Center For Church Music, Songs & Hymns
Recent articles
- Kids Choir Camp 2012: A Soldier of the Cross!
- Thursday Music at Peace
- Kids Choir Camp 2011: A Child of the KING!
- How You Can Help
- The Song of the Cross
Great Hymns of the Faith CDs
Categories
- Music
- The Weight of Glory
- Be Prepared
- Singing Hymns
- Scripture and Song
- Singing Lessons
- John Wesley on Singing
- Colossians 3:16
- Singing: A Call to Excellence
- Worship
- Billys Questions
- The Early Church
- Lent
- Singing Hymns
- C.S. Lewis on Worship
- Kids Choir Camp
- Song and the Spirit
- A Song of Christmas
- Knowing Christ
- Christmas Eve Truce
- Scripture and Song
- Heavenly Song
- Sing Praises
- True Worship
- A Sacrifice of Praise
- From the Choir Director
- Senior Choir Tips
- Worship
- The Last Words of Moses
Our Author
Music & Worship
Why Hymns?
In a time when music serves as a source of conflict in many churches, the goal of the Center is to return peace-and power-to the Church. Music can do this. As Martin Luther said, "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise." When music and the Word of God are combined, a powerf...
Tunes, Meters & Other Hymn Info
When we sing a hymn, we are singing history. It may be a brief time span or one encompassing hundreds of years. Writers of the text, or poem, usually appear on the left side of the page while writers of the music appear on the right side. Almost always the tune name is in ALL CAPS on the right side ...
Singing Hymns: God's Vehicle for Truth
John Chrysostom, (see our last newsletter) often wrote of the church's responsibility regarding singing psalms and hymns. As you remember, Chrysostom lived in the fourth century, a century that was dominated by a theological rift perpetuated by the early Christian theologian, Arius. (His followers w...
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Music to Shape the Soul
O may we soon again renew that song, And keep it tune with Heav'n, till God ere long To his celestial consort us unite, To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light." Since the time of Plato, these words of John Milton have framed a universal belief concerning music. Music is an essential...
Hymns and Praise Songs
Here are some thoughts to help clarify differences between traditional hymns and praise and worship songs. A hymn is a formal song, sung to God in public worship, typically by the entire congregation. For our discussion, a metrical psalm also fits into this definition of a hymn. Technically speaki...
Singing Hymns: Augustine on Music
Of all the early church fathers (leaders), Augustine (354-430) is perhaps the most renowned. In the history of Christian thought, Augustine is arguably the single most important theologian of the early church. His influence is still felt today and the church is indebted to him for his writing on a w...
Augustine: Wisdom for Today's Church
Let's look again at the wisdom of Augustine, a fifth century Christian who many regard as the most important figure in the history of the church. As we related last time, Augustine struggled over the use of music in the church. As a pastor and a bishop, he understood that music had the power to ins...
Singing Hymns vs Praise and Worship
...