Tom, I'd rather see this picture than the last one and will reserve my comments about it for present.

Daniel, you have an interesting church service. I like having young people involved. I don't mind a (non plugged in) guitar occasionally but much of your type of church service I would not be comfortable in.

Ah Debbie, I'm disappointed that you are being so reserved about my fine portraiture of myself! Perhaps this one will inspire you to enthusiastic and flattering compliments...

By the way, were you at all surprised that I attend a church with such a conservatively traditional music format? And you should know tht here in the Washington, DC region we have many choices of SDA churches to attend, a number of which have good rousing praise services with a full range of contemporary instruments accompanying them. I say this only so you know that I do have a choice. I do feel sorry for those people who are stuck in church where there are no other SDA churches nearby from which to choose if they are not comfortable with what is happening at their church. But that goes beyond just music too.

Tom

Tom, I think you would be better off to go back to the artist--Rembrandt? Picasso? It was the self portrait but can't remember which... This picture is far worse than any you've had so far!!
How about a picture that reflects the way you think! That might be a good idea...

I'm not totally surprised at the church you attend. I enjoy a good quality of music too. However, what I enjoy more is a present truth filled sermon. I'm sure you have the best of both worlds in your church.

Debbie: I would be interested to understand why you would be uncomfortable at the Moncton SDA Church service.

We used to have hymns for every song Sabbath School and Church.

I have stated before..."On seperate occassions with 2 different friends (both totally blind) they each asked the same question durring the "Praise service" (between Sabbath School and Church) "Daniel, has someone passed away in your church this past week?" They asked this because of the somber way that the songs were played on the church organ. I then asked the organist about the tempo, and style of which the songs were played in. I was told by this very well musically educated musician, that the songs were played as they were written in our hymnal...
So I ask: If we a re to worship God in "SPIRIT and in TRUTH" How is it not acceptable to the Lord and a joy for His people to worship in a "Campmeeting" format?

Ah Debbie, now I feel insulted, becuase that is actually a picture of me! I think it does reflect the way I think... Eyes wide open... An appropriately serious expression on my face... A prodigious nose for sniffing out foolishness... And I think so hard it blew the hair right off the top of my head! But for you, I will change to my favorite picture of myself. So what do you think?

As for my church, you are right, we do have a great pastoral staff, so we get good sermons. We also have a variety of small group and activity options and a truly great K-12 day academy. It is an advantage of being in a larger church. However, with all the rest, if the music was good quality contemporary music, I would be just as content with my church. But since most of the members probably would prefer to keep the music traditional/classical, there is really no need to do anything different. People can go elsewhere to fill that need if they feel strongly about it. I like a very wide range of music styles, so I can be happy with most any format. The youth at our church are given considerable latitude to have music and a worship style that fits their tastes and needs. The youth leaders sponsor groups going to contemporary music festivals and concerts and the Friday evening youth program often has local contemporary Christian musicians, some from our church, to have the featured music.

Tom

Tom, I think you are enjoying some artistic fun with your computer, changing a picture to make it look BAD!! Now tell the truth and nothing but the truth here!!! Are you guilty as charged?

How about just a normal nice picture. I'm sure everyone would think that would be appropriate. However it just occurred to me you are not the norm (notice I didn't say "not normal!") - I'm back to the picture of the self-portrait of the artist--what's his name?? Or even the pumpkin if necessary but these others must go!!

Daniel, I will answer your questions a little later tonight.

[ January 28, 2005, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: debbie ]

The biggest difference for the church service when it comes to music is not which kind of music it is but wether it is played and sung with life. Is the song sung just because its what has always been sung or just because it is the newest song released but without any engagement, then it will kill and bury any service. If there is life in the mucisian/s and in the congregation when the song is sung, then again it does not matter so much how old or who wrote it. Ive seen the ironic situation where the old hymnal that was used before the present one was being insisted upon leaving much of the congregation bewildered as to the words and tunes, this only because it was "the old sda hymnal". A simple question of why generated contempt as to how such a question could be asked. Oh well, such things happend sometimes...

/Thomas

I go to the New Carlisle SDA Church in New Carlisle OH. When I first came to New Carlisle we used to hire an organist (from another denomination) for our services it was nice to have the live organist however it's a bit hypocritical for us to refuse to work on the Sabbath then hire someone to play for us. So we found an alternative. The music from the hymnal can be purchased on 30+ CD's one channel is piano the other organ. we combine the two to get both. The only problems we encounter are when the individual running the sound system hits the wrong button or program's in the wrong song. Other than that it's very nice. Not as good as a live organist or pianist but since we have nobody that plays either this works out well and we are not causing someone else to work on the Sabbath. Now some may think we lost an opportunity to witness but she did this for many years and when not playing sat in the second row doing crossword puzzles or reading books and magazines.

As I said the CD's work well. In order to make things easier we have a CD player that holds 100 CD's and you can program the player as to which disc and which track you want and in what order.

Have a Blessed Sabbath.
Chris

IMO there are other doubts one can have about a "christian" who does crossword puzzles during church service...

/Thomas

Debbie,
We attend the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Colorado. Our music for church service comes from the hymnal and is accompanied by the organ and/or piano. Sometimes it is a bit too somber, depends upon the musician. We use a song leader(s), but they don't always try to enthuse the congregation to sing from the heart. Overall, it is satisfactory.

Murian