Advantages of Hymnbooks
- When a church uses hymnbooks instead of a projector, there’s no annual copyright
charge – and there’s no need to keep weekly records of songs used for the copyright
agency.
- Hymnbooks are good for people who have difficulty seeing the words on a screen due
to eyesight problems -- or because they’re behind a tall person.
- Hymnbooks can be used when there is a power failure or when the projector bulb blows.
- Hymnbooks can be used when people are sitting around the room facing the centre –
they don’t all need to be facing a screen.
- If God speaks to you through a hymn, you might want to re-read the words after it
has been sung. This is easy with a hymnbook, but a projected song disappears as soon
as it has been sung. Sometimes, only one verse is visible at a time.
- People can own their own hymnbooks and take them home – to learn songs, to prepare
for the service, or for devotional reading. They can mark or highlight the songs
they like.
- People get to know and love hymnbooks – but this is not possible with ever-changing
collections of projected songs.
- A hymnbook is ideal for worship led by members of the congregation (open worship)
because:
- The words of a hymn can be checked before the hymn is requested.
- Selected verses can be read aloud.
- Verses can be omitted on request.
- Hymnbooks are great for song-times in homes. They are suitable for families, home
groups and other small groups.
- Although there is a cost associated with the purchase of hymnbooks, there is also
a cost (sometimes a very large one) associated with the purchase and maintenance
of projection equipment. Projector bulbs especially are very expensive.
- Operators for projection equipment must be recruited, trained and rostered. There
will inevitably be hitches with operator absences, equipment problems and selecting
songs on the computer.
- Although, in theory, people should sing better when looking up at a screen, in practice
there is often better singing in congregations that use hymnbooks.
- If hymnbooks are handed out, there can be a useful point of contact with visitors.
Lindsay Smith
28 January 2011