So I love my church. I do. But I'm having a problem, and it's not just me. I share this common dilema with several of the church patrons. It's the worship service...it seems so outdated. Rarely do we sing contemporary music, and when we do, it still seems so uncontemporary...slow, choir-like. I was "raised" as a baby Christian on Steve Kyles...Lara and Lydia, bongos and guitars, the "egg", Passion, "One Day"...and I'm really having trouble getting into the worship service.

But I think that if you really want to worship, you can worship anywhere...but I just am not gettin' it, ya know? Is it my attitude? Should I suck it up and just try to make the best of it? Or should I say something to the worship leader? I'm in the choir now...of course I'd wait a while until I'm good and "in the door", but I don't know if it's my place to say. As I've mentioned, I'm not the only one. But I just don't know if it's even an issue to be brought up, or if it's something I should just deal with God and learn to "get into" worship no matter what.

Michelle, I had the same problem and still do. I was very spoiled at my old church in california and I feel like I have only been to about 10 church service since i moved(over a year and a half ago) that I actually got anything out of. I go to another church on sunday nights so that I can hear a sermon that has something that i can ponder and that i can be fed from. My worship i've learned to pop in a CD and make my own or turn on the radio in my room and just praise God. Of course I try my hardest to worship at church and when i do get into its its cause, and i know this seems weird, I picture what i think heaven will be like and all the worship that will be there and thats how i get into worship at my church these days. Thats just me though.

I don't think its you, it happens to the best of church,preachers,and congregations.

Worship is such a big part of church for me. It was the only reason I go/went. If I get nothing out of the message, I know I'll get something out of the worship.

It's the biggest and most important for me.

If a church didn't meet the worship requirements, I wouldn't go back.

^Ashley, by the way. Bah.

I understand michelle, . can relate. this church my folks attend, is ok. they got drums etc. still hard to stay awke. but pastor has good sermon there. my prob was not many others like me to fellowship with, i mean other ladies, not a man issue per se. [woulda helped the scenery a bit.hehe]. wed have dinner on grounds. and its like i really stand out. its just diff if yur a single and teen[more prospectslike my nephews they could hang with], but at 33. its more awkward. hard to concentrate on worship, but ok with sermon. i pay attention then for sure. waiting for the spirit to move me? WHAT DOES IT MEAN when ya dont feel like holding yur hands up,yes-am greatful for God;s mercy. i never forget that. just wanna relate to others, that im not alone . [gladly welcome female friends. not a man issue, only friendship. and fellowship with my kind[singles in general near my age or older]. I sing at home etc, and prtaise too. but at church. its different for me. am I an odd duck?

In reading posts here, i must tell you i can relate. i want to be on the cutting edge of the new worship music that is sweeping across the world. i play drums at my church and sometimes it just is flat. however, a long time ago i learned that when i go to church it is not to see "what i can get" out of the service....i go to "see what i can give" to God in the service.
it is not a bless me service. it is a bless God service. that change made me change my attitude and my participation level as well.
worship in any form is pleasing to God. some like it old some like it new, some slow, some fast, some with piano, some with guitar.some hate the organ some love it.
GOD LOVES IT ALL.
Also remember that God has placed specifically your worship leader at your church. when the time comes to change He will facilitate that also. be patient ....learn to worship at all times....in church corporately, and by yourself , or with some friends.
While I agree that some music styles lend themselves to a deeper worship, we cant live and die by what style or type of music is performed at service.
as for trying to make your voice known. find someone in the church who has influence with leadership(deacon, former deacon, teacher,longtime member etc.) and express your concern and desire for deeper worship. do not be critical - be prepared to lay out the fact that music will attract new members and keep them coming back for more(ultimately they will stay because the church is friendly, loves them and meets a need in thier life), but they come in and maybe return if the service is more contemporary.
i feel strongly that the growth of our churches will be the young and the twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings, not the older generation. and in having more contemporary p&w they will be attracted to return.
our church has now added concert lighting and fog machines(not yet in morn services!) and video stuff and no pews(we use chairs). we have become quite contemporary over the past two years. our music is good and we do alot of the new youthful type songs, but being a deep worshipper for me it still falls short. but i refuse to be critical , because the spirit is ther and people are being saved and our services are powerful. i can praise and worship at the drop of a hat, so i dont have t have it on sunday morn. know what i mean? hang in there and just worship God, offer up a sacrifice of praise...just do it and see God move in your spirit.
nabster

you are soo right, we are at church to GIVE , not receive. THANKS for reminder! [; DRUMS ARE MY FAVE.

As the outsider may I make an observation? Many Christians I know would have a problem with this question even being asked. I suppose the real bottom line here is how youwere raised and your earliest religious experiences. Many people who didn't have this experience find it offensive, disrespectful and nearly sacriligious. They would question whether people were going to church or a party. They would wonder if people would even go to church or pray if it wasn't loud and rowdy.

