Any Methodists out there?

[MidgeD79]

I am church organist/pianist for 2 methodist churches - one for 15 years and the other for 3 years. Although I can play the organ, the piano is my passion.I have been ordered by the second church PPR committee to play the organ all of the time. the pastor and I are not happy because the organ tends to lend people to sing slooowwwlllyyy. 75%of the members are over 65. Does your church use the organ all of the time, how old are the members, what kids of songs do you sing and are you haapy with the music?

 

[lindalinda]

Methodist here. I usually attend the "contemporary" service. We have a band and a small group of singers for that service, and both piano and organ and choir for the "traditional" service. Contemporary christian music is sung during the early service and traditional hymns at the late service.

There is a wide range of ages in my church. However the youth program is pretty small for a church of our size. We have a very good childrens service but we seem to lose the teenagers. We are building a gym/rec area and are hoping for some new programs to increase the teen numbers.

 

[LBAK]

Methodist here and we only use the organ at our church.

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

At my church our choir director plays both organ and piano (though not at the same time, for the instruments are at opposite ends of the stage). We have a mix of old, young, and families; recently we hired a new youth director, who's married with a baby son. We have a traditional service at 8:30 am ET where we sing traditional hymns from the hymnbook, the pastor (ours came to us from Mount Pleasant (MI) Community Church) and choir wear robes, and the service is sparsely attended. The contemporary service at 10:30 am follows our adult Sunday school, and features the worship band and congregation singing contemporary Christian music. I personally prefer the contemporary service which is livelier with nearly a full house and has better music.

Jim

 

[luvdzne]

I grew up Methodist and only the organ was played. I agree, it does make you sing slowly. I always refused to sing along because of it, that and I can't sing!

 

[Kae]

Methodist here. I usually attend the "contemporary" service. We have a band and a small group of singers for that service, and both piano and organ and choir for the "traditional" service. Contemporary christian music is sung during the early service and traditional hymns at the late service.

.

Us too. My BIL is on the Praise Team, he plays drums. We have redone our church & we do not have a big pipe organ anymore.

Kae

 

[Saxsoon]

Methodist here, but I rarely go into church service. I don't like to hear about God and his love, I want to talk about it. So I usually go to youth (teen) and it more open for discussing than just listening.

 

[paigevz]

I like the traditional service, but it's mostly piano.............we sing the usuals.........up from the grave he arose................

We have a good mix of ages.................

 

[themepark]

I am Methodist but I attend the contemporary service most of the time. I do know that we didn't have an organist for probably 5 years so only the piano was played at the traditional service. Recently a group of seniors got together and raised money to hire an organist so it is now played some at the traditional service. We have people of all ages pretty evenly represented at our church with the exception of college age folks. Most of the older set does attend the traditional service but there are quite a few young families that attend it as well.

 

[Off2DisIGo]

I'm Methodist, and we have a pipe organ and piano. I love it. I prefer traditional "high church" worship.

 

[disykat]

I'm not Methodist, but I'm going to answer anyway! (My mom played the organ quite often at the Methodist church, so maybe I can be an honorary Methodist!)

At our church, our organist plays the more traditional hymns and liturgies on the organ, and the more contemporary stuff at the piano. We have a usually have a mix of both at each service, so she switches back and forth a lot. I think it is an ideal mix and much prefer the "something for everyone" approach to worship rather than segregating it.

My mom plays at Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches (she subs) and they all do their whole services with organ.

It's sounds like this is a fear based decision - fearing that the organ will be "phased out" as so many churches are doing. Because we make a point of using both, people don't seem to have that fear in our congregation. I think the music sets a definate mood and it is a real plus to be able to have several instruments to choose from.

 

[transparant]

Methodist here. I go to the contemporary service. We have a praise band that is AWESOME! The second service switches back and forth between organ and piano.

 

[Galahad]

We belong to a pretty large Methodist congregation with a wonderful pipe organ and organist. I'd say we use the organ 80% or the time. Somehow we manage to keep the flock moving along.

 

[vetrik]

I am (was?) Methodist. I don't go to church anymore, but my mom was the organist for years when I was growing up. My church always used both the organ and the piano. I know my mom liked the piano better, but I think it's because she was trained on the piano and had only picked up the organ when they asked her to play for the church.

The organist that replaced her seemed to always slow down on the organ and speed up on the piano. It would be like a race to get to the end of the hymn.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I am a Methodist and our church is fairly small (only about 50 in attendance on Sunday mornings). We have an organ but we use the piano 98% of the time. Our congregation is older and no-one complains. In fact, I prefer the piano.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I am a Methodist pastor. My wife and I co-pastor a church in NC. When we got here 15 months ago it was pretty much all organ all the time. We encouraged use of the piano, which was easy enough. We have since installed a video projection system and use DVD stuff like iworship to sing along with. So far the congregation likes it; it works well; and I think it honors God in that we are able to sing more clearly and often with more enthusiasm

Our congregation is just not very musically talented. DW, myself, and others from the church have been praying for a talented singer/musician to come along. We are going to have to have some talent to grow our music any further.

OP, I am sending you a PM hopefuly with some help about your situation.

 

[agnes!]

I am church organist/pianist for 2 methodist churches - one for 15 years and the other for 3 years. Although I can play the organ, the piano is my passion.I have been ordered by the second church PPR committee to play the organ all of the time. the pastor and I are not happy because the organ tends to lend people to sing slooowwwlllyyy. 75%of the members are over 65. Does your church use the organ all of the time, how old are the members, what kids of songs do you sing and are you haapy with the music?

I'm still stuck on thet fact that this committee *ordered* you to only play the organ.
If anybody says anything to you about "why don't we hear that lovely piano anymore?" make *sure* you tell them exactly why . Maybe you could give a separate concert of piano works as a fundraiser for some worthy cause? heheheheh.

agnes!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I just wanted to add that the only organ music I have enjoyed this year has been at the closing credits of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 movie

 

[cats7494]

I usually go to the contemporary service. We have 5 services..2 of which are contemporary and 3 are traditional. The traditional uses organ mostly with some piano.
Our music department is awesome...the director tries to incorporate brass often to go with the organ and I think that really helps!

 

[pkasbohm]

Another Methodist here....ours uses the piano 95% of the time.