Christmas Songs - Opinions

tim3finger · December 11th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Hey all

Our Band will be playing 4 Christmas concerts next weekend ( 1 Fri,2 Sat,1 Sunday), and we will be using the same set of songs, more or less. The set is 29 songs and is composed of Traditional and secular songs. We can vary what we play to be within our time frame windows ( 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours).

My question is, how do you personally feel about playing secular Christmas songs in a house of worship. We checked with the coordinators for both Church concerts and they said the secular songs would be just fine. Myself, I feel a little funny playing the secular songs. I don't feel like its a definite no-no, but I feel a little funny. Do you know what I mean? Am I getting wound up for nothing?
I might also add, that one of the Churches we will be playing in, is my own. We have never done anything but P/W songs in the Churches we have played in the past.

Your opinions please!
Thanks

JohnSS · December 11th, 2007, 01:09 PM

The true Spirit of Christmas lies in people joining together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Celebration is an interaction between people and should be filled with joy. If singing "Jingle Bell Rock" in between "Joy to the World" and "Away in a Manger" helps people enjoy the festivities, I don't think God would object.

teletone · December 11th, 2007, 01:22 PM

I don't see a problem. You certainly hear traditional songs on all-Christmas music radio stations, So I would thing the reverse applies. I think it can help young believers "tie it all together".

I performed a Christmas show at my workplace a few years back, and I mixed it up with no know objections. Played electric guitar for secular songs, acoustic for traditional. Had a lady approach me at the end and asked if during my acoustic set I was fishing. That was nice to hear, as in that forum it was for entertainment, yet someone noticed a difference.

Tele Fan · December 11th, 2007, 01:30 PM

I don't think God has a problem with it. It's all about the spirit in which it's done.

Pesty · December 11th, 2007, 05:38 PM

Have fun with it, let your actions and your words show who you are.

Good Luck!

ravindave_3600 · December 13th, 2007, 01:24 AM

If they're "concerts" they're entertainment, not worship. If your church leadership is fine with it, so am I.

goldtopper · December 13th, 2007, 05:43 AM

If you have to fall off the wagon, please do "Run Run Rudolph" !

tim3finger · December 13th, 2007, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldtopper

If you have to fall off the wagon, please do "Run Run Rudolph" !

Don't know that one, but we are doing , among others;
"Rocking around the Christmas Tree"
"Jingle Bell Rock"
"Blue Christmas"
"The Christmas Song" - my fav, a very upbeat jazzy arrangement.

Thanks for the comments, I am feeling better about the secular songs now.

Tim

andy__woods · December 13th, 2007, 10:28 AM

I agree with Ravindave, because it's a concert, I think everything is fair game. I plan on doing a mini-concert with secular Christmas songs the saturday before Christmas, but I will in no way try to pass it off as worship. It's all in fun though! You could always sing, "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" too

1four5 · December 15th, 2007, 11:59 PM

I just got home form the concert, I play in Tim's band...all I can say is what a blast. we did a few churchy carols, and then Rudolph was next, and Tim tried to pass it...but big mouth me asked the place what they thought...and everyone was saying "play it!!!" ...and we did, and they loved it and so started one of the funnest Christmas concerts we ever did, and we played everything we had!

ravindave_3600 · December 16th, 2007, 02:17 AM

Way to go!

tim3finger · December 16th, 2007, 07:10 PM

Hey all

Thanks for the opinions and support. We finished up our Christmas concerts last night at my Church and, as 1four5 said, we played our entire set. The secular songs, much to my surprise, were a big hit, especially the more rock and rolly ones. I kind of conned the crowd into played percussion for us since we have no drummer, we passed out our collection of tambourines, maraccas, sticks, and shakers, and wow, did we get audience participation! A great time was had by all, and we were complimented and asked if we could come back for other functions in the future. It was a joyous celebration of Christmas and a lot of fun for everyone!

Tim

Vince a · December 17th, 2007, 11:20 AM

See??? It all worked out for the good!

