3 Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting Music for Worship

I once had a friend tell me that if he was writing worship services, he would put “Amazing Grace” in every service because it was so meaningful for him.  I’ve heard of a congregation ending each Sunday worship service with “Beautiful Savior”.  It has been said that each congregation knows about 25-50 hymns, yet most hymnals contain much more music and the modern worship movement produces an amazing amount of music each year.  So, what is a worship planner to do?

Consider the Context

What is the worship language of the community?  Are they looking for Gospel hymns, Reformation era hymns, modern hymns, modern worship songs or a mix of all of the above?  What type of music will speak to the hearts of all who gather?

Consider the Theme

What is the worship theme for the day?  What is the pastor preaching on?  What other readings are available and what themes are in those that connect with worship music the community knows and enjoys singing from their hearts?

Consider the Singability

Is the song or hymn accessible by the community?  Is the community familiar with it?How are the rhythms and the range?  Are the rhythms predictable or varied?  Can a person other than Chris Tomlin or Matt Redman access the high notes without having to go down an extra octave?  Likewise, are the low notes of the song high enough for people to hit without modulating up an octave?  If the song is unknown, never put it at the beginning or end of the service and find a way to teach it or introduce it to the community using a soloist or group of vocalists.  Repeat unfamiliar songs a few weeks in a row to help the community become comfortable.

Writing worship services can seem like a daunting task with all of the options available.  Yet, we live in an exciting time as God pours out many blessings through music and media to enrich our lives as God fills us with His grace!

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