I'm a member of the College Place Village SDA church, in College Place, Washington, USA. The total membership of our church is about 1,850, but has only an average attendance of about 600 people per Sabbath, split between two services. The worship services are eclectic, in the hope that everyone, from whatever their backround and musical tastes, will experience true worship. My wife is the Music Director, and she and the pastor are doing their best to get as many members involved is sharing their musical gifts. I would say that overall, the music would be on the conservative side when compared to other SDAs churches of similar size in the NAD.

Brooks

I go to a small church in Lawrence KS. We sing from the hymnal during church services. In Sabbath School we sometimes sing from the Songs of Praise book.

We use an upright piano and small electric organ to accompany. We used to have a guitar at times, but the guitarist is going to another church.

Sometimes for special music a tape is used for accompaniment. Usually (almost always) the tapes are on the tame side (i.e. not with strong rhythmic beating from drums).

I'm kinda new here. I have been on the site, registered before, but it has been almost 4 years since I have been back, only because now I finally have a reliable computer. I go to the Fairplain SDA Church in Benton Harbor, MI. We sing only from the church hymnal, but I truly enjoy the special music, mostly because it is not from the hymnal. We have at least two pianists and 2 organists. I really don't know exactly how many of each we have. But we always have the piano and the organ for each song. One of the organists can get pretty creative with the songs, tho. Like when the kids go up front for the children's story, she plays this pretty song that almost seems like it should be in a music box. This particular one is related to "Uncle Arthur," although I don't remember exactly how. So, she would have to be pretty creative, right?

God bless!

Angie

Thomas, I think you have said it exactly right. Our music needs to have "life" in it--it should be sung with paying attention to the words and with happiness/exuberance.

Daniel R: I am not in favor of "games" in the church services. Perhaps during the children's SS time in their individual rooms but not during the adult SS time. However, I also do not care for boring "reading the mission story" blah type of services either. There is a balance.

The SS time is for missions primarily and it is possible to have very interesting "mission" stories, not just from the mission book put out each quarter, but from personal experiences, using video/pictures, etc. It is to be done in such a way as to animate people in the pews to help support or go as a missionary theirselves.

I am fully in support of having the children involved in the adult SS occasionally. They can recite their memorized memory verses or perhaps the older children can tell what local "missions" they are doing in the community.

However I am not in support of any type of drama, skits or pantomines, theatrics. I am also not in support of "dead" or boring services.

Chris: I'm not sure what to think about paying an organist on Sabbath. If your church felt it wasn't right, then I agree with their decision. To follow the tapes is an excellent idea too. But I hope you can find a good organist or pianist soon.

Murian, I couldn't agree with you more about the "somber" services. There is a place perhaps for that during the communion service or a funeral service. While we are to be reverent during the church services, we also should be happy, praising the Lord in song and one thing that a song leader can do while leading out in a hymn, have the men sing one verse alone, then the women. There are other things one can do to help the service to be a happy one--not highly syncopated and jazzy--but praiseful and happy.

Brooks: I have been to your church! It has lovely music from musicians who are well trained, including your wife!!

Tom E: I'm glad your accompaniment tapes are without a strong beat as this detracts from the words of the song!

Angie: WELCOME BACK!! We're so glad you are here.
I am glad you have an organist that plays appropriately for the children's story! What she/he is doing is playing it like a little children's song should be played. I do this too. It often will sound happy and sweet.

I also like other songs besides the hymnal. However I am very careful that they are not highly syncopated or jazzy or worldly sounding. There are some beautiful ones out there that I often play on the organ.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to reply to everyone!

OK Debbie. How do you know that I am not editing these photos to actually improve the way I look? Which avatar would you guess looks the most like me? And what makes you think that they do not show my authentic self? I have only been showing you the many faces of my multi-dimensional self.

This new one is about as normal as it is going to get! And so I cannot be accused of wandering totally off-topic, you notice that it has a musical theme... Which raises another interesting church music idea. Would you be comfortable with the sax for church since it has become so distinctly associated with jazz music?

Tom

Hmmm, I do think I like this one better. You still look just a bit scary, but not quite so bad. So you think this one is the closest to how you really look?

What do I think about the sax used in the church services? I have no problem with them. I don't personally care so much for the tones they produce (not a favorite) but I've heard some very beautiful music played in church on the sax. Just because the instrument is played incorrectly doesn't mean the instrument is wrong--right?

excellent statement Debbie.
This applies to all instruments because an instrument can not be "born in sin", but it can be played in a sinful manner, just as it can be played in an appropriate manner.
It is nice to see that we can agree in a topic.

Daniel, it IS nice that there is something we can agree on. So now I am left wondering exactly what do we disagree on?

I attend the Tawas Seventh-Day Adventist church in Michigan, USA.
We also have the CD assortment as our piano players and organist moved away.
Here it is either feast or famine when it comes to 'live' music.
We use the hymnal for worship, but our Pastor plays guitar and he and his wife have sung special music with a slight country air. (The real stuff, not this nonsense they call country.)

Debbie, we sort of gave up looking instead we are paying for piano lessons for one of our members and hopefully she will someday become our pianist or organist.