Language and music in church

There are two churches here in Rimbach: a Catholic one and a Lutheran one ("Evangelische").  I have gone some Sundays to the Evangelische Kirche Rimbach.  Each week they have a different worship style including traditional worship with hymns and an organ; "Alpha" which is a service with contemporary music, a topic on the essentials of faith (somewhat connected to the famous Alpha program), and coffee and snacks; and a music service that emphasizes the musical offerings of whatever group is leading (I've heard music from both the 17th century and the local gospel choir).

Anyways, because my German is only developing, I often have a difficult time understanding what is going on in the service.  There are two things that have been easier to understand.  The first was when the service was devoted to the children.  There was a puppet show and the pastor spoke slowly and used small words.  I really appreciated it!  The second is with the contemporary music.  There is a band (with the English name "Living Bones") led by guitars which usually also has a keyboard player and drum set.   Not only did they do a song in English, but the songs in German were repetitive and used simpler language; I had a chance to figure out what they meant, and I appreciated it.

In the past, worshiping in my mother tongue, I have been disappointed by the shallowness of some contemporary worship music because of simple language and repetition (musical quality is a whole other subject).  But in this circumstance, it is what allows me to worship more easily.

Perhaps there is a larger place for simpler lyrics in worship than I had realized.  And it can be for more than just those with a smaller grasp of the language.  Variety in worship is a good thing: it helps us stay fresh and aware of what we are doing and not bogged down in "the usual."

Theater Festival in Mannheim

Check out my latest post to the MLS Guest Teacher's blog:

http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2010/09/theater-festival-in-mannheim.html

2.5 weeks of teaching

Check out my post on the MLS Guest Teachers' blog:
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2010/08/25-weeks-of-teaching.html