Brad, The problem I have with that approach is that some churches throw the organ out the window altogether. Contrary to your statement, pipe organs have been around for centuries and have been an integral part of church worship for a long time. It distresses me to see all that eroding in the name of being contemporary and "in touch," whatever that means. Julie, the organist ----- Original Message ----- From: BD To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 8:56 AM Subject: Re: response to Brad about our church visit Kathy, No need to apologize. My bad experiences as a kid growing up in a parochial environment ought not flavor my perception of today's denominational churches either as things have changed a great deal in that regard and for that I do apologize. We use to bring some of the older hymns to the worship service at COTR, granted much of the worship was more contemporary but there was always songs of more meaning mixed with the simple choruses. I think what makes the difference with hymns is to use the beautiful and detailed lyrics and melody and structure but make it more singable with more instruments than pipe organ. Even in the traditional days they had many instruments, and Wurlitzer or whatever company makes the pipe organs wasn't yet a company hehehe. Brad At 01/02/2004 on Friday, you wrote: >Well everybody, >I admit that my response to Brad may have been a bit on the defensive and >for that I do appologize. I feel so often that I have to defend the >benefits of tradition that I'm probably a bit too sensitive on the >subject. In reading Brad's second post, I believe that, in most part, we >are on the same page. Sorry Brad if I sounded a bit harsh. >When Julie mentioned that she attends a church that has both traditional >and modern music, I had to smile because that's where we are right now >too. IN fact, after all I've said about tradition, Greg and I are the >ones that are trying to introduce new music into our church. I have to >say that it is being pretty well received, but I think it helps that Greg >and I have demonstrated to them again and again how much we also love the >old hymns and are comfortable doing both. They know that we're not just >condemning their music and trying to get rid of it. They know that we >love it too and that has helped a lot in them trusting us to bring in the >new. >I wish that more churches did have a healthy respect for both. I remember >reading an article by a pastor from our denomination who planted a church >out in California. For that particular population, he had no choice but >to use all modern music. Now, after thirty years, his people are starting >to ask to go deeper and now he's starting to introduce the hymns and >traditions of the church. It's sad that it just takes so long some times >for people to develop that hunger. >The population here where we are has a lot of dead liberal churches and >Baptists and Pentecostal churchs on the conservative end. Since our >expression is more in the middle of the road, I guess, we get it from >both sides quite a bit which may be one of the reasons that we don't see >much growth. Ah yes, the prejudice movement is alive and well in the >Christian church. Anyway, we do respect the church calendar, you know, >celebration of the Advent season, Lent, Pentecost, common time and all >that. Unfortunately, our people don't know very much about the richness >of their own tradition so Greg actually took some time last year to >explain why we do what we do, when we do it and it was a real eye opener >to many. It's easy to point the finger at our people and call them >ignorant, but I think that they are more the norm than the exception. >Traditions become dead when the understanding isn't passed along. This >will eventually happen in the modern churches as well if they don't >explain what they are doing to their children. >That's why, in the Jewish Sadar, you have the youngest child ask, Why do >we do this tonight? I'm sorry, I can't remember the three questions >accurately. Paul, help me out here! But, that's a perfect example of >passing on a tradition with its explanation and it is still a living, >essential part of the Jewish faith today even though it was originally >given about 3,000 years ago. >Brad, it does sound like you've had some pretty bad experiences in your >upbringing both at school and at church. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry >that people took the opportunity to show power instead of God's love, but >I'm sure that you know that that can happen in a modern church as well. I >suppose a drastic extreme might be Jim Baker's P.T.L. club, but it will >happen anywhere people take their eyes off God and start noticing their >own gain or privilege, giving themselves the glory instead of God. NO >wonder God says that the only heart He can work with is a humble one. >They're the only ones that remain flexible in His service. >IN Him, >Kathy > >________________________________________________________________ >The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! >Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! >Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!