The Church Singer - Reclaiming Congregational Singing

It happened again. Penny and I attended a worship service together this past Sunday evening. Immediately after the benediction, the people that were seated in front of us turned around and complimented Penny for her beautiful voice during the singing of the hymns.

Of course, I interrupted like I usually do and pretended that they were referring to my beautiful singing. I said, "Oh, thank you so much. That is so nice of you to say." 

This time, one of the ladies pointing right at Penny said, "No, we mean her!"

These fun exchanges always remind me of how awesome congregational singing could be in our churches if only we would internalize the lyrics and sing out our faith. Yes, I know that not all of us have the spiritual gift of singing, but all of us are called to be fully engaged in all parts of worship including the singing of hymns and praise songs.

To help reclaim congregational singing, these little reminders can make a huge difference in the quality of our collective singing:

• Think of the placement and the purpose of each hymn in the service. Typically, the opening hymn is one of praise and thanksgiving. Nothing sets the tone of worship like the opening hymn. As John Wesley reminds us, sing "lustily and with a good courage." Even a hymn that sets up the prayer can be sung with conviction. The closing hymn is chosen to help us take the message of he worship service with us to our homes, our work place, and to wherever we go.
• Think about the words that are in the hymn. One of the reasons hymns have several verses is because they tell a story. The verses build on each other. Allow the lyrics to grip your heart to the point where you can't help but to sing out your faith. 
• If you still feel that you can't sing out, at least mouth the words silently and be engaged during congregational singing. Just the visual of seeing everyone singing out is a powerful witness.

Singing in church is becoming one of those neglected spiritual disciplines. What if we reclaim this powerful way of expressing our faith through congregational singing? Would our churches begin to resemble the singing in this Welsh Church? (See video below.)

And if you ever sit in the pew in front of me during a worship service and compliment me for my singing, I can't take all of the credit. My wife is a pretty good singer, too.

Favorite Hymns - "And Can It Be that I Should Gain"

"And Can It Be that I Should Gain" is probably my favorite hymn ever. It was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley during the 1700's. These two brothers emphasized in their preaching and music God's grace made known to us through Jesus Christ.

[Charles Wesley: 1707-1788]

Charles wrote this hymn to describe his experience of when he received an assurance of his salvation. We often think of his brother's "heart-warming" Aldersgate experience, but we sometimes forget that Charles also had an equally powerful experience of God's amazing grace.

The verses of this hymn build upon each other and they describe the effect that God's grace can have on a person's life. As the hymn progresses, I get more and more choked up as I sing them because the lyrics and the music gradually progress to the last verse which celebrates the ultimate good news of our faith.

"No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown, through Christ my own."

As awesome as this final verse is, it's the 4th verse that always gets me.

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee."

Churches do not sing this hymn nearly enough. I think it's because people are not as familiar with the melody. It's one of those songs that you need to listen to a few times and before you know it, you totally fall in love with the combination of the lyrics and the melody. Charles Wesley certainly had an incredible gift of describing and celebrating God's grace made known to us through Jesus Christ.

So what do you think? Is this in your top ten or top five hymns? Right now, it's my favorite hymn!

Virginia Rosberg Staff Worship Message - June 16, 2011 (First UMC Chapel)

Stained glass windows have always inspired me. Maybe that’s because the gothic style church I grew up in had such beautiful stained glass windows.  A large rose window was at the front of the sanctuary with Luther’s rose at the back.  One whole side depicted Moses and the prophets while Jesus and the gospel writers graced the opposite side.  Smaller story windows filled in the gaps.  Sitting in the sanctuary gave you a feeling of being in a very holy presence. For all the beautiful services I attended there, though, I’ve always felt that what I learned about my faith I learned in the basement.

My earliest recollections of Sunday School in the basement are of our whole second grade class carrying our little chairs and following our teacher like ducks in a row to the kitchen.  Now the kitchen could be a real scary place when the big ovens were lit and a dinner was being prepared.  But on Sunday mornings our teacher, dressed in hat, gloves, purse, shoes and dress to match, brought Bible stories to life.  Later on I learned she tutored children with reading difficulties in her home, where she would likely be down on the floor playing with trucks and building blocks.

