Hands Stretched in Worship: Hillsong’s Rock Concert Church
Madeline Simpson | mms2331@columbia.edu
Arms outstretch, hands rise toward the ceiling of the great theater in upper Manhattan. Some palms open as if to receive a gift. Others face forward, pulsing with the rhythm of the song. No one has a phone out. Voices meld together.
On a massive screen toward the front of the hall, this message flashes:
“I know I don’t deserve this kind of love. Somehow this kind of love is who You are.”
The screen flashes again. New words.
“It’s a grace I could never add up. To be somebody You still want.”
Welcome to the Sunday praise service at Hillsong NYC, the New York City branch of an international evangelical megachurch. The location in Washington Heights holds three services every Sunday at the Palace, at 175th Street and Broadway.
Worshippers wear skinny jeans and Vans. Joggers and in-style chunky sneakers. At the 12:30 p.m. service, the men and women in the audience are young, but diverse. The main floor fills up five minutes before the service starts and people are directed towards the balcony seats.
On the stage, six singers perform, supported by five other musicians behind them- drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, bass.
Some musicians sway back and forth with the music. The voice of a singer with long pink braids rises above the others, eyes closed as she harmonizes and hits impossible notes. A young man on the left of the stage jumps with every note, jubilant.
And then new words flash on the screen, the next lyrics in the worship song.
“But somehow, You love me as You find me.”
The crowd mirrors the musicians on stage. Some stand still. Others sway back and forth. The people filling the space directly in front of the stage jump up and down, moving more than rows further back.
Black mascara tears roll down one woman’s face. Another man sings loudly off key, adding “Yes, Jesus,” “Thank you, Lord” and “Hallelujah” between lyrics.
A young male pastor comes on stage, mirroring the audience in skinny jeans and a black bomber jacket.
“How many of you know that God is calling you to get to a new place of worship?”
The crowd responds, cheering and clapping.
“How many of you know that God wants to know you? He wants to know you!”
The pastor places emphasis on the words “you.” Louder cheering.
“Ask God today to make Himself known to you! Ask God today to enter into a new place of worship with you!”
Each service starts with 20 to 30 minutes of worship. The worship is a communal experience. Each individual in the service sings, raising her voice together with those around her. But she is also instructed by the pastors and worship leaders to take time to reflect. What do the words mean to her? What is God asking her to think about, to sacrifice, to understand, to give up?
Evangelical Christianity emphasizes personal relationship with God, and sets out to create experiences that elevate this relationship. At Hillsong, the music is integral to this. With more than 125 albums from the Hillsong Music label, their music is known around the world, and incorporated into countless worship services every week.
The worship is often interrupted with brief messages by the pastor, pushing the audience to connect deeper, sing louder, raise hands higher.
The music swells and the band continues playing the song.
“I was found, before I was lost. I was Yours, before I was not.”
Near the tenth minute of the song, the worship leader quiets the audience, keeping the music going in the background as he speaks. He invites the audience members to close their eyes and focus on only themselves, honoring God and the privacy of others in the room.
“Listen to what God is telling you right now, and just praise him for it. It doesn’t matter what words you use, or how you sound. Take this moment to raise your voice to the Lord and praise him.”
The crowd erupts, with everyone singing their own lyrics and words. Some bow their heads in prayer, lips moving as they speak with their God. Others shout and jump. Still others continue singing the song that the worship leader is no longer playing.
The music comes back for the final lyric. Voices unite once again, following the lyrics on the screen.
“Grace to spare, for all my mistakes. And that part just wrecks me”