As I said, it's what your expereience is/was. People who have little or only very quiet music and song get as deep into worship as others. I'd suspect their view would be less distraction and more able to focus on the Lord.

It was by no means even close to what you expereience but I can remember when folk/guitar masses were first introduced in the Catholic Church. Older members just wouldn't attend, younger members weren't sure if it actually counted as attending mass, others would only atttend that mass. The pasotrs were slow to impliment them and kept a very close eye on them.

I guess, if the purpose is to worship God, that should be able to happen regardless of setting. The circumstances themself shoudn't dictate going or not, worshipping or not. If you're into God and want to worship him it can happen in a vacuum.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you're into God and want to worship him it can happen in a vacuum.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Amen!

wow. that was deep. thanks. it can depend on ones upbringing how they react to certain worship styles. it doesnt bug me when folks hold hands up etc, as long as right reason. by spirit instead of mere peer pressure to fit in. [noticed this often at a school my nephs/niece attend]. if their not hyper and praising correctly, their leader accuses em of being eveil and such . sad! wOULDNT THIS CAUSE KIDS TO BECOME HYPOCRITES? please reply. my eldest neph refuses to just go with the flow if not spirit lead. not trying to be rebellious toward God, just being honest with others. he has a great upbringing as far as exposure to God and Bible. the REAL deal. not just showmanship as in chapel. its sad.

Okay, you guys have some valid points...I understand what you are saying, and you are right. You should be able to worship no matter what. I know that church is giving and not getting. Note that I did join the choir even though I am not particuarly fond of the music style. And don't get me wrong...I still go out to my car or in my home and pop in a music CD and just really really get into talking to God and praising Him.

But to do that with a group of people...to get that on fire and just get so deep into God's presence with other people...well, I miss that. The Bible says where two or more are gathered...

As I've said, I've been in services where the attitude of the worship leader along with his choice of song just really lit the whole place on fire and we would just worship for hours together...we would get to praying together and all kinds of walls would come down.

This doesn't happen here. The actual sermon itself is awesome and full of power...but the worship service is cut and dry. Start to finish...it's like the worship leader is a choir director and we are the choir. It's like he patronizes us (not on purpose I am sure) and tries to lead the people in the pews as if they are his choir...he doesn't seem to be passionate about it, and neither does a single person in the whole church.

But man...one week he was gone, and his assistant director got up there and blew the place away! Same songs (with a few new ones)...but the presence was just different. We had people falling on their faces! It was awesome. I used to have that once a week...and it would spark me to keep going the rest of the week. I'd wake up in the morning just bursting! When God's presence would fall in the place because of the corporate prayers just begging for Him to lay down His conviction and then his mercy and then just cuddle up to us and love on us...and it would happen with such intensity that I just can't describe it.

It ususally started with the worship service. I'm not saying the music has to be "fast"...I have had some big huge breakthroughs during slow songs. And to tell you the truth, when I get so deep into worship that it's just me and God, they could be playing Megadeath or Mozart and I wouldn't even notice. But I think that it is the worship leader's job as a worship leader to lead the congregation to that place.

Maybe I'm wrong. But something tells me that if I was, then I wouldn't be the only one who is dealing with this problem. It seems like the way he leads is more of a distraction and actually keeps some people from getting as far as they want/need to go...

It doesn't have to be a matter of anyone being wrong, just different. The one thing I picked up on that struck me. The original topic is, Worship/Attitude. Lots of people in the same place (physically) at the same time can have the same attitude. That attitude may be different so it seems to be the concensus or RIGHT one. That would make anyone that doesn't fall in there WRONG.

Since there was a similar experience with two different leaders, yes, I'd say it's attitude. An attitude that prevails against the main leader. The very same thing done by someone there is NO attitude or judgement about was acceptable. I don't suppose the original guy may ever be able to please until people change their attitude/judgement of him.

wow, everyone making valid points, I agree with both. aFTER VISITING AROUND various churches, sometimes it is the speaker, other times if the sermon or music makes you feel convicted over an issue in your life-may seem as if talking directly at you, even when he had written that sermon before he kknew youd be there that day. i felt like that before, and realized it was just the way i personally was recieving the message, even enough to change the attitude id come with . the sermon was pre meditated, but not the spirit, that has to be spontaneous, from God. just an observation.you guys made alot of sense. [;

It's not an attitude against him!! He is a great person. We have a meeting together with a small group of people every week and we talk about alot of different issues. We are friends. I enjoy his voice. He is a wonderful singer. I --along with the many people who have acutally brought this issue up -- have no problems and no attitude whatsoever against this guy. I want him to succeed. In fact, I look for things that he is doing well so that I can have my husband compliment him. The worship service was actually much better this morning than it has been...it seems as if he let go a little bit and quit trying to be so formal...but it is definitely not an attitude against him...

hmmmm... I can't add much to nabster's reply, so much I agree with. We're all wired differently and different styles of music speak to people differently. I don't think it has so much to do with attitude as possibly other aspects - each generation has a style that is uniquely their own. David played the harp, you don't see that so much anymore, gregorian chants were pretty popular at one time too, and I grew up in a church that sang mostly old 'campground' tunes, a little 'old-timey' (most written in the 30's, 40's and 50's) for me but even those songs would be too modern for a lotta churches in this area. The newer 'passion' songs are what this generation uses for worship - the same spirit is there but the music is more contemporary.

No matter which generation you are comfortable calling yourself from there's a church using the style you love in its worship services - if it means that much to someone, there's many to choose from, seek one out.

Forever's church used to actually have some of the best music in the area, *very* talented musicians and singers there. It changed recently tho. I think the best way to handle it would be like mentioned above - go to someone (the best place to start actually would be with the music minister) and ask what his goals are for worship in the church. Make some suggestions if you like ( a request for my 'favorite song ever' may work) and be prepared with a cd recording of a good example. If you guys don't let him know what you like how is he to know everyone doesn't *love* what he's already doing? I know the pastor and his wife, they can't be that blind to it themselves if it's as different as you guys say. It's possible tho that they prefer that style (it's what they grew up with ) and may be difficult to get any changes.

another excellent point Allen, THAT WOULD BE A NEAT IDEA AT CHURCH, A MUSIC SUGGESTION BOX ? praise song/hymns can be sung differently , but with same words. or have slower , traditional music at early church like 9am? on suggestion cards, can ask what service time they regularly attend or prefer. that would help too. both parties. yea just an observation. not a command.

being a drummer in the praise band. we had a music leader whose voice was edgy, arrangements were calculated, ended every song the same, and quite frankly he had absolutely no rhythm. it drove me crazy cuz the guy before was just the opposite. now we have something in between. Howver the leader is ANNOINTED... what we seldom have is the lingering in His presence that I desire. ya know end of a slow worship chorus and we just linger as a congreagation in Gods presence? it is powerful and prepares people for the word. . . church has time constraints and schedules to follow and it is dificult to do like I want it. However i am thankful I have the desire to be in His presence.
I used to cry inworship services, because I was in awe to be in His presence and i also Knew it was going to end...so i was saddened because of joy AND that it was going to end. kinda wierd, but the hunger is the key not the music, or the songleader, or the church.....overcome the annoyance and just try to worship ......
BTW, if a drummer is bad, i really struggle with that too, i still got work to do in overcoming..
nabster

Thanks guys. Yes, Allen...I think I will wait a little while till I've been around long enough to have a say so and then bring it up carefully. I have talked a little to the pastor, and he is wanting something a little more cutting edge too. Up until this month, the praise team was led mainly by piano. They are putting the guitars in the lead now...that helps the sound a little. And the guy seems hungry for suggestions. Every time I suggest a song, he runs off to find it and has someone perform it within the next two weeks...he just doesn't get the fact that the songs I'm suggesting are not to be performed, they're to be worshiped to...but just the fact that he takes the suggestions makes me feel a little comfortable about having a little chat with him later.

Nabster...I know what you're saying...exactly. I miss lingering in worship and being so disappointed when it was over. I still feel that way when I'm lost in song in my car or in my own home. I'm upset when it's time to go about my daily business...but I miss that corporately. To see the whole congregation on their knees lost in God's presence.

We actually have several AWESOME drummers in our church...one of which was interviewd by the pastor on stage yesterday. His name is Michael Moore...and he's 20. He's been playing the drums since he was 3 years old, and has had the opportunity to teach drum lessons...even has a scholarship to Lamar. He taught drumline at a local highschool this past year.

In June, he went on a mission trip to Mexico with some teenagers in the youth group. They were canyon climbing. He went too far up. He took a 40-50 (no one's quite sure) foot fall downward and broke both legs, both wrists, his hip, his jaw, fractured his scull...and when they found him, they thought him dead. He was not, though...there was a 2 hr run to get help because their vehicle was so far away. One 14 year old eagle scout started giving orders to move him carefully out of the water and all the guys took their shirts off and made a stretcher out of shirts and sticks. They carried him to the village where he waited almost 10 hours to find a hospital that could give him care.

He lost 9 pints of blood during surgery. He was told 12 weeks was the soonest he could start to walk, and forget about drums because of the injuries to his wrists. Six weeks later at Birchfield camp, he was wheeled up to the front and left the building walking...and has been walking since. Yesterday after the interview, he ended the service with a solo performance on the snare drum. It blew me away.

