the songs would be better if the writers could find more than seven words to sing to a song! A blend of new and old would most always be the best way to approach congregational singing. Why is it usually just new and no old?

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