tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33654777567479698242024-03-13T02:37:53.277-07:00The New Bluegrass HymnalAmy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-48917385613868219712021-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:002021-06-09T08:02:06.573-07:00Online Streaming Permissions<div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Hi folks! </div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">For the past year or so, I've wanted you to have plenty of time to adjust to COVID and worshipping from home and didn't ask for any streaming rights compensation. As we're starting to come out of that time, I'm making a change. If you have a copy of The New Bluegrass Hymnal and are continuing online worship, <a href="https://amysens.bandcamp.com/merch/new-bluegrass-hymnal-streaming-license" target="_blank">please consider getting a streaming license</a> to support my work. Thanks so much for listening and using my music!</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Blessings to you as we continue the journey.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Best,</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Amy</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(31, 52, 71); color: #1f3447; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div>
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</script>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-62073289861214780102019-05-29T10:47:00.001-07:002019-05-29T10:47:35.053-07:00Love, Mercy and GraceSometimes it's good to pause and look back at the long, winding journey God likes to draw us on. This hymn is inspired by an old camp song of the same name, but I also keep coming back to the inspiring words from Amazing Grace: "Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. It's grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home."<br />
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If you like this song and would like to buy it for your congregation to sing together, look to the right here on the blog for the individual songs form. Thanks and enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mF1O3JsWZGU" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-31794347956691100262019-02-20T09:54:00.000-08:002019-02-20T10:51:39.433-08:00In time for Lent - When Jesus Walked the WildernessThis is a hymn that tells the story of Jesus' time in the wilderness. It was a time away from people where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted to use his power instead of trusting in God. All of us can face our own wilderness times and trust that Jesus has walked that road ahead of us and will continue to walk with us.<br />
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Want to sing it at your church? Look over to the right for info on how to buy sheet music for your congregation. Thanks for supporting good music & good theology! Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-81646364337959248582019-01-23T17:48:00.000-08:002019-01-23T17:49:02.781-08:00Through Waters Deep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Please enjoy this reflection on Jesus' baptism!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-11080446894255789362018-08-02T08:42:00.001-07:002018-11-13T07:50:52.898-08:00I Lift Up My Eyes with the Carriage House PickersOne of my favorite parts of writing this music is having the chance to sing it with a congregation as a part of worship. Last Sunday at Kittamaqundi Community, we got to do just that - this is me with the Carriage House Pickers, and our rendition of I Lift Up My Eyes, a song from the hymnal based on Psalm 121. The tune is based on Jesse James, for those who think it sounds familiar.<br />
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Please enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0uY9V8MWn6A" width="560"></iframe>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-28166968481842248332017-07-08T09:25:00.000-07:002017-07-08T09:25:27.228-07:00Thank you, UCC General Synod!Thanks to everybody who was so supportive
at General Synod this weekend!<br />
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Take a look at this video, starting at 1:44:49 - We'll All Stand Together was one of our hymns during worship. <br />
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Interested in sheet music for just We'll All Stand Together? <a href="https://amysens.bandcamp.com/merch/sheet-music-for-a-new-hymn-l-z">Follow this link</a>. Or, for a whole hymnal full of new songs and classics, take a look at the column to the right --><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sg541R8B-4Q" width="560"></iframe> Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-68726299627637811862017-06-26T20:00:00.000-07:002017-06-26T20:00:00.448-07:00UCC General Synod in Baltimore Hey everybody,<br />
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I'm excited for Synod, and if you're a UCC church nerd, much like myself, you probably are too. I'm extra excited because I'll be part of the worship team this year. Friday at the opening worship and again on Monday, we'll be singing "We'll All Stand Together," together as a whole national church. I am beyond thrilled whenever I wake up and realize it's REALLY happening. So, if you are in town for synod, please be sure to come to those services, and also, check me out "busking" in the convention center on Saturday morning after plenary lets out.<br />
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A link to Synod here, in case you're interested: http://synod.uccpages.org/<br />
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Here's a video of that song if you want to learn it ahead of time. :)<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CJzqFm78qOE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-7682239950459968632017-05-24T12:49:00.002-07:002017-05-24T12:49:38.915-07:00New Video - House of LoveCheck it out - a fun, energetic re-imagining of Psalm 100:<br />
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<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-zCNaa8hUxg?ecver=2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-88697616807480164242017-01-19T19:09:00.000-08:002017-01-19T19:27:06.474-08:00Feeling Resistant? So, in the last few months I've been contemplating how the work for justice is a long road to walk. This new song, "We'll All Stand Together," is about keeping faith along the way.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2006732445/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://amysens.bandcamp.com/track/well-all-stand-together">We'll All Stand Together by Rev. Amy Sens</a></iframe>
