Music- it’s what kept my tempted and distracted teenage soul connected to the church during my formulative years. No matter how the world tempted me, there were many cool young friends in my church who were playing, singing and (best of all) traveling out of town, singing what would become Contemporary Christian Music. Later, as Contemporary Christian Music and “Praise and Worship” services grew and choirs and organs were replaced with drums and guitars, I never had to pick a side. I love both of these deeply inspired and blessed forms of music. Yes, some point to “singsong”, “happy clappy” examples of Contemporary Christian Music but then some of our hymns that were more about “tin pan alley” than anything majestic or moving. I especially like when contemporary writers such as David Crowder, Chris Tomlin or Matt Redman take a traditional and meaningful hymn that has inspired and blessed many generations and set them to a new tune or write a contemporary arrangement to give it new life.
Speaking of music, we are celebrating Pentecost Sunday, May 19, with a single, combined service at 10:30. You are invited to come and help us dedicate our new hymnals. The Global Methodist Church along with Seedbed Publishing, have produced a new hymnal for a new denomination, “Our Great Redeemer’s Praise”. This hymnal features the hymns of Charles and John Wesley (of course) but also includes hymns from other Wesleyan churches and traditions such as Nazarene, African Methodist Episcopal, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Church of God, Anderson, IN, and many more. We will sing many of these hymns and hear the inspiring stories behind how many of them were written. Included in this hymnal are some of the Contemporary Christian Music songs that have meant so much to so many.
Come and sing with us, or just listen, but plan to stay for an old-fashioned dinner-on-the-grounds (inside) with plenty of fried chicken, ham and all the fixin’s.
(Steve Berger is pastor of First Methodist Church Minden, a Global Methodist Church. He is the husband of Dianne, his partner in ministry, they have two adult sons, a dachshund, and love living in Minden.)