“Though maybe misunderstood, regularly a bone of contention, and often under-practiced, congregational singing is one of the greatest and most beautiful tools we have been given to declare God’s “excellences,” strengthening His Church and sharing His glory with the world.”
- From Keith and Kristyn Getty’s Sing! book
This quote perfectly sums up both the beauty and the challenges of congregational singing. Truly, there is great power and beauty in a congregation that sings together with confidence and energy. Most of the time, however, this is something that may not come naturally—it should be taught, practiced, and inspired. As those involved in music and worship, we have a holy responsibility to help our congregations express their worship to our eternal Father by singing better together. What are some ways that we can do this and how can we fulfill this calling?
Here are a few practical thoughts and ideas:
Be a facilitator to worship
There must never be any implication that we can somehow lead people into God's presence. We can never be the mediator between God and people. Musicians/worship leaders are just facilitators to worship. Through the songs that we select, sing, and play, we facilitate a greater awareness of the goodness and glory of God, hopefully inspiring deeper worship. We must hold our gifts with open hands, act with humble hearts, and then turn our focus to fulfilling the responsibility that God has given us.
Communicate properly (pursue synergy!), and pay attention to detail
Synergy is when two things combine to create an effect that is greater than the sum of their parts. Sometimes we can perhaps become territorial in our planning, or we’re in too much of a hurry to be bothered with collaboration and communication. It's always beneficial to have an established pattern/process for collaboration and communication when it comes to Sunday planning. Otherwise, time runs out and everyone ends up frantically putting things together. Music and worship teams should spend time working on building relationships. Congregations will sing well when those involved in planning work well together—there is no doubt a direct correlation between these two things.
Attention to detail pays dividends when it comes to how well the congregation sings. If you're projecting lyrics, for instance, simple things like punctuation and noting whether or not full lyrics are included are very important. Don't leave the congregation guessing. They should feel confident in their singing, trusting those who put materials together for Sunday. Collaborate with those putting the slides together to help ensure clarity and correctness (multiple sets of eyes are always better than one!). Music and worship team members arriving early to make sure everything is prepared and ready is essential in fulfilling our responsibility.
Prepare prayerfully, and significantly
We should never be tempted to believe that the Holy Spirit will compensate for poor preparation. As music and worship leaders, we have a responsibility to commune with Him consistently. Experience doesn't take away our need to prepare. Instead, we ought to work hard to understand the theme/passage and spend significant time in prayer and song selection. Make sure your heart is open, and let the Lord speak to you personally.
Part two includes thoughts on selecting songs strategically and purposefully, teaching new songs effectively, and approaching musical decisions sensitively. CLICK HERE FOR PART TWO
Part three includes thoughts on playing supportively, singing heartily, witnessing intentionally, removing pride and insecurity, and glorifying Christ. CLICK HERE FOR PART THREE