Never, ever let what your church leaders decide, in particular your worship leader, be something that bothers you . . .

Take it from someone who used to let all those little things bother him, and someone who no longer "plays" on the worship team because of foolish pride.

I miss it . . . now I sing and play "air" bass to the songs I know . . . from my seat!

It's not about us, nor our worship leader . . . or the songs we play!

Guitar4Him · December 21st, 2007, 12:46 PM

Sooner or later, it's nice to realize that God is not the "mean ogre" that many have him figured out to be. Jesus was constantly mobbed by what was considered the "lower eschelon" of society. They loved to be around Him. He obviously knew how to have a good time. He even acknowledged that his reputation was that of a "glutton and a drunkard".

(Mat 11:19, Luke 7:34) I'm convinced that God loves it when we truly laugh together and have an enjoyable time. It's frequently true that the greatest amount of love gets shared in environments like you have described with your Christmas program.

Solcat · December 21st, 2007, 09:15 PM

Didn't Jesus say something to the effect that those who not against us are for us. Besides, these days any song that mentions Christmas is a religous song. Some schools are even changing the word Christmas to something else in Christmas songs so as not to promote a religon.

ravindave_3600 · December 21st, 2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitar4Him

Sooner or later, it's nice to realize that God is not the "mean ogre" that many have him figured out to be. Jesus was constantly mobbed by what was considered the "lower eschelon" of society. They loved to be around Him. He obviously knew how to have a good time. He even acknowledged that his reputation was that of a "glutton and a drunkard".

(Mat 11:19, Luke 7:34) I'm convinced that God loves it when we truly laugh together and have an enjoyable time. It's frequently true that the greatest amount of love gets shared in environments like you have described with your Christmas program.

Well said, G4H. He doesn't like drunkenness or carousing for its own sake, but a good party, a celebration? He's all for that. See Deuteronomy 14:26 (for info you can rely on) or my band's myspace site (for something less authoritative).

December 11th, 2007, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
tim3finger TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wichita, Ks Age: 59 Posts: 58	Christmas Songs - Opinions Hey all Our Band will be playing 4 Christmas concerts next weekend ( 1 Fri,2 Sat,1 Sunday), and we will be using the same set of songs, more or less. The set is 29 songs and is composed of Traditional and secular songs. We can vary what we play to be within our time frame windows ( 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours). My question is, how do you personally feel about playing secular Christmas songs in a house of worship. We checked with the coordinators for both Church concerts and they said the secular songs would be just fine. Myself, I feel a little funny playing the secular songs. I don't feel like its a definite no-no, but I feel a little funny. Do you know what I mean? Am I getting wound up for nothing? I might also add, that one of the Churches we will be playing in, is my own. We have never done anything but P/W songs in the Churches we have played in the past. Your opinions please! Thanks __________________ Tim I can do everything through Him who gives me strength - Phillipians 4:13

December 11th, 2007, 01:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
teletone TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: wrightwood Posts: 35	I don't see a problem. You certainly hear traditional songs on all-Christmas music radio stations, So I would thing the reverse applies. I think it can help young believers "tie it all together". I performed a Christmas show at my workplace a few years back, and I mixed it up with no know objections. Played electric guitar for secular songs, acoustic for traditional. Had a lady approach me at the end and asked if during my acoustic set I was fishing. That was nice to hear, as in that forum it was for entertainment, yet someone noticed a difference. __________________ 2000 Martin OM28v 2007 American Deluxe Ash BSB

December 11th, 2007, 01:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 1,631	I don't think God has a problem with it. It's all about the spirit in which it's done. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

December 13th, 2007, 01:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
ravindave_3600 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise, USA Posts: 930	If they're "concerts" they're entertainment, not worship. If your church leadership is fine with it, so am I. __________________ Want my guitar to sound like BBQ tastes! check out the band at http://www.brightredtie.com

December 13th, 2007, 05:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
goldtopper Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell Posts: 929	If you have to fall off the wagon, please do "Run Run Rudolph" ! __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

December 11th, 2007, 01:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnSS Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 215	The true Spirit of Christmas lies in people joining together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Celebration is an interaction between people and should be filled with joy. If singing "Jingle Bell Rock" in between "Joy to the World" and "Away in a Manger" helps people enjoy the festivities, I don't think God would object.