You could have heard a pin drop in that sanctuary. I miss that too...complete silence where all you can do is contemplate the awe of God.

Yup, Allen...correct you are. We used to have the Sr. Pastor's daugther (or the now acting pastor's sister) and her husband to lead the worship service. I'm told there were days when pastor just had to sit down because the worship just wouldn't stop. It's so controlled now...

speechless! [;

ATTITUDE: A state of mind or feeling with regard to something.

What most think of attitude being/meaning no wonder it seems to be a bad thing.

huh??

Attitude has five definitions. Two have to do with aircraft, one with position of body, one with being a ballet position and the definition I used.

The real meaning of attitude above may be stated, an opinion with regard to something. In this case how worship is done or not. What moves one or not. Whether it works or not.

When I mentioned yes, attitude was involved, you made a point of saying you and others had no attitude toward him. In fact you looked for things he could be complimented about.

Attitude is often used negatively as in she had a lot of attitude, they gave me attitude, etc. I was merely pointing out that yes, there is an attitude(opinion) about the way he does things.

Though my post for a change was short and clear. Sorry.

lol...got it. I understand what you mean... I actually prefer long posts to short and to the point ones. (Don't tell anyone, though). Okay...I am really going to work on my attitude and enjoy the free time with God during service until I feel that the timing is right to say something, because I have considered my motives for wanting to speak up and am positive that it would benefit others and not just myself.

Thanks for the input.

good points. [;

anytime you are experiencing a deep hunger for more of God, even corporate worship. you should pray and fast, and then if you feel moved to speak to your leadership, do it!! it is probably of God, and He is birthing something in you for your church people to hear.
awesome.

fasting would be a good topic here. such as who should not fast due to health or age? mEDICALLY SPEAKING. This music teacher told her students to fast, she didnt tell em why. these are highschoolers. is this safe?aND FOR HOW LONG. if not praying too, then whats the point. can you force someone to fast? IS NOT FASTING BEING UNHOLY?

Great idea, nabster.

Hey, spinster, that would be a great topic to discuss, but why don't you start a thread called "fasting"? Or better yet, I'll do it for you...here goes.

Yes, I agree, nabster that the timing needs to be right, and it just isn't yet. But I was telling Allen...you know I've been praying about it, and out of nowhere the guy that I'm talking about (the worship leader) invited my husband and I over for dinner this weekend. We've never done anything social with them outside of church activities, and I believe this is God's way of opening a door. I don't plan to talk to him this weekend, but at least this is a start...

awesome, thanks girl! [;

its really neat how our doing nothing lets God do HIS thing for us. hard not to do it ourselves, us humans like to be in control, its like a security blanket not relying on others. but God wants us to need Him for even daily activity-not just the big things, He's not to be a crutch , but to carry us! [; EVERYONR HERE IS SO INSPIRATIONAL! Thanks for your encouragement. your not afraid to offend in order to help in the end, ok not offend on purpose. just REAL people being themselves, refreshing!

cool beans..

welcome. Id be proud to call you my Christian brother. whatz one more. [;

YYYYYYYYYYYIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! I haven't said anything to anybody about this issue since I have been in the chior. I haven't felt that the timing was right. I've prayed about it with my husband, and we both agreed to wait for God.

Well. Saturday night, the music minister invited us to his home. We had dinner with two other couples. As we were leaving, the children's minister called us and invited us over for coffee. And as we were on the way there, the pastor called and invited us to lunch after church on Sunday. We have never had these doors opened before, but we still didn't feel the timing was right. So we waited.

Today in my "think tank" meeting with the pastor, he took me aside with the assistant music director and told me that he had a vision of me being part of the leadership in the worship team. He wants me to start assisting in the song selection!!!! How awesome is that? Tell me God's not opening doors there!

And I was also asked by the children's pastor to be the worship leader for the kids one Sunday a month!!

yea, door is wide open. go for it! [;

your challenge now , will be to pray and rely on god and holy spirit for song selection....not just your fave songs. remember to slowly introduce new ones to congregation.sometimes just chorus, then add verses. i am already proud of you for what you guys are gonna do to bring people into God's presence.
pray pray pray and then pray more, and be so close to God inyour personal worship that when you are a part of a service that your personal worship just spills over and leads others as well.
awessssssssssssssommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmee!!!!!!!!!!
nabster

way to go! [; love the icons [dancing].

YEA DITTO!

Oh, yeah nab...it does help that when I meet with the pastor for the "think tank" he gives us the topic and outline of his sermons two to three weeks in advance. And no, I definitely won't go by what my "favorite song" is...I always choose songs that I feel that God is leading me to and songs that are relevant to the message.

thats the best way. [; take care. youll be fine.