Do I have to sing at church?

Singing in a room of people you do not know is a strange thing to be asked to do if you did not grow up with it. Most of adult life contains no equivalent. So the hesitation makes sense.

Practically, here is what it looks like. The band plays three or four songs. The words are on a screen. Most people stand. Some sit. Some sing loudly, a lot of people mouth along, and a fair number just stand there listening. All four of those are happening in the room at the same time on any given Sunday.

Nobody is checking, and there is no point where the music stops and someone comments on participation. If you would rather sit through the entire music portion, sit. If you would rather stand because standing is less conspicuous than being the only one seated, stand and say nothing. Either is fine.

For what it is worth, the reason we sing rather than just listen to a talk is not that it is traditional. Elizabeth Perli leads the worship culture here, and the aim is a room where people can be honest rather than impressive. Ps. Sam has been open from the stage about his own panic attack and about how long he hid it because he thought pastors were not allowed to struggle. The music is meant to be part of a room where that kind of honesty is possible, not a performance you are being scored on.

You are welcome to test that from the back row with your mouth shut.