I’ve been holding out on this post because…it seems obvious? Like making a hymn set should be really straight-forward, and why didn’t I try it sooner?
But maybe you’re like me just a few months ago:
I thought creating hymn sets – also know as medleys and song sets – would be tricky. And I wasn’t sure they would fit well in a “traditional” service.
I still wanted to learn how to create them, because they’re a wonderful way to sing more congregational music. Plus, they’re a great way package “different” music in a welcoming way. (Different in my setting is unfamiliar music or songs we usually associate with children.)
So this summer, I challenged myself to use hymn sets to open our worship services. And I discovered:
Making hymn sets is SUPER easy. And they’re as fun and welcoming as I hoped they would be.
Here’s what I do to create them – plus 10 of my favorite sets I used this summer.
An Easy Way to Create Hymn Sets
First, decide which hymns to use. I expected to think long and hard about each hymn’s meter, key, and affect. But I’ve found that nearly anything can work for a set with only 2-3 hymns.
Second, pull modulations as needed from this collection. Yes, many musicians can modulate on sight, but for the rest of us, using a printed modulation can be much easier.
Third, practice the pieces as a whole. In linking the pieces together, I’ve had the most success ending the first piece with a direct connection into the modulation (if needed), then playing a “regular” introduction into the next hymn. (Since hymn sets are relatively unfamiliar to my congregation, I’ve wanted to keep other elements as normal as I can – hence the “regular” introduction to the next hymn.)
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A couple notes to smooth the process:
- If your congregation isn’t used to singing hymn sets, clue them in by including a note in the bulletin or making a verbal announcement that the hymns are to be sung successively.
- I’m working in a space where the congregation is already used to having music in the order of worship. If your congregation only uses hymnals, you’ll need longer interludes between hymns to give people time to flip to another page.
10 Hymn Sets to Get Started
Here are 10 sets I’ve used this summer to help you get started! For some of the sets, I used all stanzas and for some, just a selection.
- Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us; Spirit of the Living God; and Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling (for Pentecost)
- Holy Holy Holy; God Is Here; and Sing Praise to God
- This Is the Day; and For All the Children
- Down in the River to Pray; and Baptized in Water (for a Baptism service)
- Rise and Shine (first stanza only! the rest are pretty…weird); and Come, Let Us Join with Faithful Souls
- Morning Has Broken; I Sing As I Arise; and Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness; How Can I Keep from Singing; My Faith Is It An Oaken Staff; and It Is Well
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Jesus Loves Me; and This Little Light of Mine
- Spirit of the Living God; Ev’rytime I Feel the Spirit; and Come Thou Fount
- This is My Song; and Sent Forth by God’s Blessing
Have you created hymn sets for “traditional” worship services? I’d love to hear about your process and what’s worked for you!
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