New songs for modern missional worship, rich in Christian teaching and contextualized in modern culture. Contemporary hymns, psalms, songs of lament and praise written by members of the Louisville, KY-based Sojourn Community.
As we approach the end of the year and reflect upon the meaning behind the birth of Christ, the promised deliverer who would undo the curse of sin for those who trust in Him, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and safe holiday traveling.
It’s been a busy year for the Sojourn music ministry, and since this site began in August, coinciding with the release of Before the Throne, that has only intensified. We realize many of you may have missed some of the links to live worship songs, TV shows featuring the Sojourn band, and other interesting columns in our blog section.
Here then are links to columns that we hope will be of interest, grouped by subject.
Live Worship mps — songs not found on any Sojourn CDs:
In this column you’ll find mp3 links featuring timeless hymns “I’ll Fly Away” and “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.”
The classic hymn “All Creatures of our God and King” along with two Sojourn originals: the modern hymn “Let Justice Roll Like A River,” text by me and melody by Rebecca Elliott (the same team that wrote “All I Have Is Yours” on Before the Throne) and the fantastic “Where Your Praise Never Ends” written by Charlie Richardson, the writer behind “There Is A Peace” on Before the Throne. This column also contains chord sheets for “Let Justice Roll Like A River” and “Where Your Praise Never Ends.”
Sojourn Worship Bands on Television:
Contains a link to a 22-minute live performance on The CW Network (Louisville affiliate WBKI). This was the second edition of a series called “Takin’ It To The Streets,” filmed in downtown Louisville at cultural landmark Fourth Street Live (visit the Takin’ It web page from our Helpful Links section). Band members include Dave Moisan, Rebecca Dennison, Brooks Ritter, Mike Cosper, Eddy Morris and Matt Harris. It also contains comments from Sojourn Teaching Pastor Daniel Montgomery, filmed at The 930 Art Center.
This incarnation of the Sojourn band features Cosper, Morris, Lorie King, Jamie Barnes, Charlie Richardson and Miguel Monroy, performing Charlie’s song “Thorns” on FOX in the Morning, the weekday morning news show on The FOX Network’s Louisville affiliate, WDRB.
Audio mp3 Sermon on worship from Sojourn’s worship arts pastor:
Mike Cosper is not only a member of Sojourn’s band and producer of our CDs, but also Sojourn’s Worship Arts Pastor. Hear Mike preach on the subject of worship, and the role of music in corporate worship. This column includes the text of a study guide to go along with the sermon.
Stories behind songs found on Before the Throne:
In an interview with Will Kotheimer, Brooks Ritter discusses writing “In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross” with Rebecca Elliott (who, at the time they wrote the song, was Rebecca Bales. Congratulations to Rebecca and Adam Elliott on their marriage this past August).
Sojourn’s first worship songwriter Jeremy Quillo writes about his process behind the creation of Before the Throne’s prayer for illumination song, “We are Listening.”
There are surprisingly few modern benediction songs. Before the Throne ends with one written by Michael Morgan, a musician and singer-songwriter who is also currently writing an article series on the history of the Sojourn community. Here he discusses the writing of “All Good Gifts.”
The corporate confession song “Lead Us Back” has both a writer and composer. I wrote the hymn text and Brooks Ritter composed the melody. In this column, I discuss the process involved.
Along with “We Are Listening,” Jeremy Quillo wrote another song used on Before the Throne: the call to worship “Come and Sing.” Here Jeremy provides insight into the writing of it, and what the song means to him.
Details on upcoming conferences:
Sojourn pastors Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper will be speaking at the “How should we worship?” conference at Union University in Jackson, TN on February 14-16. Find out more info in this column.
Noted singer-songwriter and Sojourn worship leader Jamie Barnes will be conducting a songwriting seminar Saturday, January 19 at 3 pm at The 930, Sojourn’s home in Louisville. Find out more details about this free event here.
Of course you can also subscribe to our RSS Feed for email updates whenever we post new information here on sojournmusic.com.
Also remember that, by clicking on the albums listed in our Music section, you can hear many mp3s and also pull up chord sheets. We have every mp3 from our 2003 Christmas offering, Songs for the Advent, ready for your listening enjoyment, and select mp3s from our brand new updated Christmas-season CD, Advent Songs.
And don’t forget that on Christmas day at noon, EST, Louisville’s WFPK 91.9 FM radio station will be rebroadcasting yesterday’s one-hour singer-songwriter holiday special, featuring five Louisville artists including our own Jamie Barnes, who performed two selections from Advent Songs. You can hear it world-wide during that time at www.wfpk.org.