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When on cue by the Pastor or Worship Leader, everyone stands up to say hello to those around them just seems manufactured by me. IMO, there was no genuine greeting of a fellow brother/sister.

It seems forced to me too and to me, it takes away from thoughts of worshiping. Our worship begins at 9:30 and ends around 10:45, so we have 15 minutes to visit, eat donuts, and drink coffee before our Sunday School begins.
I vote for no music with prayers. I don't object to music during communion, but we don't have music at our church during communion, and the silence is fitting then too.