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I want this song to be an encouragement, and I want people to have it and to sing it, so if you already have a hymnal and you want this one, I'll send the sheet music to you free - just e-mail me at thenewbluegrasshymnal (at) gmail.com before Ash Wednesday. And if you don't have a hymnal yet, but get one before Ash Wednesday this year, I'll include this as a bonus song as well. Thanks for listening! Let's sing together.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-77282135282767163582016-12-09T09:02:00.000-08:002016-12-09T09:02:17.690-08:00I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This last Sunday at church I shared a new version of "I Heard the Bells
on Christmas Day," based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It
is a prayer for peace and for renewed trust in God's love for us. </div>
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I think the new tune gives the song a fresh meaning. See what you think.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-74730644795926380792016-10-18T16:05:00.000-07:002016-10-18T16:05:53.174-07:00A Mighty FortressLast year a pastor friend of mine posted a challenge in one of our online clergy groups - did anybody have a bluegrass version of A Mighty Fortress is Our God? I didn't, but I had been learning a tune, "Down in the Willow Garden," that I thought just might fit. Well, here it is, one of the songs in the New Bluegrass Hymnal - a new setting with mildly revised lyrics that opens up this traditional hymn of faith and trust in a whole new way. Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IkeITCcXAM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200568718032296674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-25452431594221250162016-08-05T08:27:00.001-07:002016-08-23T14:20:59.685-07:00Now with WORDS!Okay, <b>The New Bluegrass Hymnal has words in it already - of course! </b><br />
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However, like with any sheet music, the words are embedded in the pdf file and that means that if you just want to print the words in your bulletin or Powerpoint, you have to retype them. But! I've been using these songs in powerpoint presentations for 4+ years now, so I already have them typed out. I put them in Word format for easy cutting and pasting.<br />
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Do yourself or your office staff a favor by getting them from me when you get your hymnal. Check out your options:<br />
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<option value="100 or fewer">100 or fewer $60.00 USD</option>
<option value="101-200">101-200 $110.00 USD</option>
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Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-25306303617405836642016-07-11T20:15:00.000-07:002016-08-05T07:54:59.752-07:00Wonders of Your Love: the six:eight string bandEnjoy this video of me, Luke & Alex doing one of the songs from the Hymnal: Wonders of Your Love. This one is based on Psalm 139 and is set to a classic bluegrass tune. Thanks!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/15-vdDXLUFY" width="560"></iframe>Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-2501527560958915662016-06-12T20:25:00.002-07:002016-08-23T14:14:46.881-07:00Okay, here's how to get your copy!<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">
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<tr><td><input name="on0" type="hidden" value="What is your church's average weekly worship attendance?" />I am so excited to be able to offer this hymnal to churches that are looking for good music and good theology!<br />
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Here is the deal: <b>buying a copy gives your church the rights to make as many copies as you need </b>for singing together in worship. If another church or setting (denomination meeting, etc.) would like to use the music, please ask them to pay for their own copy. (It's also possible to get a song at a time - www.amysens.bandcamp.com.)<br />
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Like with CCLI, <b>I am asking larger churches to pay more, </b>since more people will be singing - basically, one copy's worth for each 100 people you average in worship. If you have more than 300 people in worship on a weekend, let's talk: TheNewBluegrassHymnal (at) gmail (dot) com.<br />
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Last thing: I'll send you the hymnal in pdf format, so don't forget to give me your e-mail address. If you'd like a hard copy, please include $12 for shipping and handling and please make sure I have your address when you pay. If you'd like a pdf file in addition to the hard copy, please include a note to me in the "instructions to the seller."<br />
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Payments can be made by Paypal, below:<br />
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<option value="100 or fewer">100 or fewer $50.00 USD</option>
<option value="101-200">101-200 $100.00 USD</option>
<option value="201-300">201-300 $150.00 USD</option>
<option value="Hard copy 100/fewer">Hard copy 100/fewer $62.00 USD</option>
<option value="Hard copy 101-200">Hard copy 101-200 $112.00 USD</option>
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Or, mail a check made out to Amy Sens to: 2002 Grinnalds Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230.<br />
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Thanks so much for your support!!!</form>
Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-28720353133746944742016-06-12T09:30:00.000-07:002016-06-12T09:30:31.077-07:001st Edition has been printed!All right, this weekend was the big debut - I've been working hard getting all the music edited and in order, and on Thursday night I printed out 5 hard copies. This is me at 10 at night, amazed that I am holding this thing and that it's done. <br />
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I took the hard copies to the Annual Meeting for the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. The six:eight string band led the music for worship on Friday night. Here we are:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hVZQCGuryRXwvpr5pm5sYatiLuzszUofSoW5sj6lNUj_a0bniqmsiI5v5eND3GRkfnFN3W6kVtnyIs2brd5HI7Pnq6oUQ28FYXZPjZ0ZXE2b9bTouTuK5OTxqBaHPraov02KmGdaSCnz/s1600/2016.6.10+CACUCC+Annual+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hVZQCGuryRXwvpr5pm5sYatiLuzszUofSoW5sj6lNUj_a0bniqmsiI5v5eND3GRkfnFN3W6kVtnyIs2brd5HI7Pnq6oUQ28FYXZPjZ0ZXE2b9bTouTuK5OTxqBaHPraov02KmGdaSCnz/s320/2016.6.10+CACUCC+Annual+Meeting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So that's the beginning of the beginning! All the music is edited, all the writing is written! The only thing is, I don't have an easy way to e-mail it out yet. That's this week's project. Soon, very soon. <br />
