We do a blended service at our church. We start with a hymn. Then we do a praise set. Before the prayer we then do a praise & worship song. We end with a hymn and then a closing song.

I really like to include songs for different people. I do some songs for the children, some for the youth, some for the adults, etc. In my interludes into the songs I have previously talked to the congregation about not squashing someone else's style of worship. Because of human preference, there is no way to please everyone at the same time. If there is a style you don't like, please be patient and a song of your style will possibly come along in a few minutes. If someone else is being lifted up during that song you don't have a preference for, don't squash that for them. Let them have their moment in time and yours will come along shortly.

The people at my church are very open to whatever I throw into the worship. It is a smaller church but boy can they sing. We sing accapella frequently and I love to hear their voices blend. They all seem to have amazing voices, and they sing in harmony. I love it!!!

I think it doesn't matter what you throw at them, as long as you do it with passion. Pray to God in your decision making when picking the songs. Talk to them about wanting to meet people where they are on different style levels. And ask them to just be open to what they hear and not judgmental. Maybe if we ask them to listen to the words and see what message they can pull out of a song, they might actually get something from a song that they have no preference for at all.

We have older people singing praise songs, upbeat songs, and young people singing hymns. And unless they are complaining behind my back (which I don't think they are - because I can see their passion when we sing), I have not heard any complaints about the different blended styles we use.

I know in some churches this probably won't work to the degree that we do it. But I think throwing in a few songs from a different style is worth a try for every church. I think the other thing also is that you need to know your congregation. And you need to make your additions based on the needs of your church. You may just want to throw in one or two different styles occasionally or you may be able to just readjust your entire style. The amount you do depends on what your congregation is acceptable to.

I agree with those of you who include the hymns. I love the contemporary praise & worship songs, but there is so much to be said for the old hymns too. Some of my hymns I do on the organ. Some I do on the keyboard. It just depends on the style I want to present.

Heavenly Father, continue to guide and direct all of us in the decision-making and presenting of songs to you during worship. Open the eyes and hearts of those we lead that they might lift their lives and grow closer to you. In Jesus Name. Amen