Jubal’s Jottings

I have recently been in a variety of corporate worship services in a fairly short period of time. I (along with millions of others) have been critical of the amount of repetitions that are common in modern worship services. Sometimes I’m just SURE that we did the last repetition, only to hear the leader say, “Let’s sing that again!” And I have discovered that hearing, “Let’s sing that again!” may not mean singing it again just ONE more time either. Honestly, I shut down after a certain number of repeats – as do many around me. There is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to repeats. I guarantee it! There is only so much breath you can take and keep going! What struck me recently, however, was being in a group of people who were decidedly traditional in their stylistic approach to worship. These are the ones who throw the biggest rocks at those on the other end who do all that worship chorus repeating. HOWEVER, the first corporate worship time with this particular group introduced us all to a short, two-line antiphon. It was a very musically adept group, so a couple of times through it and we all had it. As we proceeded into the worship service, the antiphon kept coming up – and each time was always done twice. Well, after a while I started to feel the same response as I have in a modern worship setting with the repeats. You know, after eight times or so, I shut down! The next morning’s worship service yielded the SAME antiphon – once again repeated at least four time – always in pairs! I looked at the service for the following day and saw the SAME antiphon in the worship order – and didn’t attend. So, why is it that these two groups throw rocks at each other? They both abuse the worshiper!

Jubal, how many repeats is too much for you?

A father told about sitting at his son’s college graduation piano concert. After completing a marvelous concert of classical music, he was joined on stage for the last selection by a small combo of instruments. They broke into a jazz arrangement of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the Arlen and Harburg classic. The father told of his bewilderment at what should possess his son to choose that piece for the culmination to his marvelous program. The father couldn’t resist asking his son what led him to the incredulous choice. His son’s response was something like, “Dad, don’t you remember that Somewhere Over the Rainbow is my favorite song? It was the song that played in the mobile hanging above my crib!”

Parents, be careful what you choose to have played when your children are in their crib! It might just end up on a college music recital! It does point to the lasting wonder and power that music can play in each of our lives.

Jubal, what song did you play to your children in the crib? Probably one of your compositions, right?