What circumstances, situations or things cause you to say Alleluia? To worship God? First let’s define Alleluia (also spelled Halleluiah).
Hallelujah, also spelled alleluia, is the Hebrew liturgical expression meaning “praise ye Yah” (“praise the Lord”). It appears in the Hebrew Bible in several psalms, usually at the beginning or end of the psalm or in both places. In ancient Judaism it was probably chanted as an antiphon by the Levite choir. In the New Testament it appears only in Revelation 19, where it occurs four times. It was translated in the Septuagint (Jewish Greek version of the Bible made in the pre-Christian period) and became “alleluia” in the Vulgate (4th-century Christian Latin version). The early Christians adopted the expression in their worship services, and it appeared in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant liturgies and in hymns. (Encyclopedia Brittanica www.eb.com)
As I was working on choosing songs for an upcoming worship service, I stumbled upon a song that we haven’t done for quite some time. The chord progression is fairly simple, and the words are just repeated (hmm, chanting, I ask?). As I pick up my guitar to work through the song, I close my eyes and repeat the words (from the song Agnus Dei recorded by Third Day):
Alleluia, Alleluia, for our Lord God Almighty reigns…
As I repeat the words, I am reminded once again that He does reign – Alleluia, God does reign! He will not be moved, He will not be shaken! All of life’s interruptions and roller coaster rides in this life are just temporal – even our time here (we are just passers by – a vapor in the wind). Although we are not exempt from the trials and tribulations of this world, we are not to be held captive, no, we are set free! There is freedom in saying God reigns – because He REALLY does! Psalm 97 starts out with The LORD reigns... and later it is written that the heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all people see his glory (Psalm 97:6). He rules over the nations, He is above all things, He reigns over your life (is He reigning over yours?)
Hello! Who am I? I am a child of God, a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16). I am God's workmanship (handiwork), created (born anew) in Christ to do His work that He planned beforehand that I should do (Ephesians 2:10). And mostly, I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God's people in His family (Ephesians 2:19).
With a joyful and thankful heart, I am grateful to be serving as the Worship/Communications Director at the church I have belonged to for the past 12 years (Peace Community Church in Frankfort, IL). It is an honor and joy to praise God and do all we can to advance His kingdom. What a joy and privilege to be a part of this community - where we can be in fellowship with one another, to hear God's Word proclaimed, to meet with God, to share our lives together - to be here for one another.
I have been blessed by a wonderful husband (28 years) and 4 children ranging in ages 27-14. Life is busy, but never too busy to put God first - to praise God, to glorify, honor and exalt, and to proclaim Him to the world! 
I struggle with the “Repeating” movement that is traveling through our worship now days. I’m not disagreeing with you in any way. My church does not getting into “Repeating” things over and over again, but I have participated in worship where “Repeating” was powerful. I am learning in Essentials in Worship History that we are a forgetful people, and we need repetition to help us remember the story.
I know, I struggle with it at times too as I have seen it overdone at some churches, but thankfully at our church, we don’t over do it, so that’s good. (It was just kind of edifying for me as I was working through the song, being reminded that our Lord God Almighty does reign! Just another reminder we always need
I also agree with you that we are a “forgetful” people and prone to wander – good point!
Interesting dialogue regarding the repeating of phrases within worship. I agree, it can be overdone, but I also think at times it can be effective. Since my worship leadership has been exclusively in mixed age, cross-generational venues, I always try to limit the number of times we repeat a section or phrase.
However, I am often amused at the oft-heard objection of “7-11″ songs (a pejorative term used primarily by senior adults regarding all modern worship songs). These folk would have no problem singing all four verses and choruses of the old hymn “Down at the Cross” in which the phrase “Glory to His name” is repeated sixteen times, or “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” where the title lyric accounts for 100% of the refrain.
It occurs to me that there is repetition in all musical forms, so why get hung up on it? Jesus repeated Himself often to add emphasis, or to pound something into the thick skulls of His disciples. We’re no better than they, so perhaps some purposeful repetition can do us good. The challenge for us as worship leaders is to discern when the Spirit is moving us to linger for a while and when the congregation is ready to move forward. There’s a balance to be found, and the Spirit should define it.