Transubstantiation. Consubstantiation. Non-substantiation. Which “substantiation” is it? How, if at all, is Christ present in the Lord’s Supper? I have my opinions, but this post won’t answer that. I simply want to point out a brilliant analogy from digital media which may help us understand how portions of each “substantiation” view may have merit and truth. John Jefferson Davis, in his wonderful book Worship and the Reality of God, illumines our understanding of how Christ is present to us in … Read More
Why Architecture Matters: Our Quest to Unify Organ and Drums for the Sake of the Gospel
;)
Philosopher and liturgical theologian, Nicholas Wolterstorff, recently reminded listeners at the “Liturgy, Music, and Space” Conference hosted by Bifrost Arts this past spring that the architecture around and in your worship space makes theological statements whether you like it or not. For instance, a tall, raised platform at the front the sanctuary with the Communion table positioned in the very back can make the theological statement that the Lord’s Table is so holy that its access must be limited and guarded. Or, think of a worship space in which the seating is arranged in a circle or semicircle around the leaders in worship in the middle. This can make a statement about the unity of the people of God in worship and the tearing down of sharp divisions between the congregation and the worship leaders. Or, think about the warehouse with a huge stage and lighting structure. It says, “we’re here to perform for you…sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.” Architecture tells the story of your theology of and priorities in worship. I want to share with you how we’ve chosen to let some recent changes to our sanctuary’s architecture inform our theology of worship.
What Visiting the Sick Has to Do with Worship Planning
Not long ago, this blog was inundated with hits because of a little post, “The Difference Between a Lead Musician and a Worship Pastor.” Today’s post teases out the first item on the list given there: “A Worship Pastor is equipped in and engages in aspects of classical pastoral duties, either formally or informally—visitation, preaching/teaching, catechizing.”
I just got back from visiting a dear man (I’ll call him Ron) who is a part of our church in Denver.
Worship is the Most Human Thing We Do
What is it that is the epitome of human existence? What is the most human thing we could do with ourselves and our time? Where would we find our identity as homines sapientes most concrete, most full, most realized? The answer is: in worship.
CCM Artist Challenges Modern Worship to Write Better Songs and Embrace Liturgy
Fernando Ortega has always behaved as one cut from a different swatch of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) cloth. His instrumentation has almost always been a bit more folky and “classical.” His melodies have always been a bit more lyrical. His albums have always shown an awareness and embracing of the Church’s hymn tradition.
An Interview with the Maker of the Modern Worship Hymns Album, Love Divine
As most of you know, a major focal point of this blog is the intersection of ancient and modern in worship, with a particular eye toward dialogue between mainstream modern worship and historic hymnody. Several months back, I highlighted a preview of the album, Love Divine, which, as a compilation project of mainstream modern worship leaders singing re-tuned texts of Charles Wesley, is a significant achievement toward the end of the coming together of these two worlds.
All About Our New Album, Without Our Aid
Without Our Aid is the second full-length release of Zac Hicks + Cherry Creek Worship, out of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO. Their debut album, The Glad Sound, was their first hymns project, released in 2009, and between that time and the present, Zac has contributed to three other compilation projects with Cardiphonia: The Psalms of Ascents (March 2010) , Hymns of Faith: Songs for the Apostles’ Creed(October 2010), and Pentecost Songs (June 2011).
VISION
Without Our Aid is an experiment in songwriting for the sake of building bridges between two current camps in modern church music—the so-called “hymns/rehymn movement” and mainstream modern evangelical worship. The album’s aim is to combine the energy and vitality of the modern worship sound (made most popular by groups like Passion and Hillsong), with the depth, theology, and historical connectedness of Christian hymnody across time. From a songwriting perspective, the two do not easily go together: hymns are usually written in through-composed verses, while modern worship songs tend to have three and sometimes even four unique sections (verses, choruses, bridges, and “surprise” refrains or endings). Though hymn purists might decry the liberties taken in bending and arranging the original hymn-texts, and though modern worship connoisseurs may consider the texts too verbose and archaic, our passion for greater growth and unity convinces us that Without Our Aid is a unique and worthwhile project.
STYLE & PRODUCTION
The goal of Without Our Aid was to create an album which sounded live in order to capture that more tangible “moment” of corporate worship. It is not a live album in the true sense, mostly because our current setting does not have the bandwidth to be able to pull off a live recording. However, the recording was pieced together in the “live” setting of our reverberant, 900-seat, traditional sanctuary, employing ambient mic techniques for all the major instruments. A backing choir of approximately 20-30 voices sang through the album multiple times; those sessions ended up being powerful times of worship themselves. Stylistically, Without Our Aid is best characterized as a “modern arena-worship” record—big drums, driving electric guitars, layered synths, crowd noise, and a live “congregational” sound.
FREE Pre-Release Song from Our New Album – Get it Now!
FREE PRE-RELEASE SONG
FROM WITHOUT OUR AID (9/13/11)
Hello, Readership. In an effort to drum up support for our new album, Without Our Aid, we’re asking you to pass this link along to anyone and everyone you know (tweet it, FB it, email it). We’re giving away one of our best songs on the album, “Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus,” absolutely free…we just ask that you tell others about it.
“Hail” is probably the best all-in-one representation of the musical, philosophical, and theological aim of the Without Our Aid. It has a live feel, energetic rhythm, great drumming, layered electrics, modern worship-styled vocal melodies, and unbeatable lyrics (I can brag, because I didn’t write them).
GO GET THE SONG HERE (this link will only be available until Tuesday, September 13, so get it while you can!).
Five Reasons Why Contemporary Worship Should Embrace Liturgy
Alex Mejias from High Street Hymns shares why churches characterized by contemporary worship should engage in liturgical music: 1. Liturgical music is biblical.2. Liturgical music helps us retell the Gospel-story.3. Liturgical music connects us to the Historic Church.4. Liturgical music connects us to the Global Church.5. Liturgical songs complement contemporary worship songs. Read the whole post! It’s worth it.
Song Reflection: “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
In preparation for the release of our album, Without Our Aid, on September 13, 2011, we’ve begun a series of posts reflecting on the hymns incorporated into the project. For those who worship in more liturgically-oriented contexts, you’re probably familiar with the fact that the Christian “new year” doesn’t line up with our calendar’s new year. Our new year happens a month earlier than January 1, when we begin the season of Advent. Advent is a season of hope, fostering … Read More