I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been dumbfounded to visit another church and walk in and hear excellent pre-service or a postlude piece. Then we start into the service and it’s a night and day difference. I had to take a double look to see it was still the same person on the bench. YUP! Wow…. I certainly appreciate the discipline they had in learning the pre-service/offeratory/postlude, but can we APPLY that same discipline to the actual service? Priorities were a little backwards in my opinion.

Certainly I understand that perhaps they are ‘newer’ or it comes harder to them to learn a piece, but lets focus on what’s more important.

Then I feel bad for even thinking this way. Then I realize that perhaps no one ever explained that to them.

One last quick comment. Has anyone ever watched people on YouTube in an actual live service playing a hymn? I won’t mention any names obviously, but I have to laugh at this one organist. Yes, this person is VERY good – but they play EXTREMELY TOO FAST. I’m not talking about, just a slight push of the tempo, I’m talking lighting speed. It’s actually commical listen to the congregation TRYING to keep up!! You can’t see them, but I can guarantee you some are turning blue, other’s breaking out in a sweat. Someone actually posted a comment (I don’t do that – I don’t feel it’s appropiate unless you have something nice to say….and I confess, I didn’t) and asked the organist that posted that “Were you in a hurry becuase you needed to use the restroom?” I died laughing!! It’s really not funny – but…..wow! It was like watching an old player piano turned up and pumping on HIGH speed!