Each of the members graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) in Milwaukee, WI, and all are members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

To check out their music see branchesband.com

What are our goals and what are our reasons for wanting Blended Worship?

Is it our goal to promote church growth and try to imitate the growth of some megachurches that use contemporary worship?
Then perhaps we should ask: What is the purpose of the Lutheran church service — to bring in crowds or to feed those who come with the Gospel and God’s Word? Should we be evaluating a church’s success by numbers, or does God’s Word work invisibly on the hearts of men and women? Are there other ways to bring people to our church service? Perhaps we should just preach the Gospel message clearly and leave the results in God’s hands.
see “The proper focus of our worship” by Mark Schroeder

Is it our goal to bring in more youth and young adults into the church?
Then perhaps we should ask: Are we trying other ways to get the youth involved — Bible classes, fellowship, service activities? What are the reasons that youth are coming or not coming to church? Can we have a more pleasing contemporary style, yet maintain the same respect and content of the Lutheran hymn, with the focus on a Gospel or Biblical message?

Is it our goal to get more upbeat music, to make the service more fun, exciting and entertaining?
Then perhaps we should ask: What is the purpose of the Lutheran hymns/songs in the church service — a. to be exciting, fun and entertaining or b. to edify, comfort and strengthen faith with the Gospel and God’s Word?
If we just want fun and exciting music, perhaps we could find that in a local rock concert.
see “Should Rock Music be used in Church?”

Are we looking for liturgy, music and language that is simpler, more pleasing and more understandable for the congregation?

Which of these are worthwhile, God pleasing goals for a Lutheran church service; which of these are questionable?
Are these realistic goals for blended worship to achieve?
Are these good reasons to have a blended worship?
Are there other (or additional) ways to reach the worthwhile goals?

Who is our target audience?

As you wrestle with these questions, I would suggest that you read some of the articles by WELS pastors and theologians on the subject. Many of these articles are on this website under the “Blended Worship Articles” page.

I would suggest the following definitions as good reasons for a church to desire Blended Worship:

Blended worship means adding modern hymns, songs, liturgy settings, musical instrumentation, communication styles and presentation media to the traditional worship service to more clearly communicate the message of the gospel and God’s grace to the people.

Blending the gospel-proclaiming forms of the church’s past with musical styles that are part of the church’s present may help us spread the message of Christ into the future.

WELS has School of Worship Enrichment by WELS Commission on Worship to assist congregations in their worship service goals. Perhaps a church could also contact WELS for Parish Assistance counselling to help determine the church’s goals and needs and suggested ways to achieve those goals.

Lutheran Songwriters Conference

If you have favorite or best CCM songs for a WELS Blended Worship service,
please email me the song title and author/artist and lyrics so that I might add it to the songlist. ( John.Kehl@gmail.com )

Or you can add your Best CCM songs as a comment to this post:

Here is a list of more good CCM songs recommended by readers in the last year:
more good Blended Worship songs submitted by readers

His Robes for mine

TEXT (by Chris Anderson)

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Chorus:

I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!