Is 'Contemporary' Worship out of date?

[spedteacherita]

I like both traditional and contemporary

Keep the faith FollowChrist , Starwars

Me, too…

Rita

 

[dronald]

David was probably only kidding when he wrote Psalm 150.

 

[Michael68]

Yes, I know who likes them. Some “ministers” of music, who fancy their offerings of contemporary liturgy as being superior to centuries of work, and some pastors, who feel the need to rewrite the Order of Corporate Confession (or exclude it entirely :bigyikes, as well as other parts of the mass. Such arrogance.

Jon

This is offensive to those of us who work hard. I’m not arrogant and as far as I know the Vatican has not said don’t. Some ppl don’t care for the old hyms, so what?

 

[JonNC]

This is offensive to those of us who work hard. I’m not arrogant and as far as I know the Vatican has not said don’t. Some ppl don’t care for the old hyms, so what?

I wasn’t talking about Catholics, and I wasn’t talking about hymns. Before you get offended, read the post. I was talking about music ministers who decide to rewrite liturgical music, and pastors who take it upon themselves to rewrite the liturgy.
I was also clear in stating “some”.

That some do not care for old hymns is fine. Some don’t like the newer music. That’s fine too. What’s not fine, in my view, is changing the essentials of the Divine Service .

Jon

 

[jilly4ski]

I grew up in a Catholic church that had “contemporary” music. Contemporary as in when we joined in the 90s (the parish was founded in the eighties) they were singing folksy ballad type music. As time went on, they introduced newer “praise and worship” music and then even newer Christian rock music. (Surprisingly enough it is otherwise a very orthodox parish). I loved it as a kid. There were some great songs that we sang (and we learned actions in in various youth events). But as I became a teen things began to feel differently. Thing felt forced, like they were trying to force a certain spirituality on us (very charasmatic renewal) and that the reverence seemed very fake (people “speaking in tongues” and being “slain in the spirit”).

In a lot of ways I am very thankful for the parish I grew up in, it taught me things I might not have learned in a different parish. We learned a lot about the Holy Spirit and got to feel some consolation of the spirit as a young teen, which is a very important time to feel that I think. (Also the orthodox theology teaching, despite some burlap and butterflies color this picture and make a felt banner aspects-after I made my first communion they offered apologetics courses for us).

I now much prefer a more traditional liturgy in general. Hymns-though depending on the parish that can be hit or miss. I really enjoy gregorian chant and polyphonic masses are gorgeous. I myself sometimes sing at a parish that does 19th and 20th century classical masses for a OF Latin mass. In fact for All Souls day we did Mozart’s Requiem for the OF Latin Requiem Mass. I was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I would like to be down in the congregation one time to hear it.

When I visit my parents’ church it usually doesn’t make me cringe. So I can’t say I hate it. (I send my kids there for vacation bible school, so they get a little of what I got when I was young). But it is definitely not my cup of tea for the Mass.

 

[TxGodfollower]

We can only hope. I’m just talking about the music: a “contemporary” music service is worse than drinking a latte during Mass, IMHO.

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All my life, I have felt this is a HUGE advantage Catholics have over Protestants, the music. But to be honest contemporary Catholic Masses can get pretty “mellow” and “contemporary.” How this stuff is spiritual or inspiring is beyond me - I cannot speak to what they are trying to achieve - I have never known - the effect is pretty much the opposite. When I stumble into it, I just kind steel myself against it and think on other things.

All forms of contemporary music do not give God the Holy respect He so rightfully deserves instead it leads to an emotional response based Faith that when tested by suffering leads to abandonment of the Faith.

Just judging by this thread - makes you wonder if anybody likes it. I don’t think I know a single person who does, never have.

Anybody…???

The different services appeal to different people. If you think about it, the hymnals in church are actually pretty contemporary in church history. Don’t know for sure, but I’d guess most of the songs are from the 1400s, give or take a couple centuries.

I’ve felt motivated and enjoyed contemporary services. I’ve found some over the top. I’ve been motivated and enjoyed classical services. I’ve also been unmotivated by others.

 

[Michael68]

In my parish we have one Mass on Sunday evening that is Contemporary. The liturgy is exactly the same. I have a guide i can follow or I usually read the readings and the psalm and pick from approved music accordingly. Some of these songs are slow and thought provoking, others more rockin in a praise since.

