RE: [Worship] using lyric sheets

[Alan Wong <awong@ma.ultranet.com>]

John,
> My question is this:  At home groups (bible studies, kinships, etc...)
> where there is worship, and obviously no overhead projector, how many of
> you use lyric sheets?  Some of the issues I'd like comments on are:

I use a mini-hymnal.  I've compiled 150-some songs onto a landscape, 4-column,
small-type, double-sided songbook.  Each song is alphabetized, and numbered.
I just pick out "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and I call out number "58"
and we just start up.  Also, people might yell out "Let's do #67", and that
means I'll do "In the Secret"

> Does having a piece of paper in your hand inhibit worship?

Not really ... I think people's hearts make a bigger difference.  If
people want to worship, nothing will stop them.  Probably the key
is learning to expand people's vision for how good God really is
to them.

> Can a group of people worship without really knowing how a song goes?

If they know that worship is more than just singing songs.  They should
know that learning a new song, by just letting it bless them 
through the act of listening is just as much an act of worship
as belting out "Shout to the Lord"

> Does having a lyric sheet mean that planning is necessary, therefore
> potentially squelching the flow of the Holy Spirit?

Ahh ... the flow gets challenging for me when I have 150 songs to choose
from the songbook.  And hey, reading the inspired Word orally does
bless people.  Then in a small group, people should be given the
freedom to share, interrupt, etc.  Add on top of that, the potential to sing
extemporaneously .... well, you get the picture ... I think leading
worship for a small-group is the most enjoyable thing in the
world.

> I guess for me I feel like having a lyric sheet gives you an option...
> If someone knows the song, they don't need the sheet.  But if someone
> doesn't know the song and doesn't have a lyric sheet, they have a harder
> time singing the song.

When people KNOW the songs, that tells you where their priorities lie,
ehh?  Without playing a guilt trip, I do encourage people to memorize
P&W songs, because often there is side-benefit of getting to memorize
scripture.  "You Are in Control" is really a combination of Psalm 23 and
Romans 8:28.  Memorizing hymns like "Holy, Holy, Holy" is also good, because
it means good theology gets stored in your head.  Those things have only
helped me grow.  I love it when people already know the songs.

But I also love it when I teach a new song, and people get blessed
even though they have to stare at the lyric sheet.  The lyric sheet
is a great starting point.

*=========*=========*=========*=========*=========
Alan Wong              VCF MetroNorth: Melrose, MA
http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~awong/                      
"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ
and in Jesus Christ.  No Christian community is more
or less than this ... we belong to one another only
through and in Jesus Christ."
   -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, _Life Together_
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