Is 'Contemporary' Worship out of date?

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I received an infraction for a comnent on this thread. I’m so outta here
 
Verdandi said:
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.
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Good analysis.
I have found myself, in both Catholic and Protestant worship, a desire for nostalgia. Secular music itself has a nostalgic foundation. Should we also not take into consideration however that as people mature, so do their tastes. I grew up in in the 60s and 70s. There are many songs I loved as a kid, that I think are sappy now. They are nostalgic, but nonetheless has no appeal to me now in my 50s.
That does not mean CoWo has no meaning, but should it be driven by ‘our tastes’? By nostalgia? These arguments transcend denominational lines
 
It would be nice if we could all worship in one way. It’s not good for Catholics to be divided, especially in significant matters such as worship. I don’t like the different strokes for different folk kind of reasoning. Worship shouldn’t be subject to personal taste, whether “traditional” or “contemporary”. It is individualistic and selfish.
 
I think it is important at mass to cultivate a cultural music that all can relate to.

When you start allowing 'contemporary music’led by ‘the laity’ you find that it goes out of date very quickly and it only ever appeals to a cross section of the congregation. When we are supposed to be trying to connect to God it doesn’t help having to pretend to like and sing long to music you just don’t care for. It brings the whole vibe of mass down.

The extreme example i have come across is at one parish where there was a strong presence of Tongans and Samoans who often don’t get along. They each wanted to sing their own songs and it ended up that everyone else dropped out of the choir except the two groups who would not sing with each other but agreed to take turns each second week. When it was the Tongan week the Samoans were nowhere to be seen at mass and vice versa for the other week. Each wanted the music and language to reflect their own culture and people just left in droves. I think the old idea that the laity should decide is blind to the fact that the laity are not a homogenious group in taste and often culture.

I have no objection though in organising contemporary music functions outside of mass that appeal to some people. If you want to worship through that medium then it would be a very good thing to get together in your own time with Christians with the same tastes in music.

I agree also with the above comments that music goes out of style very quickly.

I have encountered a similar problem in the classroom. The attempt to make classes more contemporary forced teachers to build lessons around Justin Beiber and Harry Potter etc. It only took a couple of years before the kids all complained that what we taught ‘was so yesterday’ and yet the principals still thought that such lessons would be welcomed by the kids.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
It would be nice if we could all worship in one way. It’s not good for Catholics to be divided, especially in significant matters such as worship. I don’t like the different strokes for different folk kind of reasoning. Worship shouldn’t be subject to personal taste, whether “traditional” or “contemporary”. It is individualistic and selfish.
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That’s how it is supposed to be. That’s one of the beauties of the EF. The rubrics are so strict that it doesn’t allow for a bunch of changes to how things are. I can go to any Mass in the EF in the world, and aside from the sermon in non-English speaking countries, understand everyth going on, follow along in my Missal, sing the Mass ordinaries, I know What kind of Mass I’m going to be attending. I don’t have to go searching for something that resembles what the Church wants for her liturgy.
 
Not at all. One Episcopal church near me has 4 services on weekends and the late Sunday morning service is contemporary with a band. Drums, bass guitar, etc. It is one of their most attended and by people of all ages. Their Sat evening service, while not contemporary, features acoustic guitar along with a piano. Their 2 earlier Sun morning services are traditional.

Another Episcopal church in the area has a jazz service on Saturday evening.

The United Methodist church has a traditional service early Sun morning and a contemporary service at 10 or 1030 am.

Some of the Catholic churches having Lifeteen Masses and there are of course the non denominational praise and worship ones. I believe there are even one or two Presbyterian ones (actually PCA, not PCUSA) that have contemporary services.

I like what the Episcopal priest at the one says about it, “We recognize that there are many paths to spiritual development and strive to support all who enter this journey. Each week, a variety of unique worship services are offered to serve the needs of our community. Try them all and find the one that speaks to you!”
 
Our Sunday evening Mass is geared towards teens, yet we have a lot of young adults and adults from 30s through 70s. They have a choice as we offer three Masses on Sunday. They consistently come to the contemporary Mass. I am the director of the choir and I coordinate the music with the readings and message for the particular Sunday. I listen to Contemporary Music stations and try to stay current. The kids are always suggesting songs to play, so I know these songs will appeal to the teens, yet the adults like it too. We do rehearse these songs hard because nobody wants to hear a bad choir. I really believe the music is an enhancement and not the focus of Mass.
 
