Singing the psalms

This fall our congregation has begun to reclaim the ancient practice of singing the psalms. I got fired up about this a year or so ago, and my urge was confirmed at conferences this summer. As we transitioned from summer to fall I wrote a series of articles on the practice, and included discussion of the broad types of psalm-singing "out there" and which we might encounter as we began our practice.

Presbyterians have a long history of psalm-singing, including use of the paradigmatic Genevan Psalter. Though that is the case, I have been attuned to media that comment on the use of psalms in worship, particularly singing the psalms, to be able to articulate my rationale for re-kindling this worship practice in our congregation.

Thus I was delighted to happen upon an interview with NT Wright in Christianity Today, in which he argues for the singing of psalms in worship, including in contemporary services. His basic thrust is that any worship can become lukewarm, and psalm-singing prods the worshiper to ever-new depths of understanding the Trinity and our faith. He particularly notes that some contemporary worship music can leave one spiritually hungry, and a steady diet of singing the psalms can provide needful nourishment.

I was a bit nervous about leading the worshipers at our contemporary/alternative service into a re-discovery of psalm-singing. This article confirmed my sense that it was a good decision to bring psalmody to both congregations, in musical styles appropriate to each. The word is still out on how this practice is being perceived within our worshiping community, but I feel even more committed now to the route we are taking in reclaiming this collection of ancient songs of faith.