March 2012
54 posts
The Arabian Passion According to J.S. Bach
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June 25-29, 2012: ICE Ethnodoxology Course
June 25-29: ICE Ethnodoxology Course
Are you interested in:
* developing a biblical and missiological framework for arts in cross-cultural ministry? * learning field research skills for the arts? * gaining practical tools for multicultural congregational contexts? * learning songs from a variety of world worship traditions?
A collaborative team of trainers from the International Council of...
Global Easter Song Festival & Art Show 2012
I co-lead a global worship ensemble called ISHQ. That word means LOVE in Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Turkish, and some other languages.
Every year we present a Global Easter Song Festival & Art Show, featuring songs from a dozen or so countries. We also have an art exhibit with 100+ pictures of bibilcal scenes from Easter week painted by many artists from many different countries, contextualizing...
Only Your Blood (rockin' Isaac Watts, by Sojourn)
YES! Another superb updating of hymn lyrics by Isaac Watts (circa 1700) by friends at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY.
This is also from the album “Over the Grave.” This has been one of my favorite albums since it was released in 2009 - highly recommended.
The lyrics to this song are based on Psalm 51 (part 2). A really good song for Easter and Holy Week.
See the...
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed (contemporary...
Isaac Watts penned these lyrics around 1700… and here’s a great contemporary musical setting out of the Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky. A great song for Easter and Holy Week.
The lead sheet for this arrangement is at http://music.sojournchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/alas-and-did-my-savior-bleed-chords.pdf
The song is from the superb album “Over the...
Victorious Amen (new Easter song by The Crossing...
This song was originally written for the Good Friday service in 2010. Several months later a major rewrite occurred during The Shore recording sessions with our Co-Producer, David Wilton, but was left off the album. Now, two years after the original writing of the song, we have rearranged it a third time, seeing the song to completion. We hope it serves as a helpful song of meditation &...
God Still Heals: A Service at the First African...
B.J. Barlow has written a great post about his visit to a service at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Go here for story, pictures and a video: http://www.intentionalworship.net/2012/03/god-still-heals.html
Ten Principles for Congregational Church Song (by...
Kevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.
He has a 2-part blog post with insightful reminders about “Ten principles for congregational singing.” I’ll repost just the headings here, go to his original post to read his in-depth unpacking of each one....
Resucitó (Spanish Easter Song, versions 1, 2, 3,...
Resucitó is a famous song, well-known throughout the Americas. It is sung in various musical styles; we’ll highlight some of them in a series of posts.
The song was composed by Kiko Argüello, born in Spain in 1939.
The following 4 paragraphs are taken from https://www.facebook.com/Kiko.Arguello?sk=info
After a profound existential crisis, Kiko embarked on a serious conversion that made...
Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows (Easter Week - and...
From the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, posted at http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/tenebrae-a-service-of-shadows
The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. We join...
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me), Easter song by...
This song combines song lyrics from an old hymn with additional new lyrics and a contemporary melody. Go here http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1725321
for a video with the story of how the song was created, guitar instruction, and acoustic version of the song. Lyrics and chords are also there.
Verse 1 references Christmas; Verses 2 and 3 reference Easter; Verse 4...
multicultural fusion between flamenco and Uyghur...
The song is Orda Henim performed by Erkin Abdulla. We see Uyghur frame drums and stringed instruments, and some flamenco stylings on guitar.
Thanks for this find, Mike … and thanks again for the Uyghur frame drum!
fusion between flamenco music and sitar music of...
If that combination sounds interesting to you, go here https://pages.umusic-mail.com/anoushkashankar/download/?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Shankar
to fill out a form and get a free full-length mp3 from the newest album of Anoushka Shankar.
The album is called “Traveller” and marvelously suits my own aesthetics. In case you didn’t know, there is a...
Your Wounds Are Beautiful (Good Friday/communion...
I call you faithful/Great and mighty is our God...
Alva Copeland is a friend of a friend, and a worship leader at Saddleback Church in southern California.
Here’s a video where she leads a multicultural choir in an energetic medley of two popular songs.
Her 2003 CD is called ‘Always There’ and is available here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alvacopeland
Acoustic Psalms, by Matt Searles
Matt Searles is assistant minister at a church in London. His recent album is “Now and Not Yet,” containing new musical settings of 10 psalms and a new tune for an old hymn.
All the songs are sung by a woman accompanied by acoustic guitar, like this one (Psalm 61).
Go here to hear all the songs, and buy the download or CD: http://mattsearles.bandcamp.com/
Death in His Grave (Easter Song)
Here’s a great Easter song by John Mark McMillan. And here’s how he says the song was born:
“Death in his grave” is loosely inspired by Steve Turner’s poem “The Morning That Death Was Killed” and the folk song “Jesse James”. “Jesse James” was originally recorded in 1924 by Bascom Lamar Lunsford but later versions by Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan sometimes included Judas in place...
