In the normal world, when the COVID-19 lockdown is over, churches will once again gather for worship services just like in old times. Aren’t we looking forward to that? Especially to the joy and edification of singing together. This present lockdown gives pastors, song-leaders and church administrators an opportunity to […]
Tag: Hugh Wetmore
Hymns and contemporary worship songs: principles & preferences (2 of 3) — Hugh Wetmore
With the changing musical cultures, the Church of Jesus Christ is in danger of dividing along generational lines. The natural driving force is the people’s preference for the kind of song they like. If they don’t like another style of singing, they avoid it. People’s preference prevails. But what about […]
Hymns and contemporary worship songs: principles & preferences (1 of 3) – Hugh Wetmore
In the 1970s, when the new wave of “praise and worship songs” swept through the churches, there were people who liked them and people who disliked them. “Worship wars” divided congregations. Usually, the older generation wanted to retain hymns, while the younger generation was eager to embrace the new contemporary […]
Worship and coronavirus – Hugh Wetmore
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. Many Christians, unable to congregate for worship after the government banned meetings of over 100 people, have joined thousands who are congregating in shopping malls. That’s […]
Songs of realism, songs of fantasy — Hugh Wetmore
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. The other Sunday I listened to the world news before coming to our worship service. The news told of those destructive fires in Australia, of floods […]
New Year’s song resolutions — Hugh Wetmore
Welcome this opportunity to set a new, clear, 20/20 vision for your sung worship ministry this New Year. Give it deep, prayerful consideration, together with your colleagues. Take your congregational singing one notch higher than it was last year. Set your bar one notch higher, and stretch your muscles to […]
Style and function — Worship conversation with Hugh
How is it in your church? Is there a tension between the songs which the oldies enjoy, and the songs preferred by the younger generation? Do some want hymns, while other want contemporary worship songs? Are there some who want an organ or piano, while others want a band with […]
Architecture and musical style — Hugh Wetmore
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Judah and demolished the beautiful temple which Solomon had built in Jerusalem. The important Jews were carried off into exile in Babylon, the […]
Songs at funerals — Hugh Wetmore
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. How do we choose suitable songs for funerals, and memorial services? These are precious, intimate occasions, and the choice of music must be handled with sensitivity. […]
Singing the Word to One Another — Hugh Wetmore
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. Over the past three months, Colossians 3:16 has shown us more clearly that the three main purposes for singing in church are: 1. to teach the […]