When we hear our favorite hymns, songs, anthems, motets, postludes, and other musical offerings in church, we are often so moved with emotion that we instinctively want to show our appreciation—through our hearts, voices, and bodies. Often this will manifest in a resounding “Amen!”, or “Alleluia!”, beaming with smiles or shedding tears, or by giving applause. We know the musicians have worked hard for weeks to prepare the music, and we want to show how grateful we are for their ministry. But what is appropriate in a liturgical setting? And should we be modifying the way we show appreciation in church?

Perhaps to find the answers we must ask ourselves: who are the ministers, and who is the congregation? When music is being offered in the liturgy, it is not being performed for you and me, but always offered as praise toward God. When the choir is singing anthems, we are still the ministers, worshipping vicariously through our ears. God is always the audience. The musicians are guiding our hearts and minds toward the divine, and being the surrogates for our offerings. We speak through them, just as they speak through us.

If we consider this argument, then the congregants responding with “Amen!” or “Alleluia!” would fit quite appropriately, as the musical offerings act as a prayer that would necessitate such a response. However, if we applaud for the music, then we have shifted our mindset, where the musicians are performing their work for us to show their skill or talent, and not offered as a sacrament. The music is always being given to the glory of God, and, while applause or other acts of thanking are offered genuinely, perhaps it would be more appropriate for the concert hall or festival stage.

A contrary argument would be that our appreciation doesn’t equal sacrilege, but rather amplifies the offering, as the Psalmist suggests in Psalm 47:1 (“Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy!”). If our applause is praise-filled, then perhaps it acts as a replacement to an “Amen!” (from the Hebrew 'āmēn: ‘truth, certainty’). Whether we applaud or not, music is meant to engage all of us as ministers toward God, through our listening, praise, meditation, and thanksgiving. How we choose to respond to acts of worship is between God and ourselves.

I would encourage you to pray during the musical offerings we hear at St. Bartholomew’s, whether it is the Parish Choir, the String Ensemble, Schola Choir, Handbells, Children and Youth, Brass, etc. Through prayer, we can hear God’s voice speaking to us. If God is calling you to dance, clap, sing, laugh, or cry, then please do so. As we recall from Ecclesiastes 3:4, “[There is] a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Worship isn’t meant to be perfect— it is unlimited in its forms—and calls for a multitude of emotional responses. Let us all remember the true purpose for our sacrament, and how we can live more Christ-like and honor God through our thoughts and actions.

May God bless our endeavors. Amen.