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Church Music: For the Care of Souls
The Lord's song sings faith into people's hearts.
Music is central to the life of the church. In Church For the Care of Souls , Phillip Magness helps the church to recover the primary instrument in congregational voices. With voices raised, we sing praises to our God and King for his Son Jesus Christ. Singing calls for a special kind of leadership―not only on the part of musicians, but also among pastors and lay leaders. Together, leaders can help congregations find their voice and reclaim the power of music for the care of souls.
Music is central to the life of the church. In Church For the Care of Souls , Phillip Magness helps the church to recover the primary instrument in congregational voices. With voices raised, we sing praises to our God and King for his Son Jesus Christ. Singing calls for a special kind of leadership―not only on the part of musicians, but also among pastors and lay leaders. Together, leaders can help congregations find their voice and reclaim the power of music for the care of souls.
- GenresMusic
280 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2024
I'll start by talking briefly about the manner in which I ended up reading this book because it illustrates my reception of reading it. Yesterday, I checked out an ebook edition of it from my library and read the first 10 chapters. Today, I went to my local seminary bookstore, purchased my own copy of the actual book, and finished it. I read this book faster than I intended to or probably should have, so I need to go through it again and collect certain quotes from it, but I will be glad to have a copy to come back to as a reminder of the heart of the matter.
This was a good book for me to read at this particular moment. Nearly everything in it read like my own thoughts from my own experiences and convictions, but having these ideas confirmed and reinforced in such a clear manner was encouraging in a way I desperately need at the moment. I can vouch for the guidance contained in this book because I have seen first-hand nearly all of situations and music planning/congregational music dynamics it discusses.
A few concepts this book discusses I found especially well put or important:
1. Church music as folk music.
Folk music belongs to the people as a whole, not a professional musician class, and as such it is accessible, suited to communal singing, encourages memorization, allows for flexible execution/instrumentation, and has a certain spontaneity around how and when it can be used. Untrained musicians can break out in folk song at the drop of a hat, and that is a wonderful thing.
2. Centrality of singing, and thus the words and the Word, in church music.
I'm known to say to people wanting to promote a contemporary worship style that a song purporting to be church music that can't be done without a drum kit is a bad song. I've had disagreements with church musicians about this. But thinking from a singing and word focused perspective makes it clear: the Church's song is not dependent on instrumentation, technology, or other extraneous factors. It is centered on proclamation: of the Word, the objective truth of the work of God for us and His gifts to us, and our thanks for these things. Thinking with singing at the center helps cut right to this heart. I appreciated the author mentioning it actually functions as a blessing when African congregations he works with lack reliable electricity. I'm a semi-regular visitor to a local African immigrant LCMS congregation, and the singing-focused, memorization driven music approach has been comforting to me in an American music environment obsessed with production and often requiring so much technology.
3. Congregations branding their different service times with different worship styles/music selection repertoires/approaches as being inherently divisive.
I'm currently in a situation where I'm feeling torn apart by exactly this dynamic. I'm not the one making most of the decisions, but it has been heartbreaking trying to navigate a job where I'm seeing more being lost than is realized, including an underlying unity within the congregation, and unity between the congregation and the LCMS as a whole and the past of Christendom generally.
4. The song God gives us to sing is always new.
The discussion of God being the one "contextualizing" us with the song of the Church is very well put. This work of God is always being renewed, and it is always working counterculturally to the world in a way that connects us with all those throughout history who have been called by the Gospel. God has given us an eternal culture that is always new in Him.
5. Let the words do the work, not your performance or manipulation.
One of my favorite compliments I've received after leading a church service where I was playing piano and singing into a microphone to help lead singing was being told: "You're voice is very easy to sing along with." There are so many pressures to make flashy decisions with music, or put on airs to "encourage" people to engage with enthusiasm, but there is nothing more authentic than singing in a simple way to allow others to confess those words along with you in song. Even as an organist/pianist, I am simply trying to "sing" the hymn with the instrument in a way that unites the congregation's voice. This book provides much helpful practical guidance in keeping focus on the heart of the matter, and not being distracted from it or tempted to manipulate.
The Church is blessed to have such a wealth of music and instruments with which to make a joyful noise to the Lord. I encourage you to read and consider this book to help focus on what truly lies at the heart of the Church's song in a society so often tempted to be distracted from it.
This was a good book for me to read at this particular moment. Nearly everything in it read like my own thoughts from my own experiences and convictions, but having these ideas confirmed and reinforced in such a clear manner was encouraging in a way I desperately need at the moment. I can vouch for the guidance contained in this book because I have seen first-hand nearly all of situations and music planning/congregational music dynamics it discusses.
A few concepts this book discusses I found especially well put or important:
1. Church music as folk music.
Folk music belongs to the people as a whole, not a professional musician class, and as such it is accessible, suited to communal singing, encourages memorization, allows for flexible execution/instrumentation, and has a certain spontaneity around how and when it can be used. Untrained musicians can break out in folk song at the drop of a hat, and that is a wonderful thing.
