Varieties of service

Our congregation's River of Praise
group takes over the late service on the third Sunday of each month. We praise
singers turn up the amps, warm up with our repertoire of popular Christian
hits, and invite the congregation to join in.

I like some of the songs, but I
dislike others, particularly those with hard-to-sing lines in the bridge
section. (I call this "the sinner's cadenza.") I like the energy and talent in
the group, but invariably I'm the one who asks if the bass player could turn
down his amp. . . and I've been known to ask if we could sing more songs that let
Jesus down off of the cross. At other times--fortunately for everyone--I let go
of my reservations and just sing.

I sing for the fun of it, and for
the joy of seeing the congregation respond with enthusiasm. I sing because this
is the most energetic of our services, and it displays a more visible corporate
claim of worship that seems muted or internalized in other services. I sing
because in this service I can sing with a half dozen teenagers--the teasing and
spontaneity and fun of singing with them is worth the price of admission.