It's time to face the music!

It is time (perhaps way past time!) that we change the music that we use in worship. I think that all of us Episcopalians know this instinctively, but we do not relish the costs required in making this change. 

Here is a link to a thoughtful blog entry about music in our society today and in the church.   http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/music/recently_ive_participated_in_o.php 

But, to save you time, here is the most compelling summary paragraph offfered by George Clifford:

"Two hundred years ago, denominational hymnody functioned as a unifying and educational force that transcended parish lines. Today, the church faces a stark choice. We can persist in mandating the music that I love, congratulate ourselves on holding to tradition and consistency, and watch our numbers continue to decline. Alternatively, we can embrace present reality, accepting (even if begrudgingly!) that new styles of music speak to many twenty-first century people in a way that traditional music does not and that projection is replacing printed resources. I believe that the second alternative, done well (and of course we Episcopalians do everything well), is the only viable choice that encourages growth both in numbers and spiritual depth."

Let's stop waiting until we're too depleted to make this change effectively.