Category Archive

Alright.  I’ve had enough people ask me about what the copyright name under all my music means, so I devoted a permanent page to unraveling the mystery behind the “Unbudding Fig.”  Check it out if you’re curious. And, yes, I’m aware that “unbudding” isn’t a real word and probably needs a hyphen. 😉 P.S. I don’t have a logo but would love one.  If any of you savvy, cutting edge designers out there would be interested in some pro bono … Read More

A dear pastor-friend of mine has been experiencing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, but, with the generous heart characteristic of his ministry, he decided to make hay while the sun was shining.  So, he graciously invited me over to his home and plunder his impressive library.  After wiping off some dust, I believe I found a gem.  When I saw Worship as Pastoral Care, by William Willimon, my heart simultaneously leapt for joy and wept.  It leapt for joy because I’ve been … Read More

The Mormon Times recently shared an online article about The Lower Lights, a group out of Provo, UT.  The 40-plus-member conglomeration of artists gets its name from a Moody-inspired hymn by Philip Bliss (“Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy”).  Their album, A Hymn Revival (September 2010), is a 15-track set of relatively newer “old hymns” of the gospel era, stylized in a bluegrass/Americana setting, whose throwback sound (though a bit more mainstream) is reminiscent of Bifrost Arts.  I assume (without much … Read More

I used to be “us vs. them” when it came to worship.  I used to associate myself with the the thoughtful folk who were quick and clear in pointing out all the theological and pragmatic deficiencies of contemporary and modern worship.  Their voice is still heard today.  They’re quick to sniff out charismania.  They’re quick to label with words like “hype,” “emotionalism,” and “manipulation.” A big traditionalist criticism of modern worship is that it insists upon emotional euphoria in every … Read More

…More ancient-modern goodness.  My mixer and friend Josh Davis sent me this link, and I had to share it. If you’re interested in buying it, here you go.  Seeing this makes me chuckle, but on the more serious side, perhaps it is at once lamentable and redemptive.  Lamentable: Labeling one’s iPod as one’s “hymnal” demands some cultural exegesis.  The church has lost something significant when it moved from hymn books to screens…from its congregational music being experienced in the context … Read More

(c) Kyle Ragsdale, 2010I had the privilege of being a part of a songwriting project, the sum of which was to set 12 hymns on the Apostles’ Creed by Samuel Stone to new music and give it to the church for free.  Read more about the project and download sheet music for it at Cardiphonia.org.  Listen to the full album and download it for FREE here. The list of songwriters on this project is outstanding.  Research their names, check out … Read More

Tomorrow Hillsong releases a new arm in their brand: “Hillsong Chapel.”  The album, Yahweh, is the first of more to come in this “product line.”  Here’s the description from worshiptogether.com: Hillsong Chapel is an intimate and devotional collection of Hillsong songs by the Hillsong Live team.  Recorded live in the Hillsong Chapel in March 2010, “Yahweh” is the first installment in this organic contemplative expression of praise and worship. Comprised of 13 congregational songs carefully rearranged to be more intimate, … Read More

Welcome to Sunday Setlists, a part of Fred McKinnon’s Blog Carnival! This week, we had a special guest to lead us in worship. Jeremy Casella is a big member of the New Hymns movement and recently spent a tour with Caedmon’s Call. All instrumentals this week were minimal: Acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, percussion and vocals.   1 – Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing  –  Robert Robinson, 1758 / John Wyth’s Repository of Sacred Music, 1817Again with the Irish! While … Read More

Welcome to an overdue installment of Sunday Setlists, sponsored by Fred McKinnon’s Blog Carnival. This week was Youth Sunday, so the entire service was led by our youth group.   1 – How Firm A Foundation  –  John Rippon, 1787 / Zac Hicks 2009This song was rewritten for the New Hymns Movement by Zac Hicks upon request from the Cherry Creek Pres. Youth Ministry.  The main instruments are two guitars, electric and acoustic, which, while the acoustic plays a palm-muted … Read More

As part of the Sunday Setlists Blog Carnival sponsored by Fred McKinnon   1 – Sola  –  Zac Hicks, 2010This is our song of the month. It is Christ centered and easy to learn. The congregation will soon be able to connect with it very well. 2 – Better Is One Day  –  Matt Redman, 1995This song sounds archaic, yet precise. The congregation connects with this song a lot. I think, because it’s very well known, and they can allow … Read More