TOM SCHAEFER Sing hymns that you like best

Are you tired of singing six verses of some odd-metered hymn with a tune that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir would struggle with?
Has it been months, maybe even longer, since you sang your favorite hymn in church?
Well, then, I say it's time for a revolution of the musically oppressed. Grab your tattered hymnal or spiral-bound music book, raise it high above your head and shout to the heavens:
"I'm thoroughly displeased and I prefer not to take it any longer!" (Cruder remarks in church are frowned on.)
It's time to sing the hymns you want to sing -- not the ones the minister or worship leader or music director chooses week after week.
So, let the revolution begin! Power to the pew-sitters!
OK. Put down your tuning forks. This is a nonviolent revolution. Still, most churches need a nudge to get everyone on the same page. And summer is the perfect time to do it.
Activities generally slow down, and worship services tend to be a bit more informal.
Why not take the lead yourself and perk up the lazy-eyed Susans and Sams in the pews by enlisting their help as co-conspirators?
What to do
With several other members, ask your church's leadership to have a contest to find out which is the most popular hymn among the members. Here's how to do it:
With a pleasant smile, ask whoever's in charge: "What's your favorite hymn?"
As a tune pleasingly plays in his or her head, follow up by asking: "Aren't you curious to know what hymns others in our church would choose?"
The head honcho may take typical evasive action: "But won't this take a lot of preparation and planning?"
Explain that all that's needed is someone to announce during the next several worship services -- or via the church's newsletter -- that everyone should write the titles of their top 10 or 12 favorite hymns on a piece of paper.
Then offer to put a box near the church exit for people to deposit their slips of paper.
And to make it painless for the leadership, volunteer to tabulate the results yourself.
When that's complete, keep the list a secret and reveal several of the winners each week till you reach the No. 1-requested hymn.
As the congregation heartily sings, you can take pride in having helped win the hearts, minds and voices of the masses while introducing a new day of hymn-singing.
Source of idea
I discovered this idea while visiting my home congregation, Grace Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Okla.
Each week, four of the top 12 hymns were revealed and sung. The last four, including the No. 1 hymn, will be announced Sunday.
The congregation not only has had fun guessing which hymns will make the list -- all the hymn titles suggested were printed on an initial list -- but also has had a chance to sing hymns the majority of members enjoy.
Since then, I've learned of churches in other states that are coming up with similar lists.
Why has this idea touched a chord with so many people?
Because next to the Bible, hymns are the clearest expression of a person's -- and a congregation's -- faith.
The history of hymns is rich and diverse: Psalms, canticles and musical creations reflecting various cultures and ethnic backgrounds (Latin, Greek, English, black, Hispanic and American folk, to name a few).
Without them, faith would have neither the poetry nor the melody to enhance the old, old story.
So, before the summer gets away, I invite you to join this hymn-singing revolution.
Let's throw off the chains of musical mediocrity.
Let's cast aside the eight-verse dirges and repetitious praise chants.
Let's conspire to inspire congregations to sing their favorite hymns.
I say: Worshippers of the world, unite! And raise your voices in song.
XTom Schaefer writes about religion and ethics for the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle.