Your Favorite Hymn and Praise Chorus--and Pet Musical Peeves

[Deadworm]

Early in my ministry, I pastored 2 country Methodist churches in western New York that were unfamiliar with modern praise choruses. One day I was frustrated by the lack of life in our congregational singing. So I went for a long meditative walk in the country, asking for guidance. Suddenly, the words of "Dwelling in Beulah Land" were accurately played in my mind. This seemed miraculous because I think I had sung this song in church only once in my life. So I asked Jon, our music director to play the piano for this song the next Sunday. Never has a congregational song had a more electrifying impact than that my current favorites old hymn. I used to say that the old hymns with the loveliest poetic lyrics are "In the Garden" and "Dwelling in Beulah Land." Only decades later did I learn that both hymns have the same composer, C. Austin Miles. Jon, my pianist, led his own jazz band in Rochester, NY; so his playing was reminiscent of the video performance posted below:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...550ECFBCEAFFCB397E64550ECFBCEAFFCB3&FORM=VIRE


Unfortunately the video uses only the first 2 verses. So I am posting all the poetic verses below. "Beulah" is a Hebrew word for "marriage." Thus the hymn assumes the image of a second honeymoon with God on a mountain top from which we muse over our spiritual problems "down below" that we have transcended:

1. Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling;
   Then I know the sins of earth beset on every hand;
   Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling;
   None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.
   • Refrain:
     I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky,
     I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry;
     Oh, yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
     For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.
2. Far below the storm of doubt upon the world is beating,
   Sons of men in battle long the enemy withstand;
   Safe am I within the castle of God’s Word retreating;
   Nothing then can reach me—’tis Beulah Land.
3. Let the stormy breezes blow, their cry cannot alarm me;
   I am safely sheltered here, protected by God’s hand;
   Here the sun is always shining, here there’s naught can harm me;
   I am safe forever in Beulah Land.
4. Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation;
   Hearing now His blessed voice, I see the way He planned;
   Dwelling in the Spirit, here I learn of full salvation;
   Gladly I will tarry in Beulah Land.

 

[Deadworm]

as for my favorite modern praise chorus, it's a tie between "Who am I?" and "Better than a Hallelujah. I love the "Casting Crowns" rendition of "Who Am I?"

https://www.bing.com/search?q=who am i youtube song&qs=ds&form=QBRE

I love Amy Grant's rendition of "Better than a Hallelujah" just as much:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=bette...s=n&sk=&cvid=55ea84b3ef144f9a88cdcfff0515c954

My pet peeve is the failure of so many evangelical churches to feature a blended worship balance between traditional hymns and modern praise choruses. As a pastor, I carefully explored available praise choruses and loved the lyrics and beautiful melodies of about 30 of them. Now that I'm retired and have become a church hopper, I am usually appalled by the repetitive, shallow, and cliched lyrics of most of the praise choruses sung.

Now I'd love to learn your pet peeves about Christian music and your favorite old hymn and modern praise chorus.

 

[rlvaughn]

Suddenly, the words of "Dwelling in Beulah Land" were accurately played in my mind...Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling...

I really like this song, but it hasn't been in most of the hymn books from which we have sung in my lifetime.

 

[KenH]

My favorite hymn is "Be Thou My Vision".

 

[Revmitchell]

"We Believe" originally sung by the News Boys

 

[Salty]

My # 1 pet peeve - why do they call the music director a "worship leader" That is telling me the entire worship is only the singing part. In reality, the entire service is worship - the message, the offering, the prayers and even music.

My # 2 pet peeve is standing for 20 - 30 minutes for the singing - and # 3 the "worship leader" does not even lead the music.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I don’t like instruments in church, particularly drums and electric guitars I much perfer acapella.

 

[Salty]

I don’t like instruments in church, particularly drums and electric guitars I much perfer acapella.

Well the way some people sing - instruments are just about needed

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Well the way some people sing - instruments are just about needed

It doesn’t really matter what it sounds like, it matters that most people is inspired to join in and sing along thus they are active participants ... kinda like a sing community along.

 

[Revmitchell]

My # 1 pet peeve - why do they call the music director a "worship leader" That is telling me the entire worship is only the singing part. In reality, the entire service is worship - the message, the offering, the prayers and even music.

My # 2 pet peeve is standing for 20 - 30 minutes for the singing - and # 3 the "worship leader" does not even lead the music.

Ditto,ditto, and ditto

 

[rlvaughn]

My # 2 pet peeve is standing for 20 - 30 minutes for the singing...

