Music

   Music in the church is a funny thing if we stop and think about it. I listened to an interview with Rick McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon a few years ago and it woke me up to how odd it is in some ways. Rick did not grow up in a church context. When he came into a church he found it strange (and a little unnerving) that they sat in a room and sang songs. That set me to thinking.

   Public communal singing is not something that we do much in our society. We are used to the national anthem at sporting events. Concert-goers often sing along with the songs they know and love. I am a big soccer fan and I like to hear fans urge their teams on and taunt the other team with constant songs. When it comes to concert-goers and soccer fans, they are often assisted in their singing by the reduced inhibitions of alcohol. Singing together is not something we are comfortable doing in most contexts.

   And yet, music, and in its own way especially singing together, has a serious impact on us. Music excites our ability to worship (whether that is God, an idea of a nation, human affection, sex, possessions, power, or a team). It re-affirms our commitments and boosts our endurance. It invites us into thoughts and feelings.

   I love the diversity of music that can be found in churches. Myself, I have run the spectrum of personal opinion. When I was a youth I couldn't figure out why we sang hymns in which we didn't even know what all the words meant (By the way, "Here I raise my Ebenezer" means setting up a remembrance of divine assistance. In 1 Samuel 7:12 Samuel named a stone Ebenezer.) In college I dismissed choruses because they were too shallow when compared to hymns. (Yes. Apparently all of them.) I used to judge a song, at least in part, on whether it could be sung easily by a congregation-avoiding songs that were hard to sing together or that felt like we were "listening to a concert." Since, I have realized that this kind of participation is the way that many people relate most to the power of music.

   Lately, I especially like songs that hit me hard with some realization of the long-suffering love and faithfulness of God or that speak about how Jesus is King, or Lord, or the One that guarantees that good will eventually be done. My favorite worship playlist at present looks like this:

And Can It Be, Charles Wesley: The old hymn is my favorite song. I have four versions on my phone.

Awake, O Sleeper, Ike Ndolo: This one is a little more obscure but great for Advent and Lent seasons. The quotation is Ephesians 5:14 (Revised Common Lectionary 4th Sunday in Lent, Year A). CCLI 5766262.

Beautiful Things, Gungor

Belong, Paul Joung: A little obscure. Also done in Spanish (Somos Tuyos) by Evan Craft.

Be Still My Soul, Kathrina von Schlegel (originally in German): I have a celtic-styled version by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Donald Shaw, and-my favorite celtic flute player-Michael McGoldrick that is good for reflection.

Fall Afresh, Jeremy Riddle: A song of being filled by the Spirit of God.

Great Are You Lord, David Leonard, Jason Ingram, and Leslie Jordan: This one also has a Spirit/spirit/breath confession.

God of Victory, Michael Bleecker and Patrick Ryan Clark: This is a Village Church song that I use sparingly. I think you have to go to https://www.tvcresources.net/resource-library/albums/god-of-victory to find chords.

It is Well, Horatio Gates Spafford, Kristene DiMarco, Philip Paul Bliss: I am thinking of the newer Bethel reworking of the old classic.

King of My Heart, John Mark McMillan, Sarah McMillan

Lion and the Lamb, Brenton Brown, Brian Johnson, Leeland Mooring

No Longer Slaves, Brian Johnson Joel Case, Jonathan, David Helser: This is an especially powerful song that gratefully embraces the new identity as a child of God and celebrates a trust in God that overcomes the fears we have.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), Joel Houston Matt Crocker, Salomon Ligthelm: We have used this one bilingually enough that I usually try to sing it in Spanish-even though I don't speak Spanish.

One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails), Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford, Jeremy Riddle

Reckless Love, Caleb Culver Cory Asbury Ran Jackson: CCLI 7089641

Speak O Lord, Stuart Townsend

Sweetly Broken, Jeremy Riddle: CCLI 4514635

To the Cross I Cling,  Michael Bleecker, Matt Boswell, Isaac Wimberley: A beautiful Village Church song that I use only in certain circumstances. Chords might only be available at https://www.tvcresources.net/resource-library/albums/god-of-victory.

Whom Shall I Fear, Chris Tomlin Ed Cash Scott Cash: This was the key song that we used for a story camp we called Stories of the King.

Wrestling Jacob, Charles Wesley: The Americana version by Tim Eriksen is great for reflection. This one is difficult to sing as a congregation even when sung as a hymn. It speaks to a deep realization of the love of God in Jesus.

You Won't Relent, Cassandra Campbell, David Brymer, Misty Edwards

I will label some posts "music" when they are about how a specific song might fit in a worship gathering or relate to life.