4 Song Service Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When planning the typical worship service, the song service is often an after thought. What I mean by this is, many song leaders are content to hurriedly pick out the congregational songs at the last minute. This practice is totally unacceptable and will lead to making several mistakes.
1. The mistake of contradicting the message
Following the “eeny meeny miney moe” method of picking songs for each service won’t yield a collection of songs that compliment the pastor’s message. It results in a random grouping of songs, that when sung, is without purpose. This shot gun method of choosing songs is confusing to the congregation and often contradicts the central theme of the message.
The song service is a vital part of our worship service and should be well planned and thought out.
2. The mistake of repeating songs week after week
Flipping open the songbook, as if drawing a number out of a hat, increases the likelihood of singing the same songs over and over. This questionable practice raises doubt as to your competence as a song leader. Are you putting your whole heart into your call to ministry? Do you fully understand your role as a music leader?
If your approach to picking songs is haphazard, it’s not too late to make a change. Set aside the time to plan the song service carefully, keep good records of what songs have been sung, and pray the Lord will use you as you lead others during the service.
3. The mistake of choosing only familiar songs
Another typical practice among inexperienced song leaders is choosing only familiar songs and hymns. In doing so, you run the risk of wearing out your congregation’s favorite hymns. You may find that the congregation is no longer moved by the message of the song because of how often it has been sung.
The reason for choosing the familiar may be two fold,
- the song leader may lack the basic knowledge of Christian hymnody
- the song leader may be limited because of the skills of his pianist
Either way, our songbooks contain a wealth of rich texts that shouldn’t be neglected. Time and effort should be invested into familiarizing yourself with the vast array of hymns that teach doctrine and can be used to exhort and edify the saints.
4. The mistake of selecting only the songs you’re comfortable with
Avoid the temptation of choosing the songs your comfortable singing or leading. If this is due to your limitations as a song leader, take the necessary steps to strengthen your inadequacies by taking voice lessons and practicing your song leading skills. By staying in your comfort zone, you run the risk of singing songs in the same key or meter. You’ll want to seek for a little more variety then that.
You can make a song service a little more interesting several ways.
- try mixing song types – some fast, some slow
- vary the feel of the song by changing meters
- pick songs from different keys
- have the pianist modulate to a different key between verses
Last but not least, take advantage of your opportunity to teach new songs to your people. Try introducing a new song or chorus each month. This practice will broaden your base of songs and soon your people will have new favorites.
Conclusion
Because music plays such an important role in our worship services, you should give it the attention it deserves. One thing is for sure, it can’t be planned in half an hour.
It takes time to study the Scripture and music. Pray for guidance and insight as you select your service music.
You should be willing to spend the necessary time to achieve the goal of a well planned worship service. Spending the extra time in planning your song service will help avoid these common mistakes.
What are some other things to avoid when planning a song service? Share in the comments.
Me
November 6, 2016, 5:59 pmIt takes a lot more knowledge and fore thought than I realized.