Dear worshipper,
Christian music has changed! I don’t think you need to be a rocket scientist to have figured that out. Up until recently, most churches around the world sang the same songs. However, with the advances in technology in the past 30 years, recording and distributing music has become a lot easier.
As a result, we have thousands of songwriters around the world writing thousands of wonderful songs of praise and worship, and most of them can be heard at the click of a button. Suddenly, instead of most churches singing the same 100 songs, we have thousands upon thousands to choose from.
Additionally, with the prevalence of projector screens in modern churches, the popularity of songbooks has decreased significantly. Where previous generations cherished their songbooks (in some cases, as second to the Bible!), newer generations don’t see the need for such things, because once again, the lyrics of almost any song can be found on a computer or mobile device at the click of a button.
Nonetheless, here at COTN Boksburg we have felt the need for a new songbook, which we will use in various contexts. You will find some of the more popular congregational worship songs of the past 20 years added in. We have left in many great hymns of centuries past and choruses of decades past, trying our best to find a suitable balance of new and old.
And so please, doenjoy worshipping the King of kings with these terrific “faith songs”! And as we gather to worship, let us remember these words of John Wesley:
“Sing lustily, and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.”
Blessings,
Ps. Luke Powell
January 2024