Comments on: Advent: A Wonderful Time To Be A Worship Leader

By: Administrator

Administrator — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:28:55 +0000

Beautiful, Dylan. Carols as teaching tool – such an important idea, and always to be done with wisdom.

I don’t know the O Come Divine Messiah one, Brian. I’ll look it up. Thanks for that.

By: dylan mckeeman

dylan mckeeman — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:24:35 +0000

We did “Joy to the World” this morning. We sang the first verse again at the end of the song. I explained that we are doing it this way the first time to emphasize the incarnation and the second time to emphasize our waiting for His return. I got some really good feedback from the congregation. There are a lot of little things we can do with some teaching during advent that enriches this seasons worship experiences.

By: Brianmpei

Brianmpei — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:14:54 +0000

Doing O Come this week, definitely advent. How about O Come Divine Messiah?

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:44:52 +0000

O Come O Come Emmanuel is the historic advent carol. It’s often sung verse by verse through the advent season. Name the other advent carols of which you speak. Some are more anticipatory than others.

By: Brianmpei

Brianmpei — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:45:55 +0000

What do you think about singing advent songs during advent and carols during Christmas? Have any simple chords to advent songs?

By: Administrator

Administrator — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:49:37 +0000

Good thoughts, Joel. I usually remedy the issue you’re speaking of by not doing the song, or skipping verses.

Good thoughts. Changes can be daunting for some congregants, but I’d make small ones as needed for your community’s sake.

By: joel mason

joel mason — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:00:30 +0000

my question is:

what do we do with some of the historical carols in which the theology is less than shining?

i’m thinking of songs which refer to a placid, plastic baby Jesus, “meek and mild.” This line, so familiar and wonderful in its very familiarity flies in the face of advent itself, God come as fully, fully, man and fully God.

i, for one, am for changing such lines, when artistically possible, to better theology. i believe this leads, in the end, to better advent, better waiting, better worship.

thanks for letting me post dan