<br />Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-58237847813842976282016-03-20T07:34:00.001-07:002016-03-20T07:34:09.901-07:00Since it's Holy Week, (happy Palm Sunday!) I've put together a set of music for this week and for Easter and the Easter Season.<br />
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The set includes new settings for All Glory, Laud, and Honor, Ah Holy Jesus, and Christ the Lord is Risen Today. It also has a new & fun celebration of the resurrection: "Jesus Rose Up from the Grave," and a communion hymn written specifically for the Easter season: "This Bread, My Body." Take a listen:<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3990134035/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://amysens.bandcamp.com/album/holy-week-and-easter-season">Holy Week and Easter Season by Rev. Amy Sens</a></iframe>Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-50353173588487869702016-02-27T14:39:00.000-08:002016-02-27T14:54:24.171-08:00Join the mailing list & get a free song for next weekAs I'm getting the word out about my new project, I realized that one of my favorite new songs fits perfectly with the scripture passage coming up in the Revised Common Lectionary! "How Wide is God's Welcome" is a re-telling of the Jesus' parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. It's a song about God's welcoming love for all of us.<br />
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Here's the chorus:<br />
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How wide is God's welcome to the wayfaring child? <br />
As wide as the ocean or the bright and starry sky!<br />
How wide is God's welcome to the lost and the least? <br />
As wide as the west stretching out from the east!<br />
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Take a minute to listen to it here:<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=582806905/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://amysens.bandcamp.com/track/how-wide-is-gods-welcome">How Wide is God's Welcome by Rev. Amy Sens</a></iframe>
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<b>If you like it, sign up for my e-mail list (Look to your right) by the end of the day Wednesday, March 1 and I'll send you your own PDF of the song, for church singing!</b> <br />
<br />Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-71367638751523517422016-02-27T14:21:00.000-08:002016-02-27T14:21:37.740-08:00Support the Launch!Hi friends,
So, here's my progress: I have a bunch of songs written, compiled, and arranged. Some are new arrangements or tunes for classic hymns, some are new words for bluegrass tunes, and some are classic bluegrass songs that don't need much tampering. I'm excited to get these all rolled together into a downloadable PDF, and to make a bunch of learning tracks so that you can hear the music before you buy the sheet music. AND, I'd like to do a few videos for YouTube that would feature professional musicians playing a few of my favorites. Plus, some advertising... Want to support the effort? Head to <a href="http://www.fundthisministry.org/united-church-of-christ">the UCC's crowdsourcing site here</a>. Look for "Launch the New Bluegrass Hymnal" to find my project. Bonus - if you'd like to pre-order the book, for a $50 donation I'll put you on the list and throw in a word file with all lyrics written out - makes it easier to put it in a bulletin or power point.
Thanks!Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-32267626057611029162016-02-21T08:43:00.002-08:002016-08-05T08:01:38.826-07:00There is music up!Here it is: the first track!<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3166436052/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2937250663/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://amysens.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-bluegrass-hymnal-learning-tracks">The New Bluegrass Hymnal: Learning Tracks by Rev. Amy Sens</a></iframe>
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There are two more learning tracks available on my bandcamp site (follow the link....) and you can also get sheet music for Blessed Be the Tie that Binds! Things are just humming along now - check these out and be ready for more!Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-30348091164179074002016-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:002016-07-22T08:14:32.776-07:00Thank you!Thanks so much for your order! Once you've ordered a hymnal, you'll receive your PDF file within 5 days, (and usually quicker) although there may be a longer delay August 9 - 15, 2016. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at TheNewBluegrassHymnal (at) gmail (dot) com.<br />
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Thanks for supporting good music and good theology!Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365477756747969824.post-21566534511798643222014-02-10T20:51:00.001-08:002014-02-10T20:51:08.639-08:00The New Bluegrass Hymnal - The Big IdeaSo for the last two years (as of tomorrow!) I've been the pastor of a church start that meets weekly in the Hampden/Woodberry neighborhood in Baltimore. We do an interesting mix of bluegrass and Americana music. (Check it out: www.sixeightucc.org) And as I talk with other pastors and listen around, I think that style of music is starting to be a popular one for alternative worship services. There are some great benefits - the music is easy and intuitive, and it's great to be able to show up somewhere with a few string instruments and maybe a drum and get things humming.<br />
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But one thing that's been tough is finding hymns, songs and spiritual songs that have a progressive theology to them. There are a LOT of gospel hymns in the lexicon, but many many many of them are about life after death, and very few about life <i>before</i> death. So, I've started writing - taking existing tunes and giving them new words. The plan is to put together a starter kit - the thing I wish we'd had when we started - songs that are easy to learn and teach, lead sheets with chords that are easy to read, and a list of which songs are copyrighted and where to go to get the license we'd need for congregational singing. So that's the big idea.<br />
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Here's my question for you, O person looking for a New Bluegrass Hymnal - what songs have you been looking for that you just can't find? A communion tune? A new take on Jesus's death? A hymn to silence? What hymns do I need to be writing? Put it in the comments section!Amy Senshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00634927675873778640noreply@blogger.com2