Junior Choir was always a highlight of my week.  About 60 of us would gather on Wednesdays after school and learn our music.  Bedlam reigned supreme, and I’ll never understand how we learned three-part music in that setting.  We sang every month in church, wearing our choir robes – purple skirts (for both boys and girls) and white tops – all washed, starched and ironed by our mothers.  We marched into the sanctuary 2 by 2, 2 rows apart and stuffed ourselves into the front pews.  Even after we sang our anthem, we remained in church for the entire service, marching out in reverse order.  No wonder those robes had to be washed every time we wore them.

Bible school was held for 2 weeks right after school was out for the summer.  One year my father built a large sandbox, and my mother helped us make all kinds of figures with clothespins.  We made tribes of Israelites and Egyptians, then led the Hebrews out of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, wandered in the dessert, received the 10 Commandments, and entered the Holy Land – all in 2 weeks time.

As much as I remember about my time in the basement, there is one event that stands out in my mind in the sanctuary.  One year at Christmas, my mother (one the church’s organists) gave me some music of a medley of Christmas carols for piano/organ duet.  After looking at the piano part, I freaked out. No way could I play that music!  She explained it was just arpeggios, like I do when I practice scales, but I was terrified of it.  “All right” she said. “You play the organ and I’ll play the piano part.”  For some reason, that didn’t scare me at all.  She showed me the registrations and helped me with my part, and I even played some pedal notes for the program.  From then on, I knew I wanted to play the organ in church.

So much for my stories; I bet you have many wonderful memories of events that happened as you were growing up in the church. They molded you and shaped you, inspired you and taught you about what it means to be a Christian.  As awe-inspiring as stained glass windows can be, it was the people who provided the real inspiration for your life.  As I look back on my 25 years here at First Church, it is the people I have met and worked with who have been my inspiration.  Members and staff alike have touched me – and I have grown in faith because of you.  That is what I will miss most.

I feel blessed to have served in ministry with you, and I thank God for our time together.  God Bless You All!

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Christmas Breaks Out in a Shopping Mall

Oh how I wish I had this for September's "In Concert with God" sermon series especially when the focus was on how classical music can help us appreciate the beauty and magnificence of God. A big thanks to members of my church who sent me this video.

Music & Faith

Beginning this Sunday and over the course of the next four weeks, I will begin a new sermon series called, "In Concert with God." For each of these Sundays, I will focus on a particular type of music and find connections with that type of music and the Christian faith.

The idea behind this sermon series is to tap into something that almost everyone enjoys; music, and relate it to how we can be more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

As I prepare for this series, in the back of my mind is one of my New Testament professors in seminary who would play a particular type of music on the piano to convey the particular scripture that he had just covered in his teaching. In a similar way, I want to explore ways in which different types of music can bring out the meaning of various themes and scripture passages throughout the bible.

This is a sermon series that can be a little "touchy" because we tend to be passionate about our favorite styles of music. My hope is that even if we cover a style of music that we don't appreciate personally, that we will still be able to find connections between all types of music and our multi-faceted faith journey.

For this first Sunday of the series, we focus on classical music. I am spending as much time as possible listening to this type of music in preparation for the sermon and finding connections with my own faith journey as well as the composers who wrote the music.

What are some of your favorite classical pieces and what are the connections you can make in your faith journey as you seek to be in concert with God?

When Culture & Gospel Collide

OK, let me publicly state it. I think Crystal Bowersox, one of the finalists on American Idol is amazing. No check that. AMAZING! No disrespect intended toward the other contestants but it's like a professional athlete competing against a top amateur.
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I haven't read anything about Crystal's faith or her religious background, but when she sings anything that remotely resembles gospel music or a song with a religious theme, she brings to the table what contestant judge Simon Cowell calls, "a believability."

Enjoy Crystal's performance from last night's show. Wow!

"In Concert with God" Sermon Series

This fall, (Sept. 12 - Oct. 3) Lancaster First United Methodist Church will be offering a sermon series on the theme, "In Concert with God." Specifically, we will be focusing on four different music genres and viewing them in light of the Christian faith. These include:

• Sept. 12 - Classical
• Sept. 19 - Country
• Sept. 26 - Rock
• Oct. 3 - Jazz

Since music and the church/Christian faith have such a strong correlation, this sermon series will help us think about why music, and more specifically these four different music genres, can strengthen our faith.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on how music has informed your faith. What music genre speaks to you the most and why?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

A Visual Rendition of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"

The Fascinating Story of Music Mission Kiev

During my pastoral ministry at Xenia: Faith Community United Methodist, our church hosted members from Music Mission Kiev, a symphony from the Ukraine during one of their US tours. Their music was breathtaking and we enjoyed providing meals for them during their stay.

