Articles

The Volume of Music in Worship

Managing sound for worship

Whether using a full band, piano, guitar, or organ for musical accompaniment in worship, sound system management can be a challenge. At NCC, we seek to steward the technology God has provided as best we can for the praises of God and the good of our congregation. We think intentionally about setting aspects like audio, video, and lighting to these ends. Each component has its primary goal of serving our church's worship, even while our congregation may possess a diversity of personal preferences or sensitivities. Our hope is to achieve the greatest common encouragement. For sound levels, here are a few specific goals:

  • Theologically, we want to push the volume to reflect the greatness of God and the call for "loud" music, singing, shouts and rejoicing unto him with “all our might” (Ps. 33, 150; 1 Chr. 15:28).

  • Functionally, we seek to set the volume levels loud enough to support the primary instrument in the church, the congregation's voice, without being too loud that it drowns our people out. The communal aspect of singing is so powerful that we want people to feel confident to sing but also be able to hear the unified congregation's voice, and not have their hearing damaged. We are always after this "sweet spot."

  • Technically, we monitor the audio levels with decibel meters and equalization graphs. When our levels are too low they drain us and if they are too high they distract us. We feel confident that our current average levels are appropriate for the goals we are seeking to achieve. That being said, there will inevitably be moments where sound is louder or softer as our musicians, vocalists, and technical volunteers express their gifts dynamically.

Psalm 47:1

Clap your hands, all peoples!

Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Managing Our Worship Song Library

Considering songs for our repertoire

Got a song or hymn you love to sing in worship? I regularly get requests. In addition to individual song qualities, I find it both practical and pastoral to think intentionally about our overall repertoire of songs. Based on several factors, we may receive a new song, reject it, or defer it to be considered in the future. Receiving a song may be for a one-off use or slotting it into regular rotation. Rejecting it may be a judgement call on the song itself, or just that we already have other songs that are too similar.

Here are some of my considerations for managing our worship song library:

  • Individual song strength (see previous article)

  • Song fit within the context of our current library

  • Song fit for our music team to lead well

  • Familiarity and singability in our congregation

  • Song source

For our library we seek a general balance of the following:

  • Perspective (I/me, we/us, and third person songs)

  • Trinitarian (songs about the Father, Son, and Spirit)

  • Type (hymns/songs, old/new, simple/complex)

  • Mood (upbeat/mid/slow, joy/lament, major/minor)

  • Theme (creation, thanksgiving, redemption, heaven, etc.)

CHOOSING songs frOM our repertoire

Core Repertoire (Use 1-2 songs from this column each week) - currently includes 42 staple songs like All Creatures of Our God and King, Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, Jesus Your Mercy, and Who You Say I Am.

Extended Repertoire (Use 1-2 songs from this column each week) - currently includes 49 well-loved songs like 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), God Is For Us, This is Amazing Grace, and O Church Arise.

Classic Repertoire (Use 1-2 songs from this column each week) - currently includes 74 time-tested songs like Amazing Grace, How Great is Our God, It Is Well With My Soul, and Mighty To Save.

Why Do We Sing the Songs We Sing?

The Pastoral Ministry of Song Selection

Song selection for worship is a pastoral ministry of the Word. It is a big deal which words are placed in the mouth of our congregation through which we sing praise to God and edify one another. Musical worship serves the greater purpose of our liturgy as we walk through the Gospel arc and anticipate and respond to the preached Word (see last month's article The Gospel Flow of Biblical Worship). Songs have a way of continuing to minister to us throughout the week and throughout our lives. Good lyrics matched with good melodies stick with us. They guide us, teach us, and comfort us. Of course, God is the real Guide, Teacher, and Comforter. But he has long been pleased to provide his people with songs as a vehicle of his ministry. Music is one of the best tools for delighting in and storing up God's word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11, 16) that we might be transformed into all-of-life worshippers (Rom. 12:1-2). So, we should be intentional and discerning of the songs we sing while guarding against the temptation to become overly critical, recognizing the artfulness of the medium of music.

Characteristics of a good congregational song

Biblically Robust - The song is filled with biblical terms, phrases, and imagery, and the overall message is consistent with the truths of Scripture.

Theologically Clear - The song poetically expresses Christian theology in a way that is clear, understandable, and accurate.

Lyrically Rich - The lyrics are artfully vivid, soulfully expressive, and have depth, whether the words are many or few.

Musically Moving - The musical tone matches the lyrical tone, and responsibly engages the emotions (joy, adoration, lament, repentance, Gospel embrace).

Singable - Most of the notes are in a comfortable range for most of the congregation (low A-high D), so that men, women, and children can participate.

Expansive - High points in the song may stretch vocal ability, but this is intentional and not wearisome.

Simple - The lyrics, rhythm, and melody are well crafted and simple enough to catch on to after one or two exposures.

Memorable - And yet the song is interesting, unique, and cohesive that it may be memorable, serving the transformative impact of a biblically rich song.