Sing! The Center For Congregational Songa cappella Archives - Sing! The Center For Congregational Song

Mykayla Turner holds a Master of Sacred Music with a Liturgical Musicology concentration. She recently obtained her A.C.C.M. in Piano Performance from Conservatory Canada, and she is currently completing a Master of Theological Studies. Mykayla has presented research at conferences in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Apart from her academic work, she is an active church musician and liturgist. She works as a worship coordinator for a Mennonite congregation in rural Ontario.

A Poem

I attended a friend’s wedding this summer. It was an outdoor ceremony in a wooded section of a campground, so we sang everything a cappella, including one number hastily rehearsed by a hodge-podge group of “friends and dads.” While it would be worthwhile to reflect on the ceremony’s musical content, it wasn’t the music that caught my attention. Instead, it was a reading. One sibling read Mary Oliver’s poem, “Don’t Hesitate,” which begins with an admonition:

“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give into it” (Oliver 2010).

I love that idea. It stuck with me because I want to heed Oliver’s advice, allowing myself to feel joyful without delay or reservation. That’s not how Advent works, though, is it?

Advent…not Christmas yet!

It’s the perennial concern of a church musician. The Advent season begins in December and lasts for four weeks, bringing us right to the doorstep of Christmas Eve, but we see evidence of Christmas festivities in the world around us by November 1, if not earlier. Who can blame the congregants who wish to join the throngs of non-liturgical folk singing Christmas carols for two months or more? It’s fun! More than that, it brings joy to our lives! After all, Oliver told us not to hesitate.

For those who follow a liturgical calendar, though, we know that Advent calls us to “solemn stillness” rather than exuberant joy (Clymer Kurtz and Clymer Kurtz 2014). Much like Lent, Advent makes room for reflection, lament, and longing. While we know that Jesus already entered the world, we act as if we are still waiting for his arrival, reacquainting ourselves with the world’s grief and remembering again why we still hope for the ultimate redemption of creation. It is a season of intentional restraint so that the eventual joy of Christmas feels even more tangible. Advent is a difficult season, but it bears rich fruit. Maybe it’s worthwhile to hesitate sometimes.

You might think that I’m taking the side of the church musician, encouraging you to remain steadfast in your refusal to accommodate requests for Christmas carols before December 24. That’s not my intention, though. You see, Oliver alerts us to an important fact: Even in a season of intentional lament, we will encounter causes for celebration. Likewise, in a season of intentional celebration, like Eastertide (which deserves far more attention than what it currently receives from most congregations), we will encounter occasions for lament. No season is monolithic, even if the liturgical calendar makes it seem so.

Wiggle Room

How then do we anticipate, acknowledge, and make allowances for the complexities of the Advent season when choosing music for our congregations? Here’s one simple suggestion: What if we concluded each service with a Christmas carol? Even if we make a relative commitment to withhold exclamations like “Glory to God in the highest heaven!” until the angels join us on Christmas Eve (assuming that most congregations will read and reflect on Luke 2:1–20 on December 24), it’s not so much heretical as it is honest to acknowledge throughout Advent that we know how the story concludes. We know that longing is not the last word; rather, our cries of lament soon enough blossom into exuberant celebration of the birth of Jesus. Singing a Christmas carol at the end of a service which acknowledges the world’s deep need serves as a foretaste of the good news that we won’t need to stifle for much longer: God is with us! Love is both imminent and immanent.

Worship already often concludes with some kind of uplifting benediction, so I contend that it might suit the flow of a service, the veiled hope of the season, and the ever-shifting state of the world to set aside our well-intentioned reservations for a moment and sing a Christmas carol. Did I mention what comes next in Oliver’s poem? After calling us to “give into” joy without hesitation, she makes the following observation:

“There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back” (Oliver 2010).

The poem continues for a few more lines, but even from this excerpt, we sense Oliver’s rhetorical aim. She means to communicate that grief and joy are not discrete realities appearing in chronological order in our lives. Joy follows a much less linear and much more defiant trajectory than what the liturgical calendar might lead us to believe, and it’s worthwhile to make that corrective in our work as church musicians. We must not fail to recognize and lament the world’s need, but at the same time, joy is far too fleeting for us to ignore when it “suddenly and unexpectedly” appears in our lives. In this season, and in all seasons, we can’t afford to hesitate.

Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the
case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

A Cappella Sunday Hymn Suggestions YEAR A

What:

A Cappella Sunday is when worshiping communities from across the world commit to singing a cappella in their Sunday morning worship service. For communities where this is a new concept, it could just be one hymn, but for communities that are more comfortable singing unaccompanied, they are encouraged to sing their entire service a cappella. Below are why we do it, when we do it, and some resources to help make it successful.

Why:

Spending one Sunday a year to focus on your congregation singing a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) has many benefits and purposes.

