Tips on introducing new songs to congregation

Here’re some great tips from worshipideas.com. Introducing some new songs can make or break your congregation’s worship experience. So, if you’re a praise and worship leader, these tips are for you.

1. Introduce only one new song per week.

As worship leaders, we can get so excited about new music
that before we know it our entire praise set is made up of
nothing but new songs! Don’t let this happen — your
congregation will pass out from overload.

2. Use a new song in the middle or end of a praise set.

I’ve found that my congregation responds best to new music
after they’ve had a chance to worship with songs they know
and love. Starting a praise set with music that no one knows
is a downer!

Try using the new song as a response to your praise set. For
instance, we introduced “I Give You My Heart” following a
praise set that ended with the hymn “I Surrender All.” The
entire morning’s music had a theme of consecration and “I
Give You My Heart” was a perfect end to the worship.

You might also try using a new song as an isolated call to
worship at the beginning of your service that’s performed by
a soloist, praise team or choir – something like this:

new song [call to worship]

welcome / announcements

praise set

3. Introduce a new song as special music.

Have a soloist or ensemble sing the new song as an offertory
special, and have the congregation join in on the last
chorus.

4. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Use the song for three weeks in a row — the first week is
the introduction, the second and third weeks are
reinforcement. Then, skip a week and try the song again on
the fifth week to see if it has caught on.

>Bottom Line: Keep your worship fresh with new material.