Multicultural Artist Safina Stewart
Check out Scott Rayl’s recent blog post profiling artist Safina Stewart at http://indigenousjesus.blogspot.it/2011/11/artist-profile-safina-stewart.html
Scott writes, “Safina Stewart is an Australian Indigenous Christian artist living in Melbourne, Australia. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, but raised in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, Safina grew up with many multicultural...
Resurrection Chant, by Heart of the City Band
This has been one of my favorite songs for a few years. I love the ‘multicultural excitement’ of this studio version:
The song is by Dan Adler, and is on the CD titled “It All Belongs To You.” To order the CD, go to www.heartofthecity.org . Also available on ITunes and other mp3 sites.
To read the interesting story behind the song, go to...
Lenten Challenge of Houston Church: Tattoos for...
Artist Scott Erickson created a Lenten-theme project for Ecclesia Church in Houston (Texas). He had designed a series of 10 tattoos representing the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross, and was asking volunteers to tattoo them to their bodies, as a way of observing the 40 days leading up to Good Friday. Ecclesia is not a typical church: Not only do they have an “artist-in-residence,” the...
Yo Te Quiero Conocer (Josh Davis of Proskuneo)
This entry is from a recent post on the Proskuneo blog, at http://proskuneo.info/2012/03/spontaneous-worship-songcancion-espontanea-yo-te-quiero-conocer/?fb_ref=.T2TTKcW1aV4.like&fb_source=home_multiline
Josh Davis writes,
“Last year when I was in the Dominican Republic on a trip with my family, I had the opportunity to lead worship at Iglesia Triunfadores en Cristo in Santiago. There...
To See the King of Heaven Fall (Gethsemane) - ...
A Song for Lent: Psalm 57
Acquaintance Bruce...
I Know That My Redeemer Lives (new Scottish tune)
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St. Patrick's Breastplate (versions 14-15, Gaelic...
14. Song composed by Phil Coulter and sung by Donegal singer Aoife Ní Fhearraigh. From the album ‘Highland Cathedral’.
Críost liomsa, (Christ with me) Críost romham, (Christ before me) Agus Críost i mo chroí’se, (and Christ in my heart) Críost os mo chionn’sa, (Christ above me) Críost fúm, (Christ below me) Agus Críost ar mo chroí’se. (and Christ on my heart)...
St. Patrick's Breastplate (versions 10 - 13)
10. Singer, sruti box drone, cello (offstage). Cornell Summer Concert Series, 2010
11. A prayer of Saint Patrick, choral version by John Rutter
12. contemporary version for singer and harp
13. version for piano and male quartet (Chancellors Quartet)
On A Cross, On A Hill (song for Easter Weekend)
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“Come, Lord Jesus” (Celtic worship)
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How can multicultural (integrational) ministry fit...
Something to ponder:
1. There’s an important mandate in ministry life (church or parachurch) to integrate across cultural and ethnic lines in some contexts. This perspective is foundational to multicultural worship.
2. Ethnic-specific ministries can be very appropriate and helpful in some contexts. This perspective is foundational to things like a Spanish-speaking congregation.
3. How do...
Songs of the Crucified One: The Psalms and the...
What can we learn if we view the cross through the lens of the Psalms? What do the “Songs of the Crucified One” reveal concerning his suffering and death? We shall trace the songs in reference to the way the events of the crucifixion unfolded.
So writes Dr. Derek Tidball, who has been a professor at London School of Theology, a pastor, and an author.
This article was published in Southern Baptist...
St. Patrick’s Breastplate (version 9, my...
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Celtic version)
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St. Patrick's Breastplate (versions 6-8,...
1. Ken Read leads the World Music Worship Ensemble at Cincinnati Christian University. Ken made this arrangement for praise band, and this is a performance from 2007. The singing’s a bit rough but I like the arrangement. It gets most of the lyrical themes from the original prayer, which is quite long.
2. CCM star Margaret Becker sings a great upbeat, contemporary version here. It can be...
St. Patrick's Breastplate version 5 (prog-rock...
Iona is the name of an island off the coast of Scotland; the name of a Christian community based in Scotland; and the name of a fantastic Celtic Christian prog-rock band. http://www.iona.uk.com
Here’s a live version of their 12-minute song based on St. Patrick’s Breastplate, in 3 sections.
LORICA I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead His eye to watch, His...
St. Patrick's Breastplate (versions 1-4)
St. Patrick’s Day is just a week away! With that in mind - and fresh from the North Texas Irish Festival last weekend - we’ll highlight various musical versions of an old prayer called St. Patrick’s Breastplate.It’s also called Lorica and The Deer’s Cry.
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is a Christian hymn whose original Old Irish lyrics were traditionally...
