So 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.
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 before 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.
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!
Great idea! I would love there to be singable authentic music for Venite, Jubilate, and other liturgy-bits in the Daily Office-- Ecce Nunc, Magnificat.
ReplyDeleteOoh, very interesting! I wrote a little thing for the thanksgiving prayer after communion - that would be a really interesting challenge. In the meantime, if you look up Canticle of the Turning by Rory Cooper (I think that's the writer) we like playing that version of the Magnificat.
ReplyDelete