Without Limits: Singing the Congregation’s Song

Worship planners and song leaders have an important task – choosing congregational songs for Sunday worship that unify the gathered people in Godward praise, thanksgiving, lament, and petition as well as human-ward “teaching and admonishment” (Colossians 3:16). With a vast and rich body of historical hymnody and contemporary worship songs, the question for worship planners is, how do we choose songs that express the unique voice of the congregation?

In this sectional, we look beyond song styles and instrumentation and explore several aspects of developing a repertoire of our congregational song. Firstly, church musicians need to find and develop a communal voice—songs that express the communal faith, stories, and culture of the congregation. Secondly, we must listen to the stories and testimonies of individuals in our congregation. Church musicians need to recognize that the individuals’ unique faith journeys shape the communal voice, and, in turn, the common repertoire nurtures the individuals’ faith formation. Thirdly, the congregational voice must be prophetic as Christ-followers strive to be salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16) while living counterculturally. Lastly, the voice must also be pastoral—giving hope to the people, nurturing them, and guiding them.