What about also having a weekly meeting where only singing praise is done?

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Permalink Reply by Forrest Curo on 5th mo. 2, 2009 at 6:33pm

My wife says that "Quakers would do a really bad job of this." (She used to be a fairly professiional-level early music performer; so that's her critical side at work. She is hell on my own free-form whistling, which is sometimes a form of spontaneous worship... because her training is all about playing what's written--which she does beautifully--and she hears every flaw in my efforts. I have an equally critical ear myself, when it comes to poetry, and so I avoid poetry classes for fear of discouraging students. So it goes; it's lucky we're fond of each other!)

When we were at Pendle Hill, our Synoptic Gospels class was once taken to P'nai Or Synagogue in Philadelphia, and we loved that aspect of their worship--and the Torah study--so much that we went as often as we could, afterwards.

There was another man studying at Pendle Hill... who said he used to go off alone and do a sort of free-form improvised singing-worship. He wanted to do it with others, but no one else seemed to have that yearning, except me. He did a short talk about this, in which he tried to get people to try to come up with spontaneous melody fitting with what he was singing... and in that short session, I managed to do it for a few bars. I agree it would do us good; but I'm having enough trouble trying to start the Got-No-Rhythm Drum Circle, which I know could be doable!

Maybe with a really big meeting house, this could be a children's activity? Adults could join, but only if they agreed to abandon all critical 'help', teaching by example only.

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Permalink Reply by Charley Earp on 7th mo. 5, 2009 at 4:29am

My meeting used to have a monthly singing hour before worship. Song choice was spontaneous. Some felt it heightened the later experience of "regular" worship. Our meeting may start the practice up again next fall.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Lyn Lewis on 7th mo. 5, 2009 at 2:28pm

I really never heard of this concept before in unprogrammed worship until attending a different Meeting in my area. They do not set apart a seperate service, but 15 minutes prior to all MfW, anyone who fees led participates in a group sing together and all determine what is sung during that time. Towards the end of the time, members and attenders are arriving for MfW, so it tones down quickly and falls into our holy silence. At times, we do have an occasional member sing during this time, quite spontaneously in the spirit, which has often spoken to me.

A time and purpose for all if led, I would say.....
Jan Lyn

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Crosman on 7th mo. 6, 2009 at 3:21pm

I've seen meeting's handle Friends' calling to sing as part of their worship in several ways.

I grew up in a meeting that had a hymn sing before First Day School each week (which was held before Meeting for Worship). It served both a spiritual need for those that find close connection to God through song, and a practical one as people arriving late didn't disrupt the flow of later programs.

There were other meetings around that had hymns as part as the opening of worship, and others still that refuse to have music in their worship space.

Personally, I feel that groups should worship as they are lead. If that means 45 minutes of music, even bad music, they should go for it.

Aaron

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