I myself have been able to encourage young people in service to our Lord through this choir. We have a young man playing bass, a young lady playing guitar and singing, I play guitar and sing and we have a choir ranging from teens to adults. These young people work hard at every rehearsal. Some have even become altar servers and lectors after losing their “stage fright” in the choir. We are very reverent to God during Mass and the young people understand how Sacred the Mass is. We definitely are not a Rock show, but we play some professional quality Contemporary Music.

We do not have drums. Father A. and I agreed that they would be a distraction. We don’t do movements for the same reason. After all the focus of the Mass is not the music and I am in total agreement with that!!!

 

[Son_of_Niall]

David was probably only kidding when he wrote Psalm 150.

The Jews were enthusiastic worshippers to be sure. But there are limits with how far you can take a Scripture verse and apply it to what happens in mega-churches. Different time, different culture.

 

[JustaServant]

Good quote from Fulton Sheen I saw on Facebook this morning:

“The Church which Christ founded has not only preserved the Word He spoke, and the wonders he wrought; it has also taken Him seriously when He said: “Do this for a commemoration of me.” Hence the Mass is to us the crowning act of Christian worship. A pulpit in which the words of our Lord are repeated does not unite us to Him; a choir in which sweet sentiments are sung brings us no closer to His Cross than to His garments. A temple without an altar of sacrifice is non-existent among primitive peoples, and is meaningless among Christians. And so in the Catholic Church the altar, and not the pulpit or the choir or the organ, is the center of worship, for there is reenacted the memorial of His Passion. Its value does not depend on him who says it, or on him who hears it; it depends on Him who is the One High Priest and Victim, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Calvary and the Mass)

 

[exnihilo]

From what I hear from others in both the Catholic and Protestant world there are decent numbers of younger folks attracted to more traditional worship. So it could be that contemporary worship will fade. As a Protestant I never liked contemporary worship. I enjoyed older hymns and liturgy. I do enjoy some gospel and spirituals but never thought them good choices for Sunday worship, at least for congregational singing. It reminded me of church camp when I was a kid. It was great in that setting. As a Catholic I’d like to not have hymns, which are unfortunately sung in monophony, at all. I have a great appreciation for the silence of daily mass.

 

[Michael68]

Obviously I’m in the minority here. I’m glad our congregation is not like this. I’m outta here

 

[TC3033]

Just judging by this thread - makes you wonder if anybody likes it. I don’t think I know a single person who does, never have.

Anybody…???

I know a lot of people who like it. It’s not my cup of tea, but I don’t mind going to that type of service once in a while.

My sister and BIL love it, so do their kids. They always try to get us to go to church with them because we’d “love it”. Now granted, they live almost 2hrs away, so that isn’t going to happen much, if at all. I literally don’t remember the last time we went to church with them. If I’m going home and will have a change to go to church, I’m going where I grew up.

 

[dronald]

The Jews were enthusiastic worshippers to be sure. But there are limits with how far you can take a Scripture verse and apply it to what happens in mega-churches. Different time, different culture.

I think “Different time, different culture” should be the quote to sum up this thread.

We’re talking about the year 2015 and a culture that likes guitars, technology and drums. Let’s not pretend God only wants Him to be worshiped in the way that you like best.

Psalm 150 is absolutely applicable. Let’s not say it’s irrelevant.

 

[FollowChrist34]

From what I hear from others in both the Catholic and Protestant world there are decent numbers of younger folks attracted to more traditional worship. So it could be that contemporary worship will fade. As a Protestant I never liked contemporary worship. I enjoyed older hymns and liturgy. I do enjoy some gospel and spirituals but never thought them good choices for Sunday worship, at least for congregational singing. It reminded me of church camp when I was a kid. It was great in that setting. As a Catholic I’d like to not have hymns, which are unfortunately sung in monophony, at all. I have a great appreciation for the silence of daily mass.

Yes, I agree. It is very ironic how many younger people are attracted to traditional liturgy and music, but I don’t find it surprising. I agree that contemporary services are a throwback to the '70s, 80s. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them fade out. (I realize some differ on this, just IMHO - given that many do prefer traditional.)

And I agree the purpose of Mass is to encounter Christ. I don’t think applying reverence and decorum is out of line. Contemporary services can really trivialize worship, though I am not saying that they somehow make the service not “divine” or “efficacious”. I just think you should hear different music at Mass than you hear while grocery shopping or driving to work on the oldies or easy listening station. The stuff they play at my yoga class is more reverential. Surely a Church can match that.