I had the privilege of getting to know their director, Roger McMurrin who has Xenia connections and who felt called by God to serve as a missionary in the Ukraine back in 1995. Since classical music often centers around the Christian faith, Roger felt called by God to form a symphony in Kiev to use as a means by which agnostics and atheists would be able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. From this symphony, a church was formed and they provide ministries to support orphans and widows.

Under communist Russian rule, countries such as the Ukraine had not been permitted to hear classical music compositions such as Handel's "Messiah" because of it's focus on the Christian faith. Utilizing the beauty of classical music, Music Mission Kiev is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to a people who are hungry for this particular genre of music that they for so long have been denied.

In this season leading to the birth of Jesus Christ, enjoy this piece, "For Unto Us a Child is Born," from Handel's "Messiah." Since I don't have access to this piece by Music Mission Kiev, here is a performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Enjoy!

U2's New Song "Moment of Surrender" & the Passion of Christ

One of the best songs on U2's new album is "Moment of Surrender." It has a reference to Good Friday when it talks about the stations of the cross. Even on a crowded subway, the thought of Jesus' suffering and death for the sins of the world can become an epiphany and a "moment of surrender."

"I was punching in the numbers at the ATM machine. I could see in the reflection, a face staring back at me. At the moment of surrender. Of vision over visibility. I did not notice the passers-by. And they did not notice me.

I was speeding on the subway through the stations of the cross. Every eye looking every other way. Counting down ’til the pain would stop. At the moment of surrender. Of vision of over visibility. I did not notice the passers-by. And they did not notice me."

U2 New Album: Song - "Magnificent"

Well, U2 does not disappoint! Showcasing a new song each night this week on "Late Night with David Letterman," last night, they performed perhaps their best song on the album, "Magnificent."

Sounding like a Psalmist, Bono sings out, "I was born. I was born to sing for you."

Our church will be focusing on passionate worship this Sunday as part of our Lenten focus of "The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations." This song gets at the heart of why we come together each week to magnify the Magnificent.

Here are the lyrics and the song, "Magnificent" performed by U2 on David Letterman last night from their new album, "No Line on the Horizon."

"Magnificent, Magnificent! I was born...I was born to be with you. In this space and time...After that and ever after I haven't had a clue. Only to break rhyme. This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue.

Only love, only love can leave such a mark. But only love, only love can heal such a scar.

I was born. I was born to sing for you. I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up. And sing whatever song you wanted me to. I give you back my voice. From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark. But only love, only love can heal such a scar.

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify...The Magnificent. Magnificent. Only love, only love can leave such a mark. But only love, only love unites our hearts. Justified till we die, you and I will magnify The Magnificent...Magnificent...Magnificent."

Finally, U2's new album is ready to debut!

I posted about U2's new album several months ago hoping for a November, 2008 release, but there was a delay and it will be available for sale beginning March 3.

How U2 connects with me is I followed them while in High School/college and then kept on following them. Drawing on Christian themes and remaining a secular band (although rough around the edges for some Christian tastes) these Irish guys seem to know how to sing/play to our deepest longings. Early in their career, they had a song, "40" based on Psalm 40. I remember how this song introduced me to this wonderful Psalm.

I believe one of Cedarville University's professors has contributed articles on U2's music and the Christian faith. Those who have been to their concerts (they're considered one of the best live bands out there) have said that it was like they were in worship instead of at a rock concert. Now how does a band pull that off in front of 60,000 fans?

Not that they need extra publicity from me since BBC will have a big interview with them and they'll be performing every night next week on David Letterman, but I can't wait to hear these new songs. It's hard to believe that they will be turning 50 in a year or so.

So here's a sneak preview of U2 performing "Breathe" from their new album. Kind of crazy lyrics, but listen for Christian words like "grace," which is one of Bono's favorite words to use. This song rocks live! Watch...