It connects us to the history of the church. For thousands of years, a cappella singing was the mainstay of the church’s song. By recognizing this and exploring this way of music-making, we are acknowledging and honoring the saints of the past.
It connects us to many Christian denominations, traditions, and regions of the world that continue to use a cappella music as their primary mode of music-making in corporate worship. Those include but are not limited to many Mennonite denominations, the Church of Christ, many Orthodox traditions, the Church of God in Christ, and South African Methodists.
It offers to God something that is, for many congregations in the United States and Canada, a gift that is different from our usual music-making. Psalm 96:1 tells us to “Sing a new song to the Lord,” which can be achieved for some of us by singing a cappella.
It encourages the congregation’s song by building up confidence in their own voices. Many in our congregations believe that they can’t sing, or can’t sing well. Singing a cappella presents those people with the best opportunity to hear themselves and others singing, giving them a fresh perspective on their assumptions of their own abilities and the ability of the congregation’s combined voice.
It emphasizes the unique ability of instruments to enhance the congregation’s song. By showing the congregation that they can sing without instrumental accompaniment, instrumental accompaniment can then begin to enhance and empower the congregation’s voice rather than acting primarily as a crutch.
It allows the instrumentalists to spend a Sunday listening carefully to the congregation to assess where their voice needs support. Often times it is hard to listen carefully to the congregation when you are focusing on playing your instrument accurately and musically. This gives the instrumentalists permission to step away for a Sunday without feeling like they are leaving the congregation stranded.
Finally, singing a cappella is fun! By removing our typical means of accompanying song, our minds are often challenged to come up with new and creative ways to sing together that maintains energy and vitality. It can bring out the best in not only the congregation, but in the musician’s leadership.

It was a rich Lenten experience to spend a Sunday morning worshiping with only our voices. Thanks to @The Center for Congregational Song for the inspiration and encouragement. Soli Deo Gloria; To God alone be the glory!! – Justin Fox of Grace Community Church, Seal Beach, CA

When:

Each year on the first Sunday of Lent (2020 is Sunday, March 1st)

Let us know you’re participating!

Resources:

Download Our Guide for Lectionary Year A (2017, 2020, 2023)

Download our Guide for Lectionary Year B (2018, 2021, 2024)

Download Our Guide for Lectionary Year C (2016, 2019, 2022)

Friend of The Center, D.J. Bulls from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has spent his career in an a cappella singing denomination the Church of Christ.

Below are three resources he suggests to check out if your interested in a cappella hymn singing:

1. Fearless4you.com Is a website that provides a cappella, four-part congregational arrangements for a number of different types of modern hymns and contemporary worship songs/anthems/choruses. Available in round and shaped notes, many with rehearsal recordings and projected notation as well.
2. ZOEgroup.org This is a group that has done 20 something albums of four-part, presentational, and congregational a cappella worship. Folios with arrangements and individual pdf’s are available on their website and recordings are available on the iTunes store, Amazon Music, and google play.
3. paperlesshymnal.com This is a site that is a compendium of digital, projected four-part arrangements for congregations of thousands of hymns.

Sample Bulletins from Years Past

First Baptist, Greensboro, NC

St Peter ELCA, Northfield, MN

Supporting Organizations:

2020 Participants Include:

* = First Time Participants
Airline Baptist Church* – Metairie, LA
All Saints’ Westboro Anglican Church – Ottawa, ON, CAN
Bethesda Presbyterian Church – Aberdeen, NC
Calvary Chapel* – Albuquerque, NM
Celebration Presbyterian Church* – Myrtle Beach, SC
Central Presbyterian Church – Baltimore, MD
Choir Festival of the Island Churches* – St. Peter Port, Åland Islands
Church of Our Saviour Lutheran – Fond du Lac, WI
Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal* – Edgewood, NC
Duke University Chapel* – Durham, NC
East End United Church – Toronto, ON, CAN
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church – Huntington, WV
First Baptist – Rapid City, SD
Fuller Avenue Christian – Grand Rapids, MI
Gethsemane Lutheran Church – Columbus, OH
Good Shepherd Episcopal* – Humble, TX
Grace Community Church – Seal Beach, CA
Highland Baptist Church* – Kitchener, ON, CAN
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Akron, OH
Jesup First Methodist Church* – Jesup, GA
Long Memorial UMC* – Roxboro, NC
Lutheran Church of the Master* – Coeur D’Alene, ID
New Bloomfield United Methodist* – New Bloomfield, PA
Peace Presbyterian Church* – Bradenton, FL
Port Stanley United Church – Port Stanley, ON, CAN
Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church* – Denton, TX
Salem United Church of Christ* – Doylestown, PA
Seward United Methodist Church* – Seward, NE
St John’s Lutheran* – Orange, CA
St. James Lutheran – Pottstown, PA
St. John Lutheran Church – Roanoke, VA
St. Peter Lutheran Church* – Mechanicsburg, PA
St. Philip’s Anglican – Toronto, ON, CAN
St. Stephen Lutheran Church* – Kitchener, ON, CAN
Storrs Congregational Church UCC – Storrs Mansfield, CT
The First Baptist Church in America – Providence, RI
Vestavia Hills Baptist Church – Birmingham, AL
Vienna Baptist Church – Vienna, VA
Village on Antioch Presbyterian Church – Overland Park, KS
West Side Presbyterian Church* – Ridgewood, NJ
Westminster United Church – Whitby, ON, CAN

A Capella Sunday Hymn Suggestions Year C

What:

Why:

Spending one Sunday a year to focus on your congregation singing a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) has many benefits and purposes.

