Monthly Archives: March 2008

 I recently sat down with Sojourn Worship Leader Lorie King to record the audio interview below — a discussion about how to integrate hymns into contemporary worship services.  Lorie came to Sojourn eight years ago as a seminary student working on her Masters of Arts in Worship, to work with Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper on the goal of integrating hymns into our worship gatherings while Sojourn was still in its infancy as an inner-city church plant. Part One of this short interview deals with a discussion of Sojourn’s early years and the question of why a young church like this would want to do old hymns.  …« Read Entire Post

 1. Psalm 3 by our own Rebecca Dennison.  This is the third song from our upcoming worship CD that we’ve debuted in a live Sunday worship gathering.  Rebecca is one of our best writers when it comes to “text-painting,” the ability to integrate music and lyrics together in a way that makes sense by allowing the music to accurately reflect the mood of the lyrics.  She’s turned this psalm into a blues piece in Em.  It makes perfect sense and helps us enter into the emotions David must have been feeling as he wrote the original verses upon which this …« Read Entire Post

You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. -Romans 8:9-11, NRSV Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications.

Louisville’s weekly journal Velocity, published by the Gannet-owned Courier Journal, made “Holy Rock ‘n’ Rollers” their cover story in this week’s print and web edition.  The article explores the inroads Sojourn has made in the local music scene by bringing in credible indie acts to our venue, The 930 Art Center’s Listening  Room, and hosting some of Louisville’s best concerts over the last year (St. Francis of Assissi, the other Louisville church active in the music scene, is featured alongside Sojourn in the article). And you can check out our Communication Director Kevin Janes’ smiling face, sitting on the floor of …« Read Entire Post

Sojourn is blessed to operate “in the city, for the city” of Louisville, Kentucky.  Louisville also happens to be the home of the Institute for Christian Worship, operated out of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Church Music and Worship under the leadership of Professor Carl Stam. Here is a link to an audio file from the Institute’s website (check out their site from our Helpful Links section) of a lecture by Frank Fortunato entitled “Journeys Into Global Worship: Around the World in Fifty Minutes.”  It’s a fascinating look at music for worship from many different cultures.  Understanding the musical heritage of our …« Read Entire Post

Sojourn worship leader/songwriter Jeremy Quillo tells us the story behind the writing of his great song “Hosanna In The Highest.” Everyone agrees that the beginning of Spring is the best time to discuss the components of a Christmas song, right? No? Well then, let’s just pretend – sort of like the guy in the Smith’s Furniture commercial who says “Christmas in JULY sale!!” (ask someone who lives around here if you’re confused). Anyway, back to the task at hand: breaking down the song “Hosanna In The Highest,” from Sojourn’s album Advent Songs. This one began with the lyrics; and I had …« Read Entire Post

I had lunch late last week with Sojourn Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper (read parts one and two of his article “The Real World,” about the theological framework behind Before the Throne).  Mike recently had some dental work done, so while I ate a burrito, he slurped on a Freezie and talked about plans for Sojourn’s upcoming worship project. This project, co-produced by Mike and Neil Robins, will involve more Sojourn worship leaders than anything we’ve done in the past.  Mike himself will provide further details soon here on sojournmusic.com, and when he does, I think you’ll agree that this is …« Read Entire Post

Jamie Barnes and Lorie King provided vocals for Sojourn’s two Easter morning services, and Worship Arts pastor Mike Cosper led a band featuring a basic but versatile lineup of lead, rhythm and bass guitar along with drums (we’ve been blessed with many musicians at Sojourn, so in any given week we can “paint different textures” depending on the musicians and instruments chosen).    Here is the song list for this Easter service, which also included several baptisms and, as always, prayers, readings, communion, offering, a giving of the peace and a sermon, in this case built around Romans 4:24-5:1 (the sermon audio will …« Read Entire Post

We give you thanks, great God, for the hope we have in Jesus, who died but is risen and rules over all. We praise you for his presence with us. Because he lives, we look for eternal life, knowing that nothing past, present, or yet to come can separate us from your great love made known in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed …« Read Entire Post

Here’s an Easter hymn in 88.88.88 meter by Charles Wesley, followed by a passage from 1 Corinthians 15:  Come, let us with our Lord arise, our Lord who made both earth and skies, who died to save the world he made and rose triumphant from the dead; he rose, the prince of life and peace, and stamped the day for ever his. This is the day the Lord hath made that all may see his love displayed, may feel his resurrection’s power and rise again to fall no more, in perfect righteousness renewed and filled with all the life of God. …« Read Entire Post

Perhaps no song about the crucifixion of Christ has touched more people than this hymn in long meter by Isaac Watts.  Inspired by Watts’ reading of Galatians 6:14, this is a personal favorite of mine, with many lyrical gems scattered throughout (including the all but forgotten fifth verse). May Watts’ text help you reflect on the events of Good Friday and its eternal blessed significance to all who believe: When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, …« Read Entire Post

