Conducting Worship in Song
I. As people come in, have them sit up front in as few pews as possible
A. Have them divide by parts: Alto, Tenor, Melody, Bass
B. Start with a prayer
II. An important aspect of worship is our coming together to offer a united worship
A. Colossians 3:14-17 - We were called in one body, we should worship as one showing a bond of unity. Singing demonstrates this unity.
B. The Corinthians were scolded about their Lord’s Supper because they were not doing it together - I Corinthians 11:20-21, 33
C. United by singing the same thing
1. It seems obvious, but how is that accomplished?
2. Someone needs to choose what is sung
a. When we come together, people are selected to pick out songs, to present a teaching, to offer up prayers - I Corinthians 14:26
b. The goal is the edification of the members.
(1) Not random selections, but with a purpose in mind
c. To be done in an orderly manner - I Corinthians 14:40
D. United by lifting up one voice
1. Under Old Testament - II Chronicles 5:11-14
a. Asaph, who wrote many of the Psalms is one of the first song leaders - I Chronicles 16:7
b. He became the patriarch of a long line of singers - Ezra 2:41
2. Under the New Testament - Romans 15:5-6, 9-11
III. Singing together
A. First we need to start together. Too often our songs start as solos and people fit themselves in as they can.
1. Holy, Holy, Holy (238, verse 1)
2. It means looking at the song leader for your clues
a. Get the first word or two in mind
b. Watch for the start
B. Second, we to start as one voice.
1. We don’t all sing the same range. Men and women can’t easily hit the same notes.
2. But we can sing in the same key.
3. Introduce the musical scale
a. It is a relative scale, designed to take different vocal ranges into account.
b. We divide into parts to cover our differing ranges
4. The important notes: do, mi, sol, do
a. You know them: “Oh say, can you see!”
5. One of the reason we don’t start together is that we don’t know where to start.
a. If we don’t know the do we cannot be certain of the key until we hear a few notes.
b. Pitch pipe can give the do.
(1) By having a standard, the song is fixed to the range of the singers
(2) Ever had troubles because a song was too high or too low.
(3) Pitch pipes avoid that problem.
(4) They are not an instrument.
(a) You can’t play melodies with them.
(b) They are not used during the song
6. Song leaders should give the do
a. Then the various parts can figure out their starting point from there, including the melody.
b. Practice: Holy, Holy, Holy (238, verse 1) do
c. Practice: Nearer, Still Nearer (436, verse 1) me
d. Practice: My Jesus, As Thou Wilt! (433, verse 1) sol
e. Practice: More Love to Thee, O Christ (435, verse 1) sol going down
C. Third, we show unity by staying together
1. Song leaders give the beat to keep everyone together.
2. If you haven’t learned beating, tap the beat in the air with an down-up motion.
3. Use More Love to Thee, O Christ (435) to illustrate changing speed to give emphasis at end of chorus.
D. Fourth, we show unity by using the same volume
1. Watch the leader. Small movements mean quiet. Large movements mean loud
2. Practice: Holy, Holy, Holy (238) making the third verse quiet
3. Practice: Lord, I Care Not for Riches (418) vary loudness by phrase, also slow on last phrase.