December 11th, 2007, 05:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pesty Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 317	Have fun with it, let your actions and your words show who you are. Good Luck!

December 13th, 2007, 10:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,158 60 Photos	I agree with Ravindave, because it's a concert, I think everything is fair game. I plan on doing a mini-concert with secular Christmas songs the saturday before Christmas, but I will in no way try to pass it off as worship. It's all in fun though! You could always sing, "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" too __________________ -- Andy "Woods" Crowder --

December 15th, 2007, 11:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
1four5 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kansas Age: 47 Posts: 129	I just got home form the concert, I play in Tim's band...all I can say is what a blast. we did a few churchy carols, and then Rudolph was next, and Tim tried to pass it...but big mouth me asked the place what they thought...and everyone was saying "play it!!!" ...and we did, and they loved it and so started one of the funnest Christmas concerts we ever did, and we played everything we had! __________________ *Dean*

December 16th, 2007, 02:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
ravindave_3600 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise, USA Posts: 930	Way to go! __________________ Want my guitar to sound like BBQ tastes! check out the band at http://www.brightredtie.com

December 16th, 2007, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
tim3finger TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wichita, Ks Age: 59 Posts: 58	Hey all Thanks for the opinions and support. We finished up our Christmas concerts last night at my Church and, as 1four5 said, we played our entire set. The secular songs, much to my surprise, were a big hit, especially the more rock and rolly ones. I kind of conned the crowd into played percussion for us since we have no drummer, we passed out our collection of tambourines, maraccas, sticks, and shakers, and wow, did we get audience participation! A great time was had by all, and we were complimented and asked if we could come back for other functions in the future. It was a joyous celebration of Christmas and a lot of fun for everyone! Tim __________________ Tim I can do everything through Him who gives me strength - Phillipians 4:13

December 17th, 2007, 11:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
Vince a Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Age: 62 Posts: 771	See??? It all worked out for the good! Never, ever let what your church leaders decide, in particular your worship leader, be something that bothers you . . . Take it from someone who used to let all those little things bother him, and someone who no longer "plays" on the worship team because of foolish pride. I miss it . . . now I sing and play "air" bass to the songs I know . . . from my seat! It's not about us, nor our worship leader . . . or the songs we play!

December 21st, 2007, 12:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
Guitar4Him Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burlington, NC Age: 55 Posts: 169	Sooner or later, it's nice to realize that God is not the "mean ogre" that many have him figured out to be. Jesus was constantly mobbed by what was considered the "lower eschelon" of society. They loved to be around Him. He obviously knew how to have a good time. He even acknowledged that his reputation was that of a "glutton and a drunkard". (Mat 11:19, Luke 7:34) I'm convinced that God loves it when we truly laugh together and have an enjoyable time. It's frequently true that the greatest amount of love gets shared in environments like you have described with your Christmas program. __________________ Ken MySpace Gibson ES-335, Godin LGXT, Fender American Standard Telecaster, PRS EG-1 with Graphtech Ghost System, Alvarez-Yairi Acoustic-Electric Crate Palomino V32 Boss BCB 60 with Klon, Zendrive, DD-20, FX-17, TU-15 Roland VG-8, Roland GR-1, Roland GR-33 Roland XP-50, Roland VK-8M, Fender KX-100 Maestro Boomerang

December 21st, 2007, 09:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
Solcat Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 198	Didn't Jesus say something to the effect that those who not against us are for us. Besides, these days any song that mentions Christmas is a religous song. Some schools are even changing the word Christmas to something else in Christmas songs so as not to promote a religon.