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Sing A New Song

Leading worship

Sing a new Song
By David Montgomery
Rutherford House, Edinburgh
142 pages
ISBN 0 946068 78 X

Last Christmas Eve I was handed a highly critical letter (all ministers get them) which carped about the songs I had chosen for our church's worship over the previous few weeks.

Maybe it was no coincidence that on the same day I began reading Montgomery's helpful book about the sung aspect of Christian worship. 'Leading praise' (his term) in today's church takes a deftness of touch which can only be added to by reading this book. Montgomery cogently argues that the sung aspect of Christian worship requires both the best of the classic hymns that have inspired believers for centuries, combined with the best of contemporary material that communicates its message in a radically different way.

Starting from a solidly biblical basis Montgomery charts the history of Christian singing and its place in our spiritual heritage. What makes some words inspire us or some music move us? He includes two particularly helpful chapters exploring the nuts and bolts of what makes a song effective as a vehicle of worship. His extensive research displays a keen awareness of both the historic and contemporary worship music.

He wisely observes that the tensions we experience today in the field of worship stem more from cultural differences than musical preferences, and the book would have been enhanced if this theme had been explored in rather more depth as the post-modern generation enter the communication loop in a completely different way from people whose approach is more didactic. He charts the benefits and pitfalls of music emanating from such sources as Spring Harvest and the Iona Community both from a musical and theological standpoint.

If you lead worship this book is a must. You may not agree with all Montgomery's conclusions but you will find in it a rare mixture of down-to-earth advice, biblical wisdom and numerous ideas for the next time you stand in front of God's people and say 'Now let's worship the Lord' ... and whether his advice will placate my critic remains to be seen.

Dr. Ian White,
Eastbourne