All of the music used in our worship services is selected by someone. Sometimes the worship leader makes no advanced plan other than to let the congregation select their favorite hymns or praise songs. However, most of the time, a great deal of planning goes into the selection, purchase, practice, and performance of music used in our worship services. Wise selection of music involves careful consideration to both the text and the music to which the text is sung. Instrumental music also can play a significant role in our worship, as well as long as its style is appropriate with where it is placed in the service.

Theological Content
Some ministers of music rely on denominational published suggestions of hymns and choral music that follow the lectionary for their church. Some select the music for the particular season of the church year. Some pastors preach topically or through extended portions of biblical texts.

In all the above cases, once you know the theological message central to the worship experience, you can design services from this theme. If the focus of the service is on our being called to serve one another, don't sing about the Trinity. If the focus of the service is about God's love for us, don't sing about our love for each other. It is important to have the text of the hymns draw us to the same truth as the sermon and the rest of the service.

It has been my experience that consistent thematic integration in the design of worship is a subtle but critical prerequisite to consistent excellent worship planning. An invaluable resource will be the topical index and scriptural allusions index found in some hymnals and hymnal companion books. Also, there is no substitute for one's own familiarity with a broad repertoire of Christian hymnody and choral music.

The hymn and choral texts must say something that can be understood by the worshipers. Unfamiliar words can be explained through program notes in the bulletin. Texts sung should be consistent with the theology or your church. Well-known texts bring the security of the familiar, but many also cause the singer to not pay attention to what is being sung. Sometimes, a new text challenges us with a fresh look at a truth about God.

Musical Style
Instrumental music, as well as hymn tunes, has an incredible power to invoke emotions and memories. The instrumental introduction to Bach's Magnificat in D absolutely commands driving excitement and praise. The tunes of "Amazing Grace" and "O Store Gud" (How Great Thou Art) can be expected to be instantly recognized by most American Christians and bring certain emotions to the surface when played in the instruments even before a single word is sung. If this is what you desire to have the people experience, use them. If not, then don't. The first few chords of a familiar Christmas carol will instantly move all our thoughts to Christmas. The tune of "Jesus Loves Me" draws us to the reality of God's love for our children.

We need to be aware that these emotions will be in our congregation when we use a particular piece of music. The mood of the music can be joyful and exciting. It can also be pensive in nature, causing us to be reflective before God, drawing us to prayer and confession. Of major importance will be the tempo as well as how loudly the music is played. The design of worship experiences should tell us what mood we want at a particular location in the service. Tempo and organ registration will not always be the same on a particular hymn. You must be sensitive to the emotional level present in the worship moment as well as the number of worshipers present. Certainly variations in styles of accompaniment can vary with different verses of a hymn.

Service planning is important. The use of instrumental ensembles, choral singing, sung or instrumental descants, and organ free harmonization all need to be prepared well in advance of the actual worship service. Both when and where these are used will be determined by what you believe should be experienced by the worshipers at a particular point in the service. Generally, an opening processional hymn is upbeat and joyful, unless the theme or your particular service is different from that. Communion hymns can be quiet and pensive and can also at times be loud and joyful. Certain homophonic hymns lend themselves very well to a cappella. This will require either an upfront congregational hymn leader or a strong choir led by the conductor to make the hymn stay on pitch and tempo. When done well, it will be a magnificent moment of praise to God, standing in stark contrast majestic hymn-leading with the organ.

Some music is selected because analog prerecorded accompaniment or midi tracks are available and can be purchased for use in the service. Some churches would never use a recording, believing that only live music is to be used. For some churches, a consideration is whether or not orchestral arrangements are available for the church orchestra or whether they can be arranged and learned by the time of the service.

Other art forms can be very effective in facilitating our worship. At times, slide presentations, mime, or other types of drama with music can be quite effective in communicating God's word. Using these forms of worship can bring into use the gifts of some who might not be gifted in music. Dramatic lighting can certainly impact one's worship experience as well can dim lights and a very few candles.

It is important to challenge your choir with great music. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of mediocre Christian music. It can be uninteresting musically as well as have incorrect theology or even have a complete absence of theology. It is also very discouraging for music to be used that is well beyond the choir's present ability. Know the sight-reading ability of your choir and congregation. Have this in mind when you select new music to teach. You can still choose to teach difficult music, but know that it might require a longer time for preparation. It is my practice to have various sections regularly read the music of sections other than their own for the specific benefit of enhancing everyone's sight-singing ability. Some church choral directors shun the use of a language such as Latin, French or German, choosing instead to sing only in English. However, some excellent texts simply do not translate well and fit the music in English. By all means, obtain a definitive printed resource for the pronunciation of these languages for each chorister. Work hard to accurately pronounce the text, whether in English or a foreign language. If you do perform in non-vernacular languages, include the original text along with a translation in the vernacular in the printed program. This will be a great aid in worship for those who are unfamiliar with the selection. Help your choir build a repertoire, returning at reasonable intervals to sing those outstanding pieces that they learn.

Practical Ministry Parameters
When it is time to print the bulletin or lay out the slides for worship, you should be finished with your planning phase of the worship service. I plan many services at a time, which permits a balance of the many pragmatic issues in worship. These issues include participation by many of those in the church that offer their musical gifts to the praise of God. It would include vocal and instrumental soloist and small group ensembles. It might include extended family members who are in the area for a short time or middle school or high school students within your church. It would include persons who are gifted, but whose availability cannot be had on a frequent basis as is needed in the choir or church orchestra. It might include local Christian musical performers or composers from other churches. It might include regular participation by your handbell choir or children's' choir.

Benefit From Others' Knowledge
I suggest that you maintain copies of orders of worship that you feel were particularly effective and exchange them with other pastors. Almost every church music minister has at least a mental list of favorite choral selections. Contact other music ministers and find out what they prefer. Compile your own list of outstanding choral music. Establish a personal acquaintance with one or two published composers who live in your area. They will usually be particularly aware of both classic as well as new pieces worth your consideration. They can bring a great deal of enthusiasm to your musicians when invited to share the podium with your minister of music for a special rehearsal time or worship service. A periodic inquiry with others in the field whose taste you approve will save you a great deal of independent research.

In order to help you become aware of newly released music, almost all publishers provide periodic cassette tapes and review copies of new choral releases. Most are provided on an annual subscription basis. There are several publications that regularly review new choral releases. Almost all publishers participate in choral reading sessions throughout the country several times a year. Many church conventions also have choral reading sessions. Participation in these events will introduce you to both the music and other musicians in your area.

Procurement
A great music library is essential to a well-developed, long-term music ministry. After being selected, most printed music historically has been purchased by phone or mail. With today's technology, the Internet is being used not only to market but to actually distribute music instantaneously by downloading files with licensing for you to print your own copies as needed for your choir as long as you pay a modest fee. In some cases, you can download print and even rehearse the music with your choir before you are committed to purchase the music.

Rev. Larry D. Ellis is the developer of WorshipandChurchMusic.com.