How to Incorporate the Odes into Your Service of Worship

The Odes are simple but profound. They can easily be picked up and sung by a congregation, and they are nearly effortless to memorize. For the most part, the Odes have been designed with three groups in mind:

The Narrator: The worship leader or vocalist who sings the verses or the "call" part of the call and response.

The Responders: This would be the worship team/vocal team who sings with the congregation with the option of harmonizing.

The Cantor: Many of the Odes have breakdown sections for a chant-like praise-phrases like "Blessing and honor" and "Glory to You." This is an opportunity for one person from the team to step forward and lead the part of the song where the chant occurs.

Most of the Odes are full of joy and wonder, so they fit well in the beginning of a service, placed alongside other familiar songs of celebration. What sets the Odes apart is the incorporation of the whole church in the singing. It's not just singing along with the leader, it is back and forth from the stage to the congregation-believers singing to each other and to the Lord. The narrator will sing a line, and then the congregation plus the worship team will sing back to the leader in a call-and-response fashion. This generally takes place during the verses, while everyone sings together on the choruses. Guiding people in this way is uncomplicated and quickly accessible for most congregations.

The true joy is found when people are actively engaged in singing these profoundly simple and beautiful expressions with all of their hearts. The gifted singer will find freedom to embellish the melodies on the verses, without leaving the congregation out of the loop. This narration and response format was the style of singing most often found in the temple and the early church assemblies. It sends the message that we are united in Christ, all of our voices have a place, and we sing together.

The slower songs can be used in whole or in part as a simple chorus before the sermon. There are songs of prayerful reflection, celebration or exhortation, but all focus on the goodness of God, His immense gifts to His church and the joy that is found in Him. Beauty and truth will leave their mark on the hearts of worshipers who sing these wonderful songs from the first Christian hymnal.