But I am not a traditionalist purist who abhors Protestant hymns (Amazing Grace), etc. (I see this sometimes.) I find those hymns very beautiful and reverential. I like the fact that everyone knows and can relate to them. To me, they hit the “spiritual” note - and I do love Gregorian chant and Catholic Traditional Music just as much - my perfect blend is hymns and traditional Catholic.

 

[steido01]

More food for thought:

Recent research from Barna Group and the Cornerstone Knowledge Network found that 67 percent of millennials prefer a “classic” church over a “trendy” one, and 77 percent would choose a “sanctuary” over an “auditorium.” While we have yet to warm to the word “traditional” (only 40 percent favor it over “modern”), millennials exhibit an increasing aversion to exclusive, closed-minded religious communities masquerading as the hip new places in town.** For a generation bombarded with advertising and sales pitches, and for whom the charge of “inauthentic” is as cutting an insult as any, church rebranding efforts can actually backfire, especially when young people sense that there is more emphasis on marketing Jesus than actually following Him.** Millennials “are not disillusioned with tradition; they are frustrated with slick or shallow expressions of religion,” argues David Kinnaman, who interviewed hundreds of them for Barna Group and compiled his research in “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church . . . and Rethinking Faith.”

From: washingtonpost.com/opinions/jesus-doesnt-tweet/2015/04/30/fb07ef1a-ed01-11e4-8666-a1d756d0218e_story.html

 

[JonNC]

Obviously I’m in the minority here. I’m glad our congregation is not like this. I’m outta here

There is no reason for you to be “outta here”. I thought what you said in post "27"was a well-reasoned defense of what you do.
I do not prefer contemporary worship, but if what you and Father A do includes all the essentials of the liturgy, and it encourages people, young or not, to come, then I thank God for your work.

Jon

 

[JustaServant]

Liturgy is work — not ‘fun’ or entertainment

In recent decades, people have become very conscious of the importance of diet and exercise. Almost nobody enjoys a diet. Many people enjoy exercise, but others (like me) do not. But, we know that they are good for us in the long run and we will enjoy their benefits.

Worship demands sacrifice, dedication, and costly commitment. But liturgy is not fun!

catholicnewsagency.com/column/liturgy-is-work-not-fun-or-entertainment-3374/

 

[Michael68]

Liturgy is work — not ‘fun’ or entertainment

catholicnewsagency.com/column/liturgy-is-work-not-fun-or-entertainment-3374/

I’m sorry you feel this way

 

[Verdandi]

If I may, I formerly used to be quite deeply involved in my local Catholic parish particually leading the youth groups so I do have an understanding of what I am talking about.

Personally I agree, CoWo is superficial BUT…and here is the but, so is Gregorian Chant, so are Hymns. The apostles never had a Te Deum, but they knew their God very well and managed to share that news with other people. You don’t need a sound system to achieve a spiritual high true, just as you don’t need a full choir during compline to attain one. All music during a service of any kind is merely a tool to elevate the senses and focus ones mind towards God, some people need a focus, others like myself always preferred silence. We are all different in that respect.

Children are egotistical creatures by design and while their capacities for empathy can be nurtured and trained during their teenage years, for some even during their twenties they still lack an ability to relate to anything outside their immediate experience. That’s not actually a bad thing, in fact it can be harnessed to introduce new things in a format they can more easily become enthusiastic about and understand. Adeste Fideles in Latin is nothing short of magnificent don’t get me wrong, but attaching words of meaning to a familiar tune makes them far more memorable to children, after all that’s why teachers and parents use Nursery Rhymes and song to teach younger children, it works with teenagers too just in a more sophisticated way.

The problem with most CoWo, not only in Catholicism however is that it’s not actually contemporary anymore; it’s geared towards the former teenage tastes of men and women now in their mid to late forties. The protestant Churches who have successful music services follow the feel of the music of the Pop chart very closely, what I always observed during those guitar sessions in youth groups was something my mother might have liked in her youth and not something relatable to the children and teenagers in the parish.

I’ve read a lot of things in this thread about traditional worship forms being more popular among millennials, I personally never saw it growing up or see it now among Catholics who practice that I know in person. Supposing it is true though I suspect it is likely a reactionary response to the culture, just as CoWo was a rejection of old norms the interest in Latin and veils if it exists likewise is likely a novelty that the next generation won’t find appealing.

But anyway, just my observations and two cents.

 

[Michael68]

Liturgy is work — not ‘fun’ or entertainment

catholicnewsagency.com/column/liturgy-is-work-not-fun-or-entertainment-3374/

I guess you have the right to sit through Mass with a sour face and discomfort if you want to. That’s not Mass for me