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Select a Category Church of St. YouTube congregational singing congregational song contemporary critiques corporate worship Hymn of the Week hymn singing hymnody and hymnology hymns masturbatory worship Uncategorized worship Worship Quotes

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June 2017

June 05, 2017

Please Rise for Our First Hymn, “Big House” by Audio Adrenaline

Or, why mainline churches really shouldn't try to do contemporary commercial worship. I'm always puzzled...

May 2017

May 28, 2017

11 Questions for Christians and Churches Celebrating Memorial Day Today

What do patriotic celebrations teach non-Americans about our view of the gospel?

May 24, 2017

Dear Christian, forsake the Sunday production. You have my blessing, even if you have no...

May 16, 2017

5 Reasons We Must Stop Doing Traditional Worship

For those of you who are familiar with my work, that title might be a...

May 10, 2017

Why Do Churches Need Good Pipe Organs and Organists?

John Blackburn was a classmate of mine at Baylor University. The first time I heard...

April 2017

April 30, 2017

Some Hymns are Terrible, Too

I really wanted the title to be "Sometimes Hymns Suck, Too," but you have to...

April 28, 2017

Why I Don’t Listen to Contemporary Christian Music for Entertainment

I gave it up because, honestly, CCM wasn’t really contemporary, and it wasn’t really Christian....

April 18, 2017

Hymns to Sing During Easter Besides “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!”

He is risen, indeed. Alleluia! It's still Easter, friends. Of course, if you come from...

April 14, 2017

Why “Nailed It” Is a Poor Theme for an Easter Celebration

I dislike the silly little titles pastors give these series, the way it stamps their...

April 05, 2017

20 Hymns for Holy Week

On the night our Savior was betrayed, he gathered with his disciples for his last...

March 2017

March 26, 2017

Worship Quote of the Week: Robert Johnston on Pointless Modern Worship

"To change lives, our worship must connect with its congregants. God's story must enter into...

March 26, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness

Fourth Sunday in Lent Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness Text: Bernadette Farrell, 1993...

March 21, 2017

Frederick Swann on the Value of the Pipe Organ to the Worshiping Church

On a whim, I recently contacted famed American organist Frederick Swann, asking for his response...

March 19, 2017

Worship Quote of the Week: Robert Webber on Returning to God

Unfortunately some Christians live as though the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ never happened....

March 17, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: Jesu, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

Third Sunday in Lent Jesu, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts Text: Bernard of Clairvaux, ~1160;...

March 12, 2017

I hear the inevitable moan every first Sunday in Lent. "Why does Lent have...

March 09, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

Second Sunday in Lent God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It Text: Erdmann Neumeister, 18th...

March 07, 2017

8 Reasons Adding a Contemporary Service Might Be a Bad Idea

The High Cost of the Worship Wars The worst thing about the worship wars wasn't...

March 05, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

First Sunday in Lent O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High Text: attributed to...

March 01, 2017

Worship Quote of the Week: Daniel Frankforter on the Sacrament of Silence

Clergy are reluctant to let silence blossom within their service plans for fear that their...

February 2017

February 27, 2017

Brothers and sisters, this statement is complete nonsense. It is another feeble copout crafted in...

February 26, 2017

Worship Quote of the Week: Marva Dawn on the Folly of Dumbing Down Worship

"Evelyn Waugh once remarked that the West is dying of sloth, not wrath. For the...

February 25, 2017

Why Churches Must Stop Feeding Our Screen Addiction

Prelude The increasing speed of TV is a great contributor to the loss of imagination...

February 23, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair

Transfiguration Sunday O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair Text: 13th c.; trans. John Mason Neale,...

February 21, 2017

Sometimes It’s Okay to Leave a Church over Worship Style

Let me say it again, in case you think you must have misunderstood me. Sometimes...

February 19, 2017

Worship Quote of the Week: John Wesley on Singing When It’s Difficult

"Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let...

February 16, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: Give Me the Faith Which Can Remove

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany Give Me the Faith Which Can Remove Text: Charles Wesley,...

February 15, 2017

Elmo Goes to Church: What Sesame Street Can Teach Us about Worship

I loved Sesame Street when I was a kid. In fact, fascination with the show...

February 12, 2017

Lectionary Hymn of the Week: Take My Life, and Let It Be

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Take My Life, and Let It Be Text: Frances Ridley...

February 08, 2017

16 Reasons this Millennial Stayed in the Church

Thanks for those of you who offered your feedback on yesterday's post about why I...