Comments on: Integrating the Psalms into Congregational Life http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/ Between Two Worlds Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:52:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Douglas K. Adu-Boahen http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53513 Douglas K. Adu-Boahen Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:59:57 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53513 At the church I go to here in London, we are in the habit of singing a Psalm at every service, and on Sundays, we have a Psalm as our first Scripture reading as well as sung. Must say it's a truly edifying practice... At the church I go to here in London, we are in the habit of singing a Psalm at every service, and on Sundays, we have a Psalm as our first Scripture reading as well as sung. Must say it’s a truly edifying practice…

]]> By: Joseph Randall http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53509 Joseph Randall Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:33:17 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53509 Pastor Terry Johnson of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA, has this available: http://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Psalter/dp/1884527078/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257917440&sr=8-1 It's a small paper back Psalter, and you can sing many of the Psalms to very familiar hymn tunes. Our church uses it, along with old hymns, and new contemporary hymns as well. A good mix :) Pastor Terry Johnson of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA, has this available:

http://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Psalter/dp/1884527078/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257917440&sr=8-1

It’s a small paper back Psalter, and you can sing many of the Psalms to very familiar hymn tunes. Our church uses it, along with old hymns, and new contemporary hymns as well. A good mix :)

]]> By: Kirby Johnson http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53504 Kirby Johnson Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:09:40 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53504 Honestly, as an Evangelical pastor, grown up non-liturgical, I have very little idea, outside of reading them, of how to use the Psalms in worship. I feel wayyy out of touch with the full counsel of worship options. My fairly obvious roadblock is that, in English, Psalms don't rhyme like hymns. So how can they be sung? I have often wondered how the Jews sing them, since I'm pretty sure they don't rhyme in Hebrew, either. Since I read music and play guitar and have sung in choirs I consider myself "pretty musical". I have put Psalm 100 to a personal tune which helped me memorize it nothing flat. And I still remember it, and the tune after 22 years. So, for all those reasons, I want to sing Psalms, but haven't been able to. I feel like a liturgist caught in a Hymn-and-gospel-tune singing world. I look forward to reading Justin's and Evan's links. And, any other help you can direct me to. Thanks Honestly, as an Evangelical pastor, grown up non-liturgical, I have very little idea, outside of reading them, of how to use the Psalms in worship. I feel wayyy out of touch with the full counsel of worship options. My fairly obvious roadblock is that, in English, Psalms don’t rhyme like hymns. So how can they be sung? I have often wondered how the Jews sing them, since I’m pretty sure they don’t rhyme in Hebrew, either. Since I read music and play guitar and have sung in choirs I consider myself “pretty musical”. I have put Psalm 100 to a personal tune which helped me memorize it nothing flat. And I still remember it, and the tune after 22 years.

So, for all those reasons, I want to sing Psalms, but haven’t been able to. I feel like a liturgist caught in a Hymn-and-gospel-tune singing world.

I look forward to reading Justin’s and Evan’s links.
And, any other help you can direct me to.

Thanks

]]> By: Evan http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53478 Evan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:50:51 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53478 This Anglican says amen to David. More christians need to lear how to sing the Anglican chants of the Psalms. That way you can sing the actual text of any Bible translation, and not have to change the words to fit a meter. These articles will explain chanting a bit better, <a href="http://www.jackspipe.com/2007/01/03/anglican-chant-and-the-psalms/" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://www.biblicalhorizons.com/rite-reasons/no-61-how-to-chant-the-psalms/" rel="nofollow">here</a> It's tough to get at first because that way of singing is so foreign to most people these days, but it is so worth the effort. This Anglican says amen to David. More christians need to lear how to sing the Anglican chants of the Psalms. That way you can sing the actual text of any Bible translation, and not have to change the words to fit a meter. These articles will explain chanting a bit better, here and here

It’s tough to get at first because that way of singing is so foreign to most people these days, but it is so worth the effort.

]]> By: Richard Irvin http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53471 Richard Irvin Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:53:42 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53471 As you speak of integrating the Psalms into congregational life it would be impolite if I did not make people aware of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America which has been singing the Psalms, a cappella, as their primary means of musical worship for over a hundred years. Their college, located in Beaver Falls PA, was founded by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America in 1848. I went to the school as a young believer, was introduced to singing the Psalms, complained about it sometimes, but would be very remiss if I did not praise the reading of the Psalms now. They are not a simple history book, I will so bold as to say that God has given us specific instructions on how to pray to and praise Him. And they are so profoundly contemporary they will bring tears. As you speak of integrating the Psalms into congregational life it would be impolite if I did not make people aware of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America which has been singing the Psalms, a cappella, as their primary means of musical worship for over a hundred years. Their college, located in Beaver Falls PA, was founded by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America in 1848. I went to the school as a young believer, was introduced to singing the Psalms, complained about it sometimes, but would be very remiss if I did not praise the reading of the Psalms now. They are not a simple history book, I will so bold as to say that God has given us specific instructions on how to pray to and praise Him. And they are so profoundly contemporary they will bring tears.

]]> By: David http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/10/integrating-the-psalms-into-congregational-life/#comment-53469 David Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:32:18 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/?p=6575#comment-53469 Good post, JT. My $.02 as to how to incorporate Psalms into congregational life: There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Look at the Book of Common Prayer. The Anglican lectionary and liturgy are steeped in the Psalms, and all the services -- Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion -- include responsive Psalter readings. Good post, JT.

My $.02 as to how to incorporate Psalms into congregational life: There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Look at the Book of Common Prayer. The Anglican lectionary and liturgy are steeped in the Psalms, and all the services — Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion — include responsive Psalter readings.

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