Spiritual .gifs — How Cool is Your Church Band?
Hey everyone! It’s time for another edition of Spiritual .Gifs. Today’s topic? How cool is your church band?
Level 1: The Traditional Service
Band positions needed: Piano and a song leader
What you’re singing: hymns
What you’re wearing: a dress or a suit and tie (but not because you want to)
What you’re doing after the service: Eating a potluck dinner
Level 2: The Contemporary Service
Band positions needed: Piano, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and a singer — preferably a tenor
What you’re singing: Chris Tomlin songs
What you’re wearing: khakis and a polo
What you’re doing after the service: going out for Mexican food
Level 3: The Spirit-filled service
Band positions needed: All of the above plus a sweet electric keyboard and tambourine
What you’re singing: Revelation Song
What you’re wearing: Anything you can move and dance in
What you’re doing after the service: What do you mean, “after the service?”
Level 4: The Mega Church Service
Band positions needed: All the basics plus auxiliary percussion, in-ear monitors for the band, and an awesome AV/lighting tech team
What you’re singing: The latest Hillsong music
What you’re wearing: Designer duds
What you’re doing after the service: Getting together to watch the big game
Level 5: Hipster start-up meeting in converted lofts
Band positions needed: iPad and anything old-timey
What you’re singing: Hymns and Gungor
What you’re wearing: a suit and tie (because you want to); Anthropologie and thrift store finds
What you’re doing after the service: brunch at the farmer’s market
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About The Author
Dr. Christine Hand Jones
Christine Hand Jones is a singer-songwriter, a professor of English and songwriting, and has served as a worship leader and church music director. She has a PhD in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, which she earned, in large measure, by listening to the collected works of Bob Dylan and writing about what she heard. When she's not playing music or fascinating her students with stunning lectures over comma splices, Christine can be found drinking coffee, playing devoted cat mom to Desmond and Molly, and roaming the shelves of Half-Price Books. All views are solely those of the author and do not reflect any of her places of employment.
Interesting article, Dr. Hand. Personally, I’ll opt for the contemporary service, but with a full size hollow body electric guitar. The Mexican food sounds very good. I dig the white cat bass player. My cats are musicians and office administrators, too. Occasionally, they may be my legal and financial advisors, too.