Question: How Do You View Music in the Worship Service?

I go to a contemporary United Methodist church and we sing songs like "top 40" christian songs.
I love them but sometimes when everyone starts clapping and dancing, it makes me a bit uncomfortable because I am just not that bold. I will sing the songs and I love them but don't do all of the dancing.

I also don't "get it" when people raise their hands up when they are singing....
I don't feel any closer to God when I raise my hands....just my thoughts.

I go to an Assembly of God church that I wish had more contemporary music in their service. Some AG churches are very contemporary, others aren't at all. where we've been attending is kind of in the middle of the 2 extremes but tends to do older music more often. I view music and worship as an integral part of the service. It can bring me closer to God, and gives me a time of expression of praise and worship with other Christians(which I do at home alone too but it is important to do with other believers also). I think that praise and worship should help open our hearts and minds to really hear the sermon so we aren't distracted by other things going on in our lives and we can not just listen but make it a part of who we are and what we believe, a time of growth as a Christian.
Personally, I sometimes raise my hands, sometimes I don't. Sometimes it helps open my heart to God and othertimes it isn't necessary. It shouldn't be a you have to do it thing. JMO.

I'm curious as to why you are asking.
I'd like to hear what you think too.

I suppose that I'm a little bias... my husband is a music minister. We've heard several times in the past few weeks how unimportant music is to some people at the church. It's something that you just get over with so you can get to the sermon. Some people think that it's supposed to just get you all excited and 'revved up' for the sermon. Me? I think it's an avenue of worship just like the sermon is. I think that music is important. I believe that the bible tells us to worship through music. I think it can help us to give praise to God and draw us closer to Him. As a result of all of that, we will be better prepared to hear what God has to say to us.

I was curious what other people's opinions were on here...

Music IS church, for me... the sermon, yeah, okay, I nod a lot, I get it intellectually... but the music lets me feel the presence of the divine through my body! What a gift! :)

"Make a Joyful noise unto the Lord"

Music is one of the many ways to praise God. I love it! And to me, it is as important as sermons. I used to sing in a choir and most people went to our mass/service because we had lively music. It keeps people awake:) People look forward going to Church every Sunday. Well, that is my opinion, at least:)

For me it depends on teh music and my own frame of mind. When I am prepared for worship, certain songs, certain times and even certain singers can lift me up to the throne room. At other timers it's filler until the sermon. My brother-in-law is our music minister. He mixes contemporary with recent songs and some old favorites. You never know what you're going to get. He's as far away from C&W as you can get, but a couple of weeks ago the entire service was country worship songs - even closed with Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers." Personally, I listen to Christian rock bands like Skillet, Pillar & Disciple, so I can worship with them as well. It's all frame of mind. I can't just show up on Sunday morning expecting to be taken directly to God. I have to prepare my heart for the time I'll be spending with Him.

I belong to a traditional United Methodist Church, but many times I am teaching Sunday School instead of in the worship service. I like the traditional music, but recently they started a 'praise group' with a little pop to their music. Honestly, I love music and it is what lifts me up whether it is traditional hymns, pop christian, or even Vacation Bible School songs! I don't think everyone in my congregation feels this way, but I always try to keep an open mind.

Well, thank you guys for all your thoughts on this subject. I was just curious about what people on gather thought about this!

Music, to me is just as important to the service as the sermon and prayer. Each has a purpose and is used by God to teach us, draw us near to Him and to worship Him.

Music is essential to my worship experience. Through music, God lifts my spirit and draws me into his presence. I belong to an MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) where I sing in the choir. We sing a wide variety of music but we usually have a time of praise and worship at the beginning of service. When we begin our P&W, I close my eyes, lift my hands and receive God's blessings of joy and peace. I find that the music sets the tone for the service.

Music is one of my favorite parts of the service. Being of the generation of the iPod, music is a part of my everyday life and I cannot be without it. It just seems to be the part of the service that reaches out to me through the lyrics

Music is pretty much what church is all about for me.  As a church musician, I'm very concerned about the flow of worship and the applicability of the music to the service topic - perhaps too much sometimes.  We are pretty analytical both about planning and evaluating each service at my church.