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Tuesday, May 02, 2023

Let's Bring Back the Practice of Congregational Singing in Our Churches

These two articles were originally posted on Methodists on Mission.

By Robin G. Jordan

“Worshiptainment” is a new word which I learned this past month. It is the fusion of the word “worship” with the word “entertainment” and is used to describe what is represented as worship on Sunday mornings and other occasions but in actuality is a form of entertainment.

“Worshiptainment” primarily refers to the part of a church service in which the vocalists of a small musical ensemble made up of instrumentalists and vocalists sing while most of the congregation listens. This musical ensemble may be called a praise or worship band or praise or worship team or simply a music group. A few members of the congregation may attempt to sing along with the vocalists of the small ensemble. They usually face a number of difficulties. The words and the tune are unfamiliar. The song may be sung at a pitch beyond the range of the average singer in the congregation. The music of the instrumentalists is electronically amplified and very loud as are the voices of the vocalists, and anyone singing in the congregation does not have the reinforcement of hearing other members of the congregation singing since if anyone else in the congregation is singing, they cannot hear them.

“Worshiptainment” has replaced congregational singing in a number of churches While congregational singing is a form of corporate worship, “worshiptainment is not. Corporate worship is an act of worship performed by the whole congregation and not by a part of the congregation or by paid professionals or near professionals.

When we worship, we show honor and respect to God. Worship is something we ourselves do and reflects our attitude toward God. It is not something that someone else can do for us. We cannot worship through a proxy. We must worship ourselves in order for worship to be true worship. Worship takes many forms. It is not something that we do only on Sundays and other special occasions. It is something that we do every day. Read More
Also Read, "The Place of Congregational Song during the Distribution of Communion."

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