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Singing is a meaningful part of our service and you
have a vital role in setting the tone, attitude, and feeling of worship.
When you lead a song, you are the congregation’s worship leader.
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Information about
the worship service such as texts, themes, and
participants are on the Worship Commission EditGrid site:
http://www.editgrid.com/user/tblosser/worship_schedule.
Check this site in advance so that you can plan well ahead of time.
There are Order of Service templates to help you think about the types
of hymns (gathering, responding, sending, etc.) needed in the service.
You can ask the worship leader or pastor about the theme and content of
the service.
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There are three
songbooks in the pews: “Hymnal: A Worship Book” and two supplements,
“Sing the Journey” and “Sing the Story.”
There are accompaniment books for each one at the piano or in the
front pew closest to the piano. Additional resources include the “Hymnal
Companion” and hymnal supplements. A copy of the “Hymnal Companion” is
in the church library. It has a brief history of the origin of each hymn
in “Hymnal: A Worship Book“
along with its lyricist, and composer.
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Use your discretion in
choosing instrumental accompaniment for hymns. Some members prefer
singing familiar hymns unaccompanied. If you are teaching a new hymn,
accompaniment can be helpful, especially if a musician plays for the
duration of the new hymn. If you want to add special accompaniment, you
may consult the hymnal accompaniment handbooks. You can contact the
musician or others, such as violinists, recorder players, or
percussionists to help you. Contact them early so they can prepare. Give
all musicians’ names to the church office by 9:00 a.m. on the Thursday
prior to the scheduled Sunday so that complete information will be in
the bulletin.
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If you need microphones
for voices or instruments, notify the sound system operator. You may
need to do sound tests with that person prior to Sunday. If you wait
until Sunday, all sound tests must be completed by 9:10 the morning of
the service.
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Send your hymn
selections to the church office by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning of the
week preceding the service so they can be included in the bulletin and
let the worship leader know your selections. If you want the hymns to be
sung in a particular order or in a particular spot in the service, let
the worship leader know that.
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In most worship
services we have time for four hymns and occasionally five if some are
short. When we celebrate Communion, have a healing service, or
incorporate other things that take extra time, you may want to select
only three hymns. If in doubt, consult the worship leader.
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We encourage you to
teach new songs from the hymnals. The congregation prefers to have the
first hymn be familiar and to learn no more than one new hymn per
Sunday. If you’re not sure
how familiar a song is, consult others. A record of previously sung
hymns is at
http://www.editgrid.com/user/tblosser/HymnsSung.
As mentioned above, accompaniment can be helpful when you
introduce hymns. You can ask a quartet or other small vocal ensemble to
help introduce it to the congregation.
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Use
your judgment in deciding whether the congregation should stand for the
hymn you are leading. Standing during the opening hymn is usually
appropriate and generally expected. One
rule of thumb is to stand unless the hymn requires a subdued mood.
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If you find it difficult to maintain the tempo of
congregational singing, you may want to use instrumental accompaniment.
Or, before starting a hymn, ask the congregation to be aware of the
tempo and of your direction. You may want to briefly explain how you
wish the hymn to be sung—with vigor and enthusiasm, prayerfully, etc.
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The song leader should sing the melody in order not
to confuse the congregation.
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Try not to give complicated verbal instructions. Many
people will not remember them, especially if the hymn is unfamiliar. If
instructions are complicated, consider having them printed in the
bulletin.
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We encourage you to sit near the front of the
sanctuary.
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Be sensitive to the service length and feel free to
omit one or more verses if the hymn runs long. You can make a note of
verses that can be omitted without losing the overall impact of the
hymn.
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If the service ends with a hymn, the song leader or worship leader
should ask the congregation to stand for the song and announce that,
after the hymn, the congregation is dismissed.
updated Spring 2011