Psalm Singing

Airdrie Psalm Singing Saturday

The Airdrie congregation recently hosted an afternoon precentor’s worksop, followed by an evening psalm-singing event entitled ‘Songs of Adversity’. A number of people from Stranraer were able to attend, and short reports from each event are included below.

Precenting Workshop report by Ian Murphy

A precenting workshop was held at Airdrie RP Church on Saturday November 4. During the two hours we were taught many techniques and tips by workshop leader, Tim Duguid.  This included breathing technique, pitching tunes, and reading music in the staff and sol-fa.  Alsow, we each had an opportunity to sing a psalm of our choice and receive 1 to 1 tuition, advice and feedback.  

This was followed by an evening meal and psalm singing.  

Further workshops are planned, and I would recommend them to anyone interested in precenting or singing.

Songs of Adversity report by Trinity McConnell

On Saturday evening the 4th November, Airdrie RPC hosted an event organised by Tim Duguid, a member of the congregation as well as lecturer at the University of Glasgow. The event, subtitled ‘Scottish Stories in Uncertain Times.’ was a night to focus on some of the men and woman of Scotland's past and it was great to hear some insight into a few of the Covenanters stories. The psalms were introduced by Jimmy Fisher, a deacon in the congregation. There was also plenty of psalm singing and it was so encouraging to be able to join together with others to praise God.

The evening was well attended and there was a lovely time of fellowship afterwards. It was my first time attending the Airdrie congregation and I was made to feel very welcome. There were people in attendance from all five Scottish congregations and I enjoyed getting to meet some of them.

Overall I think it was an informative and encouraging evening for all who attended and I would love to see more events like this in future.

Reading the Bible every day for 20 years

In a recent sermon, Stephen mentioned the following video by Rev. Matthew Everhard, who was marking 20 years of reading the Bible every single day. You can watch it below:

You can download his Bible reading plan here. Everhard’s YouTube channel contains many other helpful videos — some examples of which are below:

Everhard has lectured on Jonathan Edwards for the RP Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh and also preached at one of their chapel services:

In November his church are hosting a conference with most of the speakers coming from RPTS.

New Series - Singing the Songs of Jesus

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We have recently begun a new sermon series on Sunday mornings on Psalms 18-24, with Stephen previously having preached on the first 17 psalms (as well as 89 and 107) during evening services.

As we come to the Psalms, it is helpful to remember that they are ultimately The Songs of Jesus - breathed out by the Spirit of Christ, they speak about him, were sung by him on earth, and he still speaks through them today.

As O. Palmer Robertson asserts in his recent book on the psalms: ‘To understand these psalms in their fullest significance for the individual, they must first be appreciated for their role in speaking for God’s anointed servant, the messianic king’.

In his sermon on Psalm 18, Stephen noted that the Psalms actually shed light on the New Testament - a point made in the video clip below by Rev. Kenneth Stewart, who is currently our minister in Glasgow:

Therefore to focus largely on the situation of the human author of the Psalms is to miss the point. As Andrew Bonar comments on Psalm 18: ‘David’s circumstances, that made him suitable to be the vehicle of this divine communication, have moulded the language; but we are not to carry the allusion to his history too far’. Or in the words of Henry Law: ‘David soon disappears. Jesus Himself strides forth’. This is true whether the psalm is quoted in the New Testament and applied to Jesus or not. As Charles Spurgeon comments on Psalm 20: ‘It needs but a moment's reflection to perceive that this hymn of prayer is prophetical of our Lord Jesus’.

This point is well argued (contrary to some modern voices such as Don Carson and even the great Old Testament commentator Dale Ralph Davis) in a 2012 talk by Union Theological College Professor Michael McClenahan, summarised and linked to here.

Pizza & Praise

Recently we had a 'Pizza & Praise' night with Stephen McCollum. Stephen had led a number of Bible classes in Airdrie on ways to improve congregational singing, and came down to Stranraer to give us a summary of his talks - and chances to immediately put them into practice! 

Stephen talked about the importance of singing and gave us a quick guide to the Psalter (the different metres, the difference between stanza and verse numbers etc). He also talked about little changes which can make big differences (eg posture and breathing) and the importance of beat and rhythm.

We had a break for some pizza in between and those who were there enjoyed a chance to meet baby Zoe. It will be the McCollums' last time in Stranraer before Stephen is ordained as the new minister of Stornoway on 28th April. We are grateful to them for coming and will be praying for them as they move up and begin life in Lewis!

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You can hear some examples of congregational psalm singing below: