Doxology Acapella

[Llanque Mazurek]

Forwhatever reason - perhaps because of its most common placement in the service - I operated under the misconception that "doxology" meant "the last song in the service." As a child, I remember singing the doxologies mentioned in this post, always at the end of the service, too.

Truth is, "doxology" means "song of praise" and can be used at any point in the service. It is often Trinitarian in form and the last stanza of many hymns are doxologies (Come Thou Almighty King, Holy God We Praise Your Name, and Now Thank We All Our God are a few of my favorite examples of this). We have regularly concluded our offering - which took place in the middle of the service - with a doxology, and varied which doxology was sung depending on the Sunday within the Church Year.

Our church is accustomed to singing something after the benediction (if not just before as well), so it bodes well for us to use a doxology at the end of the service. If the hymn before the benediction includes a final doxological (if that's even a word) stanza, we'll sing the 2 or 3 opening stanzas prior to the benediction and the doxological stanza following. Then we'd "go in peace to love and serve the Lord."

That's true, Chad; doxology doesn't have to be a concluding song. But for the purposes of this post, I was using that way to discuss the tradition of ending with the same hymn/song every week. That tradition used to be ubiquitous in Protestant churches, but I think it's not as prevalent anymore.

Some churches start each service with the doxology. and why not? Give God the praise at the beginning and at the end, and in between! Let the angels rejoice with the one sinner who repents! Let Jesus smile on his holy children! Let the words of our mouth praise his Name!

When I was working as a youth director at Hope Reformed Church (RCA) in Clifton, NJ we always sang the doxology after the offering as the plates were brought forward after the money was collected. I always thought it was a nice reminder that it was God from whom all blessings flow--including financial blessings. It's been 7 years since I've attended there, but last I knew the doxology still held that place in the worship service.

What I like about "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow" and other such simple, one stanza, often trinitarian doxologies is that they seem to be a fitting response - both to a just pronounced blessing on the people (benediction) and to the whole of the worship we just participated in. Our services generally end, after the sermon, with a song of response (maybe some words of sending or response), God's blessing/benediction, and a doxology. Sometimes churches want to put a "marching orders" song as the very last song, telling God and each other what we will do. I prefer God's blessing and our praise (doxology) as an ending to help us remember it's all in God's hands, ultimately. Song of response after the sermon is a great place for us to declare our commitments, to sing our "marching orders," and so forth. Of course, with so many different doxologies to choose from, we don't have to be limited to "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

We sometimes sing a doxology at the end of the service but not very often. I really miss closing the service with praise to God. Last week we sang "The New Doxology" which is based on the traditional one "Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow," What a way to end the service. Yes, I wish we sang a doxology every week or at least more often.

As the prayer ministry leader, I lead our Prayer Services and we always end with the Doxology. After brining our praise and petitions to God, it is only fitting that we praise the One who hears and answers us.

I attended a meeting recently and we closed with the doxology, Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. I have attended several meetings (including classes) where we've done the same. It's difficult for me to even express the powerful presence of God at that moment! I love the thought of opening and ending a worship service/meeting with praise. I've participated in services where it is offered in the beginning, middle and ending. It puts the focus on God and not so much on us and what we will do. Of course, a combination of doxology and sending forth closings might be the best option.

I grew up singing the Doxology at the end of worship, and it still feels right there, although today I think I would move it around in the service (beginning, middle, and end) to keep it fresh and to keep it from seeming routine. My favorite memories of singing Praise God from whom all blessings flow.... are at the end of meals at extended family gatherings. The acapella, traditional 4 part harmony combined with these words of praise to the triune God seemed to lift us a little closer to heaven. The doxology is wonderful with full-blown instruments. But if you're in a setting where a good share of the people know it, I'd encourage singing with the just instruments God has placed within us - our voices!

We are an RCA church plant in southern California. We sing the doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow) every Sunday. Recently we had a pastoral intern who was not familiar with the song, so we sang all five verses of "All Creatures That On Earth Do Dwell" of which the last verse is the familiar Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.

I emphasize that while we are getting acquainted with our voices, we will be making silly sounds, odd sounds, and even using our hands and bodies along with our voices. We learn how to breathe deeply in our gut, using our diaphragm well, not allowing our shoulders to shrug.

We learn to be bold in our singing, rather than shy, when using our bodies and our voices. It is okay to make mistakes. I tend to encourage the kids to make mistakes boldly, because then they are easier to identify and correct. I would never want my children or other students to seek perfection in singing on this earth. We seek excellence, which is measured by growth and joyful pursuit rather than by an imagined perception of perfection. We must be willing to learn new skills, have fun, praise God, and make mistakes together.

Learning new music, particularly when it is an unfamiliar style or form, takes hard effort and diligence. God Himself calls us throughout the Psalms to sing new songs and to sing with skill, so He will also provide us with the means to accomplish this.

I often seek to work with music involving harmonic lines even for the youngest kids, largely using a form called canon (singing in a round). I first, however, focus on all unison melodies, as well as introducing some ancient church pieces referred to as service music. This class can feel like group vocal lessons, as the children learn how to make a joyful noise and/or sing beautifully. Regardless of their own perceived skill, this music-making is for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord!

Beyond the joy and work of teaching children to sing for the glory of God, emphasizing that transformation of their hearts as well as their memories is important. I fondly recall my father explaining that we did not subscribe to the exclusive psalmody tradition which argues that we sing nothing more than the Psalms in worship, but we ought not sing less than the Psalms. Essentially, he was saying that the Psalms are a necessary starting place, but we ought not be afraid of other hymns and spiritual songs when we praise God in the assembly of the godly.

These were simple yet profound introductions in my childhood to choral work as well as singing of Psalms. I had no idea (nor, I think, did even my parents) what seeds were being planted at that time.

Once my new favorite psalter-hymnal, the Cantus Christi, was published in 2002, I again set out to do the same thing: play through the entire book on my piano, and then work through singing the entire thing. I have done it a few times in my life now, and it continues to feed my soul and bless my family. My children beg me to play piano for them after they are tucked into their beds at night with books and flashlights. Sometimes I hear them tiptoe to the stairwell, clad in jammies, humming or singing along. It is hard to send them back to their beds when they are drawn to the music like that! They are meditating on the Word when they lie down; Scripture, set to tune, is being inscribed on their hearts and minds.

As I continued homeschooling my children, our Morning Time routine has continued to be an important cornerstone in our family culture and educational pursuits. We have grown to call it Collective, where we collect our favorite people and favorite things together to engage one another collectively in truth, goodness, beauty.

What am I to do?

I will pray with my spirit,

but I will pray with my mind also;

I will sing praise with my spirit,

but I will sing with my mind also.

1 Corinthians 14:15

We have begun to share little snippets of our practice doing this on our @SacredPsalmody Instagram page. My children love to choose the psalms we assign to the months, but since four of them are still fairly opinionated and forthcoming about their preferences, sometimes I cast the deciding vote. I sure do love to see their passion on this subject!

I know a lot of people encourage things like math and science to be done first thing in the morning when brains are most perky, but I think my children and I function best when we begin our day focusing on Scripture and song and other lovely things. I also love singing psalms in the morning, because I frequently catch my kids humming or whistling or singing the pieces later throughout the day as they go about their other tasks. There is nothing quite as precious as hearing psalms escaping the mouths of my children while they wash dishes, mow the lawn, or figure math equations.

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