Especially in Protestantism, they’re “fading out” our traditional practices; yes, we do base plenty of what we do off of ancient Christian tradition. This is what some Christian denominations and traditions are coming to.

I’m not sure what to think.
 
Hatikvah said:
Especially in Protestantism, they’re “fading out” our traditional practices; yes, we do base plenty of what we do off of ancient Christian tradition. This is what some Christian denominations and traditions are coming to.

I’m not sure what to think.
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Fading out? Or just put on hold until the kids grow up a little and desire more substance to worship? The flash and dash fades after a while. You can’t go to the circus every week.
 
FollowChrist34 said:
All my life, I have felt this is a HUGE advantage Catholics have over Protestants, the music.
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Oh dear, and I would say just the opposite these days. I have not been in a Roman Catholic church where they actually SING the hymns!

Go to an Anglican service or Lutheran, and they love their hymns. I was once in a Welsh church on a summer Sunday morning and I think they put us all to shame. But I do believe that we (Anglicans at least) are much better at church music and hymnody.

After I read the book ‘Why Catholics can’t sing’, I it made more sense to me too.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
It would be nice if we could all worship in one way. It’s not good for Catholics to be divided, especially in significant matters such as worship. I don’t like the different strokes for different folk kind of reasoning. Worship shouldn’t be subject to personal taste, whether “traditional” or “contemporary”. It is individualistic and selfish.
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I agree with you to a point. Rejecting a service because you don’t find the music “moving” or “inspirational” is selfish, because its not for you dude. You are there to worship God, not worship yourself or your way. Now, personally, I see some people moved by traditional music, some are moved by contemporary, and some moved by country, others by jazz. We’re supposed to make a joyful noise to the Lord, so I think we should mix it up.:cool:
 
JustaServant said:
Fading out? Or just put on hold until the kids grow up a little and desire more substance to worship? The flash and dash fades after a while. You can’t go to the circus every week.
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By “fading out,” I meant that even for the adults and “older people,” there have been less and less tradition-concerned activities and services. They even moved the traditional service to an hour before, because the place for contemporary worship is being repaired; but, to no avail, many have left our church.

Although, as you have stated, this may just be the case. I’m hoping so.
 
Approximately ten years ago, I went to a Christmas Eve service and the Pastor performed a rap, even with a baseball cap on (it was on backwards, 'cuz that’s how you let people know that you’re one fresh dude). I still remember the chorus. :ehh:

“Raise your hands, stomp and clap
Praise the Lord with the Christmas rap”

Obviously it was supposed to be light hearted, but I thought it to be a little inappropriate.
 
Michael68 said:
Our Sunday evening Mass is geared towards teens, yet we have a lot of young adults and adults from 30s through 70s. They have a choice as we offer three Masses on Sunday. They consistently come to the contemporary Mass. I am the director of the choir and I coordinate the music with the readings and message for the particular Sunday. I listen to Contemporary Music stations and try to stay current. The kids are always suggesting songs to play, so I know these songs will appeal to the teens, yet the adults like it too. We do rehearse these songs hard because nobody wants to hear a bad choir. I really believe the music is an enhancement and not the focus of Mass.
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Once I asked an Episcopal priest if I would be the oldest person at their contemporary service and he said their original intent was to attract the 20-somethings… But he said they actually ended up attracting all ages… from young families to 80 yr olds! And I’ve been told the same about Catholic “teen Masses”. I agree of course music is not the focus. But that would go for whatever the style, traditional as well, is not the focus. But music can enhance one’s experience I believe without a doubt.
 
Good music in worship is music that is sung from lips that are aflame with love for God and hunger for obedience to his will.
 
JustaServant said:
Fading out? Or just put on hold until the kids grow up a little and desire more substance to worship? The flash and dash fades after a while. You can’t go to the circus every week.
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That was a pretty terrible shot at the way some people worship. Great…you don’t like it, that doesn’t make it OK for you to call the way some people choose to worship a “circus”.
 
TC3033 said:
That was a pretty terrible shot at the way some people worship. Great…you don’t like it, that doesn’t make it OK for you to call the way some people choose to worship a “circus”.
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Amen
 
Am I the only one around here that doesn’t mind if other Church’s worship differently than ours?

Also, am I the only one around here who can quote Scripture to prove how God feels about strings and symbols?

Psalm 150 I say again.
 
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