THE MOSES GENERATION MEETS THE JOSHUA GENERATION (or "How Could Your Pastor Be So Dumb!!)

Yesterday I held a meeting with four volunteers from the congregation who wanted to help craft some new music ministry at Trinity by publishing our revised "Trinity Song Book"... the "old" one was removed from the pews several months ago. As we discussed the music that we wanted in the new songbook -- we also discussed the kinds of music we sing during worship services.

Now, being a wise and thoughtful pastor --and wanting to incorporate ALL kinds of music in worship without alienating any one "group" -- I have been diligent in my choices to include music from our hymnal that are "traditional" AND more modern. What I have been avoiding (for the most part) were those really OLD hymns -- the ones that grandma and grandpa sang and that I've often referred to as "oldy moldy". I THOUGHT that by choosing "In the Bulb There is a Flower" over "The Old Rugged Cross" that I was hitting on ALL cylinders -- meeting EVERYONE'S needs -- a familiar tune with new words -- or an easy tune with more contemporary language.

Imagine my surprise when my group of musical "helpers" said that they really wanted to hear the hymns from "their past"!! Those "oldy moldy" hymns!! Now let me just say here that these folks are WAY younger than I am -- less than 40 in all cases (I'm guessing!) -- in some, less than 30! You could have knocked me over with a feather!! Sing those OLD hymns?? No way!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

Could it be I've missed the boat entirely on the kinds of music that my congregation wants? When I heard that these younger people -- some parents -- want their children to learn the songs and hymns from their parents' spiritual heritage, I was moved -- and surprised!!

When I've talked about bringing a "blended" musical program to our "blended" worship I've thought that meant all those great (newer) UCC hymns mixed with some contemporary music printed in the bulletin... and frankly, some of what I think is contemporary isn't contemparary at all!! I'm learning that too!! Now what I'm hearing is that some of those really traditional hymns are missed, even by some of the younger members of the congregation.

SO -- expect a wider margin between what is REALLY contemporary (a new songbook will be forthcoming with some of the newer contemporary Christian music) and what is REALLY traditional. Don't worry, we'll sing some of those great UCC hymns too -- but you'll be singing a few more of the older ones as well.

It's all in a day's work, I suppose -- this thing about learning and relearning what's important when people worship! As the congregational grows and changes we will ALL need to grow and change -- it's just that this change felt a little bit more like moving backward instead of moving forward -- but maybe it was because I was facing the wrong direction!

Blessings 00 and let me know what you think!