(From
July
2004 Nativity Tidings)
Sing Lustily with Good Courage
Appearing herewith is
John Wesley's “method” (c. 1750) for Methodist congregational singing:
-
Learn the tune.
- Sing them as they are
printed.
- Sing all. “If it
is a cross to you,
take it up, and you
will find a
blessing.”
- Sing lustily and
with good
courage.
- Sing modestly. Do
not bawl.
- Sing in time. Do
not run before
or stay behind.
- Above all, sing
spiritually.
Have an eye to God in
every word
you sing. Aim at
pleasing Him
more than yourself or
any other
creature. In order to
do this,
attend strictly to
the sense of what
you sing, and see
that your heart
is not carried away
with the sound
but offered to God
continually.
Members of Nativity
can take
heart in that they
follow all the
above “rules” anyway,
so no
sermon here. Read
them just for
fun.
—
Karla Porter,
Music Director
Karla Porter
Music Director
