South African Christian News: Telling the God Stories of Africa
God’s own inspired songbook is The Psalms. 150 of them. Walter Riggans has written a provocative article* asking: “If the Psalms have many sad songs of lament, why is it that our church services are ‘overwhelmingly dominated by praise songs?” This is a valid question. It needs an answer, and it requires corrective […]
The home pages of church websites sometimes have a photograph intended to draw the attention of browsers looking for a church to visit or join. I noticed one that got me thinking: “What picture best describes your church?” It was a picture taken from the fifth row of seated people, […]
Originally published in Christian Headlines Pat Barrett’s song Build My Life and Hillsong Worship’s What a Beautiful Name were the most popular worship songs within churches in 2019, while Sinach’s Waymaker could make the list for 2020, according to a new report. Faithlife Proclaim, a church presentation software from Faithlife, […]
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 colonial South Africa had them … Union Day, Queen’s Birthday, VE Day … The old South Africa had them … Republic Day, Kruger Day, Day […]
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. If the Bible writes about it, and the pastor preaches on it, then we should sing about it! We should sing the teachings of the Bible […]
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. (This is a true story, though two services have been conflated.) At a nearby institution, various preachers conduct the regular Sunday Services. Recently, the visiting young […]
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. “Some of the best worship songs are like a chapel and a classroom at the same time,. They teach you something about God, and they give […]
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. In our search for those factors that encourage the ordinary people in the ordinary congregation to sing with easy enthusiasm, I have already listed the following: […]
Hugh Wetmore is a songwriter and student of worship trends. He invites you to join the worship conversation by commenting on his monthly column. This month we aim for an “EASY Sing-Along Style” of song to get the congregation really singing! The emphasis is on easy singability. Professionals don’t want […]