i started writing worship songs years ago because of words (ok i wasn't that keen on the music around either!). i found if difficult to find words that articulated what it was we as a community then (st matts in bath at the time) believed and wanted to express. it was a great journey of expression and led me to explore the same in alternative worship through a range of art forms. and actually it also led to setting up proost to collate songs and liturgy and movies that had this same sense of expression from the grassroots in soulful (and theological) ways. i am still surprised how few communities go this route. i get that it is more time consuming but it is so much more rewarding that simply using commodified worship songs or liturgies written in high places. though of course blending your own expression with good stuff written by others is probably even better...
anyway all that to say i was sent a link to this blog/site plural guild which is the first i have seen for a while that really embodies that spirit of articulation. and the words are words i can sing which i have to say is a refreshing change (and i know i am hard to please). so thank you to plural guild (love the notion of guild by the way)! the song below seems especially poignant today on a day when my country have voted to leave europe - love the line there is no other there is only us. there is a also a downloadable album of advent and christmas songs too. i am making these worship trick 64 in series 4
You should check out what Steve is up to in the StreetSpace community he says....
During the Streetspace gathering this year I tried recording woodchopping rhythms and Tadeusz Kawecki-Billam on the mandolin to create a soundscape of worship… John Wheatley, was it you who mentioned the concept of reclaiming worship music? I reckon one important part of this is engaging with grassroots local creative expressions of praise…
The concept-mashup below is seeking out God amongst real everday community, people and places - instead of escaping into another world – which seems to be the preoccupation of lots of contemporary “worship” music.
It’s not got the magic of Mozart or the hype of Hillsong; but that’s the point… when connecting with sounds that we’ve got a direct relationship with, something happens. Through it I begin to notice the Great Other among us…
Props to Tadz and the Streetspace fire starters!
Posted by: Richard Passmore | June 24, 2016 at 08:32 PM