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How can you get a congregation to worship without having to do a lot of encouraging?We sing Redback and some contemporary songs. Our church is mostly 65 and older. Regardless of the song, regardless who is singing the song... they sit or stand (for a very few moments) and will not move, not always, but 90% of the time they will not sing unless encouraged to do so. These are physically fit and active people for their age, until it comes to worship in church.

When we define worship by acrobats, emotions and noises, then I guess not.

If you want them to sing - why don't you lead them in singing? or Why don't you pick songs that are easy to sing?I have come to the conclusion that most services don't really care if I sing - the music has the volume turned up loud enough - that even if I did sing - no one could hear me - including myself.Or we turn the lights off - which makes me sleepy.Or we sing very wordy songs - which by the time I figure out the song - we are off to the next one - usually really slow - again which makes me sleepy.I would rather stand there in the awesome presence of the one singing so beautifully and picture being in the presence of Hillsong or Michael W Smith...which I assume is what they want when the lights go dim - and the spotlights come on them.People sing with Take me out to the ballgame because they usually have a Harey Carey directing them or a bouncing hot dog over the correct word on the big screen when it is time to sing that word.Perhaps a bouncing cross over the right word would work. At least they would know they were supposed to sing.

Ernie, this describes my new church to a T, except that some of the older saints do try to participate. Where we are having a disconnect is in the new direction we're going. Every song now features a screaming guitar solo, often several of them in the same song. Combine that with the speed of the music and most seniors can't keep up! My survival plan is to stay focused, focused, focused on Christ and try not to become distracted. Been down this path several times before, so I kinda know what's coming “Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”

I'm not old, but I don't like standing up for 45 minutes to show that I am worshiping. I may stand spontaneously and worship, but at some point, I'm ready to sit back down and worship from that angle. A person can worship sitting down--and it can be a noticeable thing. But at some point, I get so tired of standing--or so angry about feeling like I HAVE to stand--that, yeah, I can stop worshiping and hope that the worship leader is hit be an asteroid mid-song. (OK, not really, but you get the idea.)A song set typically has to fit the church's personality. If they sing ONLY redback and you come in with the latest Lincoln Brewster, you're probably going to get the CLAANG thing (Cows Looking At A New Gate).Sadly, the reverse is pretty much true, too, since many younger people have seldom or never even heard some of the songs that used to be Church of God classics (both redback and convention books). BTW, with Tim Hill in leadership, maybe he can push some buttons and get Lee University (using great choirs and many church folks) to put together a collection of ALL (or most) of the redback hymns...AND, perhaps, the Top 50 convention songs of all times that we published for Campmeetings, etc. If nothing else, it would serve as a kind of auditory historical marker for our movement.Just like concerts, I think that those who stand up in FRONT of me, blocking my view, should be sent to eternal torment...well, at least an hour of it...for purchasing SEATS that they apparently are NOT going to use, nor are going to allow ME to use them. Yes, when there is a standing ovation or time of standing worship, fine. But when I go to church and I HAVE to stand for 45 minutes in order to even see the service, I am almost certainly not going to be in a very worshipful mood--in fact, I'm probably going to have to ask forgiveness for some thoughts. And, if I know what kind of car the people who blocked my view are driving, I might even have to ask forgiveness for keying their car. (Yes, I'm joking, right?)

Aaron - some professional help would do you good.The state is sending a wagon to pick you up.Go outside and wait for it

Ernie

Your problem is a problem for many churches. It is not an age thing per se although it is part of your problem. If you want people to be more vocal, more passionate in their worship you need to teach them about why they need to. Praise and worship is in fact warfare. Read ps 149, isa 30

Based on what I'm reading here & have seen elsewhere, we have two different trains of thoughts on praise and worship:1) Redback or it ain't holy. If you ain't gonna sing Redback, don't expect me to sing along. If you do Redback or a couple of Southern Gospel hymns, I might wave my hanky and sing along.2) Contemporary to the max. This features songs only a select few can sing, and we don't really want the congregation singing anyhow. Y'all just listen to us and enjoy the guitar solos and we'll be done in a bit.Personally, I think a blend is the best bet, but that usually depends on the church. I can live without the guitar solos, but if you want me to sing along, sing songs I know, love, and understand.If you want people to worship, model it for them. YOU worship, as the pastor, as the praise leader. Don't focus on the congregation (though you have to know if they are with you or are engaged), but put your focus on the Lord and worship Him. When they see you caught up in His presence and adoring Him, maybe it will look so good to them, they will forget about themselves and focus on Him a while. Isn't that part of why we came to church, anyhow?Also, please don't fuss at the congregation during praise and worship & tell them they look like they've been drinking pickle juice. This is not found to be effective More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

Imma agree with Aaron (mostly cept the keying the car. flat tire is better! LOL yep that too is a joke)It always bothered me when I heard, Can't you stand 45 minutes for the LORD?Course I could. For the Lord I would try to stand for the rest of my life. But I don't think I will stand that long just to satisfy someone's idea that is WORSHIP!Worship (style or ways) is known to the one worshiping, I praise God for that. We limit our congregations and churches by attempting to force feed something not necessarily scriptural and chide those that do not get on the bus as 'an anchor to the ship of Zion.' Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/