2. Centrality of singing, and thus the words and the Word, in church music.
I'm known to say to people wanting to promote a contemporary worship style that a song purporting to be church music that can't be done without a drum kit is a bad song. I've had disagreements with church musicians about this. But thinking from a singing and word focused perspective makes it clear: the Church's song is not dependent on instrumentation, technology, or other extraneous factors. It is centered on proclamation: of the Word, the objective truth of the work of God for us and His gifts to us, and our thanks for these things. Thinking with singing at the center helps cut right to this heart. I appreciated the author mentioning it actually functions as a blessing when African congregations he works with lack reliable electricity. I'm a semi-regular visitor to a local African immigrant LCMS congregation, and the singing-focused, memorization driven music approach has been comforting to me in an American music environment obsessed with production and often requiring so much technology.
3. Congregations branding their different service times with different worship styles/music selection repertoires/approaches as being inherently divisive.
I'm currently in a situation where I'm feeling torn apart by exactly this dynamic. I'm not the one making most of the decisions, but it has been heartbreaking trying to navigate a job where I'm seeing more being lost than is realized, including an underlying unity within the congregation, and unity between the congregation and the LCMS as a whole and the past of Christendom generally.
4. The song God gives us to sing is always new.
The discussion of God being the one "contextualizing" us with the song of the Church is very well put. This work of God is always being renewed, and it is always working counterculturally to the world in a way that connects us with all those throughout history who have been called by the Gospel. God has given us an eternal culture that is always new in Him.
5. Let the words do the work, not your performance or manipulation.
One of my favorite compliments I've received after leading a church service where I was playing piano and singing into a microphone to help lead singing was being told: "You're voice is very easy to sing along with." There are so many pressures to make flashy decisions with music, or put on airs to "encourage" people to engage with enthusiasm, but there is nothing more authentic than singing in a simple way to allow others to confess those words along with you in song. Even as an organist/pianist, I am simply trying to "sing" the hymn with the instrument in a way that unites the congregation's voice. This book provides much helpful practical guidance in keeping focus on the heart of the matter, and not being distracted from it or tempted to manipulate.
The Church is blessed to have such a wealth of music and instruments with which to make a joyful noise to the Lord. I encourage you to read and consider this book to help focus on what truly lies at the heart of the Church's song in a society so often tempted to be distracted from it.
January 26, 2024
As a fellow Lutheran Kantor, I really appreciated Phil’s insights. He put into words many things I’ve learned throughout my almost 20 years in this vocation, and also provide fresh encouragement and ideas that I’ll come back to. Phil is a dear friend of mine and I’m so thankful he wrote this book!
December 22, 2023
This book gives a wonderful vision of how music can be employed intentionally for the sake of the care of souls in a Christian congregation. Conversant with music of many styles and generations, Phil Magness avoids falling into the tired worship-war debates, but continuously keeps our eyes on Jesus and His care for His people.
This book has a solid theological foundation
This book has wonderful practical tips.
This book has many helpful anecdotes.
This books exudes the joy of music's role in the care of souls.
Finally, this book is truly a ministry GUIDE. I'll be using it and referring to it again—soon and often—to inform the music decisions that are made in the parishes that I serve.
There is so much more to say, but this book is not catered JUST for congregations with FT Music ministers/cantors. This book would be valuable for a humble congregation of 20 souls. It's a valuable book for any congregation of any size and theological tradition. Buy this book. Read it. And rejoice together in the Lord's song!
This book has a solid theological foundation
This book has wonderful practical tips.
This book has many helpful anecdotes.
This books exudes the joy of music's role in the care of souls.
Finally, this book is truly a ministry GUIDE. I'll be using it and referring to it again—soon and often—to inform the music decisions that are made in the parishes that I serve.
There is so much more to say, but this book is not catered JUST for congregations with FT Music ministers/cantors. This book would be valuable for a humble congregation of 20 souls. It's a valuable book for any congregation of any size and theological tradition. Buy this book. Read it. And rejoice together in the Lord's song!
January 22, 2025
This author has wise counsel for those involved in leading music at churches. He discusses ways to accompany well (without getting too technical), how to select hymns, how to help the congregation sing better, how to curate a repository of hymns known among the congregants (though I think his suggested number, 40-60, is too low), new vs. old music, the priority of singing over accompanying (turn those mics down!), how to understand pop vs. folk vs. classical music (the large majority of hymns we sing fall, in fact, into that middle category), and more.
Anyone involved in music ministry will find new insights here. Magness comes from a traditional Lutheran background but is accessible to all. Sure I could quibble with some things, but I'd prefer his wisdom to be heeded vs. what we get today in most churches. My only major beef concerns his downplaying of instrumental-only music. I do believe it can speak on its own, while Magness seems to argue the opposite (without downplaying its beauty). Nevertheless, a book well worth reading not only by musicians but by pastors as well.
Anyone involved in music ministry will find new insights here. Magness comes from a traditional Lutheran background but is accessible to all. Sure I could quibble with some things, but I'd prefer his wisdom to be heeded vs. what we get today in most churches. My only major beef concerns his downplaying of instrumental-only music. I do believe it can speak on its own, while Magness seems to argue the opposite (without downplaying its beauty). Nevertheless, a book well worth reading not only by musicians but by pastors as well.
January 8, 2026
As one involved with the planning and preparation of worship, this book will be an excellent tool for further study and reference.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews