Nobody whined ... or at least I haven't heard them

If you read my previous post, you may be aware that I introduced a new song (hymn, actually) to both of our morning worship congregations yesterday. In the 8:30 service, it was in E and accompanied by acoustic guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums. In the 11:00 service it was in E-flat and accompanied 4-part hymn-style by piano and organ. The choir had learned it the previous Wednesday night.

As long as I have been in the music ministry (some 20 odd years ... some years odder than others), I have always encountered resistance when introducing "new" worship songs or practices to congregations. One of the many things I learned from Dr. Gene Black at Samford was this: when people say "I know what I like" they usually mean "I like what I know"; and everybody tends to view the new and unfamiliar with suspicion, which sometimes results in resistance.

As far as I could tell yesterday morning, the new hymn was at least tolerated well if not embraced by both worshiping groups. Kudos to Todd Fields and Michael Gleason for writing a fine hymn (worship song, actually).