You stand during the song service? We sit (but then again, we old people are in charge! )

 

[Reynolds]

Early in my ministry, I pastored 2 country Methodist churches in western New York that were unfamiliar with modern praise choruses. One day I was frustrated by the lack of life in our congregational singing. So I went for a long meditative walk in the country, asking for guidance. Suddenly, the words of "Dwelling in Beulah Land" were accurately played in my mind. This seemed miraculous because I think I had sung this song in church only once in my life. So I asked Jon, our music director to play the piano for this song the next Sunday. Never has a congregational song had a more electrifying impact than that my current favorites old hymn. I used to say that the old hymns with the loveliest poetic lyrics are "In the Garden" and "Dwelling in Beulah Land." Only decades later did I learn that both hymns have the same composer, C. Austin Miles. Jon, my pianist, led his own jazz band in Rochester, NY; so his playing was reminiscent of the video performance posted below:

dwelling in beulah land youtube - Bing video


Unfortunately the video uses only the first 2 verses. So I am posting all the poetic verses below. "Beulah" is a Hebrew word for "marriage." Thus the hymn assumes the image of a second honeymoon with God on a mountain top from which we muse over our spiritual problems "down below" that we have transcended:

1. Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling;
   Then I know the sins of earth beset on every hand;
   Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling;
   None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.
   • Refrain:
     I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky,
     I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry;
     Oh, yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
     For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.
2. Far below the storm of doubt upon the world is beating,
   Sons of men in battle long the enemy withstand;
   Safe am I within the castle of God’s Word retreating;
   Nothing then can reach me—’tis Beulah Land.
3. Let the stormy breezes blow, their cry cannot alarm me;
   I am safely sheltered here, protected by God’s hand;
   Here the sun is always shining, here there’s naught can harm me;
   I am safe forever in Beulah Land.
4. Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation;
   Hearing now His blessed voice, I see the way He planned;
   Dwelling in the Spirit, here I learn of full salvation;
   Gladly I will tarry in Beulah Land.

My pet peeve is digital drum kit in church. Sounds like garbage in a sanctuary. Digital drums are bad enough. Digital high hat and cymbals are repulsive.

 

[Deacon]

I like the old hymns, and don’t mind the new ones
I like stringed instruments, and don’t mind electric guitars, bass or drums
I don’t care what they call the person(s) up front, don’t even care if it is a man or woman.
I like the hymns projected on a screen up front, and don’t mind hymn books but tell the person up front to put those arms down.
If they have us standing too long.... I sit down.

My peeves...
1. Music that is so loud my ears ring... this is the sound persons problem.
2. And will someone muzzle the woman with the voice of a frog who enthusiastically croaks out the songs in the seat behind me each Sunday!

Rob

 

[KenH]

I don’t like instruments in church, particularly drums and electric guitars I much perfer acapella.

Having been born and raised in the Church of Christ, I agree with your preference for acapella music. One of my favorite places on YouTube is Acapeldridge. He has two albums out already and another one due in November, plus a couple of Christmas songs - Acapeldridge .

 

[Just_Ahead]

I prefer to sing out of a hymn book--actually hold the hymn book in my hands.

Pet peeves are hymns on screens and use of a praise chorus with instruments.

"Let us sing unto the Lord."

 

[Salty]

I prefer to sing out of a hymn book--actually hold the hymn book in my hands. ..."

Yes, I try to sing with the notes of the song

 

[Covenanter]

For 60 years I have used a music hymn book, but in the present church all the hymns are on OHP, & too many modern ones that haven't got into a book.

The modern 'worship songs' are by singer/songwriters intended for guitar accompaniment, so the piano is unclear as to what we should be singing, & the are too many gaps between the words for the guitarist to shall his skill.

But this Lord's day we concluded with Praise the Saviour, you who know him. BUT the OHP version omitted the last verse & the screen went blank. The pianist carried on, & those who knew the last verse sang it enthusiastically.

 

[Covenanter]

I do like hymns with a regular metre & rhyming lines. Too many modern songs are irregular so they don't stay in memory & you can't take them home.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

Some "classic" hymn favorites, shown alphabetically:

Be Still My Soul (sung to "Finlandia")
Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy
Jesus, Lover of My Soul (sung to "Aberystwyth")
Only a Sinner, Saved By Grace
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

A few more recent ones, shown chronologically:

Great is Thy Faithfulness
Rejoice in the Lord
His Robes For Mine

Pet peeve: Draining life from hymns by singing too slowly.

 

[rlvaughn]

Good songs (other than I am not familiar with "His Robes for Mine").

We traditionally sing "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" with Simeon Marsh's Martyn (because that is what is in our books), but Aberystwyth is very nice tune.