Some of you know that my father was a United Methodist Pastor. While mom was more of a musician, dad would make a "joyful noise." On many occasions, dad would preach for revival meetings while mom would play the piano and they would sing duets together. They were the complete package.
My middle name is Wesley and I am proud to carry that heritage. John & Charles Wesley had a huge impact on the church in the late eighteenth century, which caused the church to grow in numbers and discipleship. Their work also had a huge influence in congregational singing as they wrote new songs. Charles Wesley composed over 6,500 hymn texts. We still sing a number of his hymn texts today: And Can It Be, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Jesus, Lover of My Soul.
In an effort to bolster congregational singing in his church, John Wesley penned these words to encourage his congregations. These directions came from Select Hymns with Tunes Annext, 1761.
These are still great directions for us today. Even if you don't have a great voice, make a joyful noise.
Steve
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Select Hymns with Tunes Annext, 1761.
That this part of Divine Worship may be more acceptable to God, as well as the more profitable to yourself and others, be careful to observe the following directions:
1. Learn these tunes before you learn any others, afterwards learn as many as you please.
2. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
3. Sing All - see that you join the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.
4. Sing Lustily - and with 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 sang the songs of Satan.
5. Sing Modestly - do not bawl so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation that you may not destroy the harmony, but strive to unite your voices together so as to make one melodious sound.
6. Sing in time - whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before and do not stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices and move therewith as exactly as you can and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
7. 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 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; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward when He cometh in the clouds of heaven.