Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides
the clouds.
His name is the LORD – rejoice
in his presence!
(Psalm 68:4)
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Sunday Morning Music
Come to HUMC any Sunday morning and look at the faces around you as we
sing – joyous faces, faces bowed in prayer, tear-stained faces.
Music touches the soul, softens the heart and brings us into communion
with God. Thrill to worshiping God wholeheartedly with your voices raised
in song. Sense His presence. Join with the saints crying “Holy”
to our King.
Worship through song as the Spirit leads you: stand, kneel, dance,
sit, clap, raise your hands. There is no wrong or right way to worship.
He sees only your heart.
“God loves all kinds of music because he invented it
all – fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. You probably
don’t like it all, but God does. If it is offered to God in spirit
and truth, it is an act of worship.” Purpose Driven Life,
page 65.
During the 8:15 and 10:45 services, we sing a
blend of contemporary songs and traditional hymns, led by the Praise
Band. During the 9:45 service, traditional hymns are sung accompanied
by the piano or organ. Special music is part of all services.
Individual Worship Through Music
God wired us to praise him through song. That means we worship throughout
the week, not just on Sunday. During your private devotional time, sing
to him, or repeat song lyrics or listen to a praise CD. Sing your scripture
or pray a hymn.
Don’t think you have the time? When you are on the way to work
or running the kids to a soccer game, pop in a Christian CD or switch
your radio to a Christian station. Listen to Christian music when you
exercise and praise Him for making you just the way He did. While working
at your computer, pull up a Christian radio station on the internet.
And don’t forget about the shower, a favorite place to sing for
many of us.
Our church library has tapes and CDs available to check out for a two-week
period. The Allen County Public Library also has Christian music available
to check out, many of which are contemporary. Here are some of our favorite
online music sites, including Christian
radio stations. To listen live to the radio stations, click on listen
now and follow the instructions. We also have a CD by our Praise Band.
Contact Karma to
find out more.
Music is part of our history
Music is one of the oldest forms of communicating with God. Consider
the songs of David recorded in the Psalms. One of our favorite hymns
at HUMC is Be Thou My Vision; these stirring words were paired with
an ancient Celtic melody over 1400 years ago, so it’s the oldest
known Christian music Well, there really is no Christian music, just
Christian lyrics. You may be surprised at the number of familiar melodies
that were originally drinking songs until Christian words were added.
Music is part of our spiritual DNA. Charles Wesley,
brother of John Wesley, wrote over 6500 hymns, many still sung today,
such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Christ the Lord is Risen Today;
A Charge to Keep I Have; Jesus, Lover of My Soul; Love Divine, All Loves
Excelling; and O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.
In the 1950s and 1960s, many Methodist churches had two hymnals. The
official (and solemn) hymnal was used during worship services and the
other hymnal, with songs rooted in gospel, blues, jazz and country,
was used during Sunday School. Now we blend the old and the new.
Music is intensely personal, so our Music Director, Heather Hutchison,
would like to hear from you. Please send Heather
your suggestions and comments.
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