Hymns form a significant element of much worship. Although spontaneous singing can occur, most hymn singing is planned in advance. We should not assume that everyone is familiar with the conventions of communal singing, so the following suggestions may be helpful for those who are entrusted with preparing and leading worship. Announcing hymns How do worshippers know that a hymn … Read More
This topic can be addressed from various angles such as hymns in general, specific hymns and the use of hymns in worship. The relevant resources do, however, overlap. Finding out about hymns generally Online resources The leading digital resource is The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, edited by J.R. Watson and Emma Hornby (https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/). A paid subscription grants access to a wide … Read More
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Ministering to people who have reached that stage of life when ‘mind and memory flee’ presents serious challenges which cannot be ignored. This short paper draws on the author’s experiences as a part-time Chaplain to a local hospital in which worship amongst geriatric patients (many of whom suffered from dementia) was conducted regularly (but informally) by clergy and volunteers from … Read More
Here are half a dozen ideas about hymnody which may – or may not – contain a grain of truth … as seen by a self-confessed hymn lover. Myth: Hymns are old, songs are new Or maybe not … Beginning in what came to be called the “hymn explosion” in the 1960’s, huge numbers of new hymns in English have … Read More
Ordinations and commissioning services happen in a variety of contexts, and are a cause of great celebration and spiritual power. Liturgies and traditions notwith-standing, the singing of hymns on these occasions plays a crucial role, and their selection is, therefore, not to be undertaken lightly. Contexts Approaches taken towards the discernment, vocation and formal commencement of a person’s authorised ministry … Read More
‘Confirmation’ covers various approaches to Christian initiation and commitment. When adults make a commitment and are received into membership of the church, the act of worship surrounding it can be a celebratory, evangelistic, sacramental expression of unity, and the hymns have a vital role to play in the blend of joy, hope and affirmation that a Confirmation should be. Adult … Read More
Baptism can occur in different contexts and at different stages in life, yet the fundamental spiritual and ecclesiological purpose and outcome of such initiation is the same. Nevertheless, each context and understanding of baptism demands its own approach if they are going to be not only welcoming celebrations of commitment but opportunities to preach and sing the faith of Christ … Read More
Christian funerals take place either in a church or at a crematorium or cemetery chapel. While the circumstances are different the issues surrounding the picking of hymns are similar. Hymn singing at funerals is in decline, so even greater care needs to be taken in using hymns to enhance the hope of a funeral, rather than increase the discomfort. The … Read More
Many couples still choose to marry in church, yet the combined impact of more choice and the increasing lack of prior knowledge of hymnody has made it increasingly more difficult to accommodate their needs and desires with Christian integrity and wisdom. Tunes are the key to wedding hymns. The current state of affairs Notwithstanding the decline in the number of … Read More
‘Nothing changes here’ or ‘All the changing scenes’? Why would we ever ‘revise’ the words of familiar hymns? We do not change a Shakespeare sonnet or a Beatles song; but we do adopt new Bible versions and modify ancient prayers. In which category do our still-beloved hymns belong? Unlike poems, hymns are for singing together by churches which may be … Read More
Even with a single hymn book, a typical congregation probably has more hymns at their disposal than they can realistically use; add a supplementary book and access to online resources, and the choice rapidly becomes unmanageable. It is, however, possible to tap into these diverse sources and construct a workable repertoire for a congregation’s use. Here are some hints and … Read More
Some services are designated as ‘all-age’. What does this imply? Ideally, all worship should be suitable for everyone in a worshipping community. ‘Our Father’ should mean what it says, without alienating people because of their age or cultural background. So, the term ‘all-age’ usually means a service for both adults and children, with a special emphasis on families. The potential … Read More
“The Holy Communion” is generally recognised as the distinctive act of Christian worship, arising as it does from the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper with his chosen disciples on the night he was betrayed. For many churches, the Holy Communion service (known by various names) is the central act of worship on Sundays and principal Feast and Festival … Read More
The pastoral use of hymns covers both the occasional offices of the church – baptism, weddings and funerals – but also those relating to healing and healing services. It is also necessary to examine the pastoral impact of hymns in ordinary and seasonal acts of worship. Here are some principles which may be applied in various contexts. General pastoral criteria … Read More
The Psalter is Scripture’s own hymn book; its contents speak to a vast range of human emotions and experiences. Therefore they should not be ignored. Traditionally the psalms have held an honoured place in Christian worship, but there is no universal agreement within the church as to how best or how often they should be used. Different denominations, different approaches … Read More
Hymns for worship usually follow a general pattern, either being necessary at a particular place in the liturgy or, in some circumstances actually providing the framework for the liturgy itself. Nevertheless there are some occasions when hymns on specific subjects are sought. These may be of a seasonal nature, church or secular, or related to a particular theme. Most hymn … Read More
Answering this question inevitably contains a subjective element: a hymn which one person finds comforting can seem mawkish to someone else, while one believer’s treasured old favourite can sound dated to another Christian. Here, as food for thought, are five balances and five contrasts which may help to identify hymns of quality… Five Balances A good hymn balances… Theology and … Read More
Some hymns are obviously ill-suited to certain services, or to certain parts of a service. It would make little sense to sing ‘Go forth and tell! O church of God, awake!’ as an opening hymn, or ‘Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem’ at the end; ‘We plough the fields and scatter’ is unlikely to be appropriate during Advent. Here are … Read More
Have you been asked to put together a worship service, such as a Sunday morning or evening church service? Then here are some questions to use in reflecting on what you have chosen; not all questions will be appropriate for every occasion. Our various responses to God 1. Do these particular hymns and songs give a sense of the holy … Read More
Once, it was “hymns”. In recent years, many churches have adopted “worship songs” – sometimes alongside hymns, sometimes instead. Inevitably, however, the picture is far more complex than this. There are many different genres available for congregational use; here are a few of the main types and some of their strengths. Traditional Hymns Traditional hymns began to be written in … Read More
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