It connects us to the history of the church. For thousands of years, a cappella singing was the mainstay of the church’s song. By recognizing this and exploring this way of music-making, we are acknowledging and honoring the saints of the past.
It connects us to many Christian denominations, traditions, and regions of the world that continue to use a cappella music as their primary mode of music-making in corporate worship. Those include but are not limited to many Mennonite denominations, the Church of Christ, many Orthodox traditions, the Church of God in Christ, and South African Methodists.
It offers to God something that is, for many congregations in the United States and Canada, a gift that is different from our usual music-making. Psalm 96:1 tells us to “Sing a new song to the Lord,” which can be achieved for some of us by singing a cappella.
It encourages the congregation’s song by building up confidence in their own voices. Many in our congregations believe that they can’t sing, or can’t sing well. Singing a cappella presents those people with the best opportunity to hear themselves and others singing, giving them a fresh perspective on their assumptions of their own abilities and the ability of the congregation’s combined voice.
It emphasizes the unique ability of instruments to enhance the congregation’s song. By showing the congregation that they can sing without instrumental accompaniment, instrumental accompaniment can then begin to enhance and empower the congregation’s voice rather than acting primarily as a crutch.
It allows the instrumentalists to spend a Sunday listening carefully to the congregation to assess where their voice needs support. Often times it is hard to listen carefully to the congregation when you are focusing on playing your instrument accurately and musically. This gives the instrumentalists permission to step away for a Sunday without feeling like they are leaving the congregation stranded.
Finally, singing a cappella is fun! By removing our typical means of accompanying song, our minds are often challenged to come up with new and creative ways to sing together that maintains energy and vitality. It can bring out the best in not only the congregation, but in the musician’s leadership.

When:

Each year on the first Sunday of Lent (2019 is Sunday, March 10th)

Let us know you’re participating!

Participants Include:

St. Rita Catholic Church – Ranger, TX

St John UMC – Augusta, GA

Trinity Lutheran Church – Bend, OR

Minnetonka UMC – Minnetonka, MN

Vienna Baptist Church – Vienna, VA

Aldersgate United Methodist Church – Alexandria, VA

Blythefield Christian Reformed – Rockford, MI

First Baptist Church – Vancouver, BC, Canada

San Rocco Oratory of Chicao Heights – Chicago Heights, IL

Pilgrim Lutheran Church – St. Paul, MN

Emmanuel Lutheran Church – Pittsburgh, PA

Church of Our Saviour Lutheran Church – Fond du Lac, WI

St. Catherine of Siena R. C. Church – Corpus Christi, TX

Rainbow Mennonite Church – Kansas City, KS

East Hill Church of Christ – York, NE

First UMC – Boerne, TX

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church – La Mesa, CA

Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church – Surrey, BC, Canada

First Friends Meeting – Greensboro, NC

Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church – Crystal Lake, IL

Gethsemane Lutheran Church – Columbus, OH

Fifth Avenue Baptist Church – Huntington, WV

Berkeley United Methodist Church – Austin, TX

North Chevy Chase Christian Church – Chevy Chase, MD

The First Baptist Church in America – Providence, RI

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Dedham, MA

Grace Episcopal Church – Lexington, VA

First Baptist Church Vancouver – Vancouver, BC, Canada

Westminster United Church – Whitby, ON, Canada

Rejoice Ministries Christian Church – Oakland, CA

First Presbyterian Church – Rapid City, SD

Aldersgate UMC – Alexandria, VA

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen – Baltimore, MD

Storrs Congregational Church UCC – Storrs Mansfield, CT

Truth Worship Centre, Sovima Logos Bible College – Dimapur, Nagaland, India

Little Zion Lutheran – Telford, PA

First Baptist Church – Rapid City, SD

St. John Lutheran – Angleton, TX

Winterville Christian Church – Winterville, N.C.

Village Church on Antioch – Overland Park, KS

St James Lutheran – Pottstown, Pa

Westminster United Methodist Church – Westminster, MD

First Baptist Church – Rapid City, SD

Friedens United Church of Christ – St.Charles, MO

All Saints’ Anglican Westboro – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

St. Philip’s Anglican Church – Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

Trinity Episcopal – Mattoon, IL

NuValley Presbyterian Church – Rural Valley, PA

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Akron, OH

SouthWest Church of Christ – Ambarvale, NSW, Australia

Boulevard Church – Oklahoma City, OK

NPM-Chapter of the Archdiocese of San Antonio – San Antonio, TX

Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church – Mayfield, NY

Port Stanley United Church – Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada

Vestavia Hills Baptist Church – Vestavia Hills, AL

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church – Northfield, MN

Grace Community Church – Angier, NC