The mission of selecting music for worship is to encourage and facilitate the Central Avenue CRC congregation in Christ-centered, God-glorifying, biblical corporate worship that vibrantly responds to the greatness of God in His providence, grace, and love as evident in the gospel. With gratefulness for that good news, it becomes our desire to magnify God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God’s Word with music, as believers have done from the beginning of time and will continue to do throughout eternity. Please also refer to the “Statements of Principle for Music in the Church” in both the 1959 (blue) Psalter Hymnal (p. v) and the 1987/88 (grey) Psalter Hymnal (p. 11-15).

Song Criteria:

• Is the song singable? Is the song too high or too low in pitch? Is the pace of the lyrics too fast or too slow for people to follow along? Does the song fit better with a soloist or group? Or can it be sung well by the whole congregation?

• Is the song biblical? The lyrics must be in accord to the truth of God’s Word, fit with our Reformed understanding of Scripture and also the elements of Reformed worship. Is it possible that lyrics be changed to more fully reflect the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

• Is the song logically coherent? Songs should not be random in their expression. They should be well connected in revealing the purpose of the song. As worship is centered on God and His Word, songs should also fit, whenever possible, with the theme of the sermon/service, the season, or a particular element of a given service (i.e. praise, confession, etc.).

• Is the song God-centered? Is the song directed toward God? Is the song a song praising God, or is it solely reflecting on the benefits he bestows to me in the experience of worship?

• Is the song Christ- and Gospel-centered? Does it focus on boasting too much of my own commitment and devotion rather than the merits of Christ’s finished work?