Congregational Singing

“Then again, I’m cool with singing ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ instead of ‘Hark How All the Welkin Rings’ this Christmas Eve, so…” - Aigner

“Music moves our emotions as well as our intellect, serving to motivate us to put into action what we have been convinced of as true. This is persuasion at its best and most legitimate.” - Olinger

“The argument that worship, especially music in worship, is just a matter of taste is spurious, and it needs to be retired, just like the pop worship trend.” - Patheos

“A senior medical adviser at Public Health England (PHE), Dr Simon Tanner, said on Tuesday that his organisation was leading a small study with adult male choir-singers from Salisbury Cathedral, and some adult volunteers, to gain a better understanding of transmission.” - Church Times

“Losing the ability to verbally preach is a very painful loss, yet the longer I live in silence, not being able to sing out to the Lord is becoming just as painful.” - Rooted Thinking

“[S]inging is not just a vertical act, but also a horizontal one. Of course we sing to God, but we also sing for one another. God is the object of our worship, but our singing is also a means of mutual encouragement.” - Challies

Congregational singing has suddenly become cool (again). Just listen to Mark Dever, who testifies that, “The effect (of congregational music) on my own soul is electrifying.” Dr. Dever counsels pastors to reduce the praise band and the organ “by 80%” so that the voices of the congregation may be heard. After all, says, Dever, “We’re not required to play any instruments.

Hymnals “are important symbols for worshiping congregations. Here are some of the reasons why.”