Great New Online Resource: Doxology & Theology
from the great blog by Zac Hicks at http://www.zachicks.com/blog/2012/2/8/a-great-new-online-resource-hub-for-worship-leaders.html posted Feb 8, 2012
I’m thankful that I can introduce to you one of the answers to my prayers: Doxology & Theology. It’s a coalition of worship leaders and thinkers from different Christian traditions (Baptists, Presbyterians, charismatics, independents/non-denoms,...
The Essential Journey to the Cross: 2012 Bible...
The Essential Journey to the Cross from Scripture Union provides 5 daily readings (excluding weekends) for each of the six weeks in Lent. The readings are accompanied by a reflection question or two to help you “dig deeper” into the passage as you go through Lent.
You can sign up to receive the mediations by email at http://www.scriptureunion.org/journey%20to%20the%20cross
Each...
Resisting a Segregated Church, by Bryan Calvin
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/blog/28480-resisting-a-segregated-church
Certainly the congregational context matters to multicultural worship; read the experience of one family who made a deliberate choice to join a church where they are a tiny racial minority.
On Sundays, I drive my African-American wife and daughter to our local United Methodist church. Reflecting the north Texas...
Come, O Redeemer Come (Fernando Ortega)
Here’s a wonderful song I just discovered, by Fernando Ortega. The maker of this video writes, “A sardonic look at the commercialism and idolatry that has come to typify the Christmas season. Set to (and in contrast to) Fernando Ortega’s beautiful song.”
Errr… that’s fine, but for purposes of this blog post, just close your eyes and listen to the...
Praying A Powerful "Stations of the Cross" Online
http://www.beliefnet.com/religion/christianity/holyweek/easter/cross_lite2.html
offers a powerful meditation with prayers, scripture, woodcut art, and music. It’s called Bitter Journey, and takes only 6 minutes to watch online. Some people are doing this every Friday during Lent, and praying and meditating with this virtual Stations of the Cross.
You might also consider using it in a...
Joseph's Son (Celtic ballad by The Crossing)
This contemporary Celtic ballad was composed by Tony Krogh, leader of The Crossing band out of Jesus People USA (JPUSA) in Chicago.
The first 4 verses include the calling of the disciples and the 40 days of fasting with temptation, and doing miracles. But the last 5 verses focus on the Passion of Christ, starting in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Though the song is less than 20 years old, the...
The Maccabeats - Purim Song (Jewish)
To mark the end of the Purim festival, here’s a musical treat by The Maccabeats, an a cappella group from New York. All the ‘instrument’ sounds are made by the guys singing.
What a great retelling of the biblical story of Esther! To see the song lyrics, go to http://youtu.be/kgJInVvJSZg
For more information on the band, se! https://www.facebook.com/Maccabeats?sk=info and...
Amhran Na Paise (Song of the Passion, Irish...
Psalm 136, Celtic style (by The Crossing)
The Crossing is a Celtic Christian band out of Jesus People USA (JPUSA), a ministry in inner-city Chicago. The community is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination. http://www.jpusa.org/
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting JPUSA a number of times over decades, have good friends there, and have always appreciated the wide diversity of musical ministries they encourage.
The...
Rockabilly Worship at the Hot Rod Church for...
The Hot Rod Church of Sinners is in Mission Viejo, California (where else?).
Find out about it here: http://www.hotrodchurch.com/
One of their trademarks is worship music done rockabilly style, by church band The Pioneers. Hear their 3 albums (CDs or mp3s) at the church website or at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ThePioneers2
With song titles such as “Me and My Lord and My Hot Rod...
Our God Is Greater Remix (Israel Houghton) with...
Israel Houghton released this arrangement on his 2010 album Love God, Love People.
Here’s a 2011 performance from New York; Jorel Wharton is the dancer. He uses some dance, some mime, even a bit of sign language.
All Is For Your Glory (by Lisa Gottshall)
Here’s a nice, new CCM worship song you may not have heard yet …
“Put me anywhere, just put your glory in me I’ll serve anywhere, just let me see your beauty.”
Download the song for a dollar at http://lisagottshall.bandcamp.com/track/all-is-for-your-glory
She writes, “I have been part of the International House of Prayer as a singer and worship leader since...
Benediction (Celtic tune), by Sheila Walsh
There...
Prayer of St. Francis (Italian and English)
This song was composed by Ryan Cayabyab, a music superstar of the Philippines. Born in 1954, has been a music professor, orchestra conductor, prize-winniing composer, performer around the world, a TV show host, and has a long list of accomplishments at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Cayabyab
Songs for Lent by Keith Getty
Keith & Kristyn Getty (from Ireland) have suggested a number of their original songs for use during Lent: You can find lyrics and musical arrangements for piano, hymnal, and orchestral versions here: http://www.gettymusic.com/lent.aspx
Father, We Have Sinned http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns.aspx?id=36
Merciful God
Kyrie Eleison
God of Grace
In Christ Alone
Still, My Soul, Be...
