I’m a musician. I’ve been playing piano since I was 6. I also plays drums and guitar. I’ve played in church since I was probably 13 or 14. And even though I’m only 21, I’ve noticed a huge change in the music side of the church. Most churches are forsaking those old songs out the redback hymnal and those good old convention songs. Dont get me wrong, I like some of the newer contemporary songs churches play. Some have a great anointing. However, my heart is still in those good old fashioned convention songs. They have an anointing the majority of these newer style songs don’t have. Idk what I’ll do if the church fully forsakes those good old songs. (Btw, I took this picture in the piano room when I was in college. I was the only one who had that hymnal in the music department. Nobody except my professor had seen this hymnal.)
This is the hymnal that we used for many years in the COG. I loved singing from the old red hymnal but also enjoy more contemporary songs and worship choruses. I introduced new worship choruses into many churches in the COG back in the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Nothing wrong with that.
Still on the market some churches still use them
We sing the red back songs every week in the church choir. Keeping the old songs alive.
A Mississippi COG pastor.
Ive played music in the church my whole life. I personally prefer black gospel to anything else. I almost cant stand hillsong all that contemporary stuff. The hymnals remind me of good times when my mom played the piano but i dont the hymnals are more anointed. I just think the church lived holier back then and were less concerned about beating the baptists to the buffet and more concerned about worshipping God.
We still used the red back, plus sing the Pslams and other Scripture songs.
Oh what they have missed. I am 70 and been playing in church since about age 10. I was taking music and the lady teaching me was also teaching me how to play from this book. I remember the first song I played on Wednesday nights was ” Work For The Night is Coming. “. I learned how to play on an organ that you had to peddle with your feet. I married a Minister of Music and he always found a place for Hymns for the old folks. If you enjoy this music you should watch Jimmy Swaggert. He still uses this type of music in his church. It is beautiful. Not only hymns but sheet music that has beautiful messages in it. There should always be a place for Hymns .
I have played music since i was 15 in the COG and i find new contemporary music boring, with lack of sense and lack of music chords. In Mexico we used to have the hymnal “Rayos de Esperanza” (Rays of Hope) introduced by Revs. Vessie D Hargrave and Leopoldo Dominguez and now is barely used or known by the new generations. By the way, this is a tutorial about how to make a song these days LOL…. https://youtu.be/GhYuA0Cz8ls
I used to help out these red-back hymnals together right there in Cleveland, TN, at the COG Publishing House which owned Tennessee Printing. I can quote the words from memory of so many of those songs. As a child and before I could read, I could sing along with our church choir and never miss a word. I had heard them so much that they were deep inside me. Good times they were! I like the new music too…sometimes.
Songs like Living By Faith. The Meeting In The Air, the old rugged cross, Power In The Blood, they just won’t never get old. And have a wonderful message of hope.
Amen. My daughter attended Lee and had the honor of singing in the Ladies of Lee. With Brother Roosevelt Miller. What an honor to have friendship with a mighty man of God.
I have the same inclinations regarding the musical changes within today’s churches. We used these hymnals & they help to retain the words closer to our heart & memory. Plus, even for those who don’t read music, they actually learn by the simple art of eye coordination of seeing the crescendos or diminuendos, whole notes, half notes, etc. I miss the hymnal use in today’s world.
This is what the majority of churches have become today in the COG, funny but true!! https://youtu.be/pzqaITA3IO0
God bless you
I have played in cog since the 80s and I burned out on Jesus on the mainline lol. Be nice to be a mixture so everyone can be happy. But more importantly what does Holy Spirit want to hear? I play for him not anyone else.
The Red Back continues to be if not the best selling hymnal in the country among the top.
I went to a baptist revival. They sang out of the redback hymnal, shouted, clapped, and ran the isles.
So, as a young adult you would like to see a better mix from the Red Hymnal with the new? Nice to hear.