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and occurs, of course, on the Thursday before Easter.  The “Father of English Hymnody,” Isaac Watts, dramatized the Last Supper and its significance like no other in the words of this hymn: ‘Twas on that dark, that doleful night When powers of earth and hell arose Against the Son of God’s delight, And friends betrayed him to his foes: Before the mournful scene began, He took the bread, and blessed, and brake: What love through all his actions ran! What wondrous words of grace he spake! “This is …« Read Entire Post

They love to eat. I had lunch with Neil Robins at J. Gumbo today, part of Louisville’s 4th Street Live entertainment district.  We talked about the upcoming free songwriting seminar he’s leading with his wife, band-mate and writing collaborator Kate, and about the upcoming Sojourn worship project that he’s producing with Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper. For those of you who can attend the April 26 seminar, Neil and Kate will discuss songwriting as a way of life, of treating songs as produce rather than products, meaning that the creative process becomes organic and natural to you — quite different than …« Read Entire Post

Here is an excerpt from Sojourn’s “Gospel & Worship” workbook, the text used for our Gospel 102 class, taught by Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper:           ~                                                                 ~                                                            ~ Some Definitions: “To worship God is to ascribe to him supreme worth, for he alone is worthy.”                                                                                                              – Ralph Martin “(Worship is) the dramatic celebration of God in his supreme worth in such a manner that his ‘worthiness’ becomes the norm and inspiration for human living.”                                                                                                               - Ralph Martin (1982) “Worship is the entire attitude of one’s life or being in relationship to God the Creator.”                                                                                                                – D.A. Carson “Worship …« Read Entire Post

I attended the 11:15 A.M. service this week at The 930, Sojourn’s art and community center, and the home to our weekly congregational worship gatherings.  We’re working through the book of Romans this year; Teaching Pastor Daniel Montgomery taught from Romans 3:21-24 (sojournchurch.com will post the sermon mp3 soon).  Here’s our music set list:  1. “Evergreen,” written by our own Neil and Kate Robins (recorded on our Before the Throne album.  Listen to the mp3 of Evergreen on our Virb.com page.  Remember that Neil and Kate will be leading a free Sojourn songwriting seminar on Saturday, April 26 at 3 pm). 2. “Beautiful …« Read Entire Post

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through …« Read Entire Post

Saturday, May 10, Sojourn’s home, The 930 will host the 2008 Cultivate Beauty Art and Film Festival, a festival that has grown over the years from being a movie exhibition for Sojourn community members to an international film competition and, now, a visual art exhibit as well.  If you would like to participate, the deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 15.  You can download entry forms online.  The film competition is limited to shorts — fifteen minutes or less, on the theme “cultivating beauty.”  The visual art exhibit is open to all artists working in two dimensional media including video, who …« Read Entire Post

“Has it ever occured to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?  They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.  So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

It is impossible to discourage the real writers – they don’t give a **** what you say, they’re going to write. ~Sinclair Lewis  this is true.  I tell this to the songwriters in our community, especially the newer ones, all the time.  Over the years I’ve had some songs performed in churches and various places, and a few recorded, and had a handful of poems and short stories published.  Along the way, I’ve received over 200 rejection notices.  That’s the nature of the beast.  But a writer writes. You could compile the worst book in the world entirely out of selected …« Read Entire Post

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 The March/April 2008 issue of Worship Leader magazine arrived in my mailbox not long ago, and I was excited to see that the focus of this issue is “Songwriting For The Church: Treasures Old & New.”  My excitement grew when I read John Andrew Schreiner’s article “Writing Songs For The Church: You Are The Branches” and realized that he may …« Read Entire Post

In the grip of a snow storm, we canceled our four Sunday worship services at Sojourn this week.  Pastor-Elder Chad Lewis, who sends out discussion questions based on the weekly sermon for our community groups to share with each other, substituted this excerpt in place of questions, since we weren’t able to hear the planned sermon for this week.  These questions, very apt and challenging, come from Donald Whitney’s Ten Questions To Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. “We all are at different legs of our spiritual journey. It is obvious from God’s Word that God is doing a work in His children’s life. …« Read Entire Post

Those who love me, I will deliver, says the Lord; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them and show them my salvation. Receive the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. -based on Psalm 91:14-15, NRSV Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications. Our liturgically-themed 2007 CD Before the Throne includes a wonderful hymn of assurance: “Before the Throne of God Above,” the classic text by Charitie Lees …« Read Entire Post

Hear an mp3 of a lecture from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Institute for Christian Worship series, entitled The Arts In Worship: Can’t Art Just Be Art?  The speaker is noted Christian scholar, speaker and writer Harold Best, whose books Unceasing Worship and Music Through The Eyes Of Faith have helped many pastors, worship leaders, students, musicians, and Christians of all stripes over the years.  Check out more Harold Best articles on his website, from our Helpful Links section.

On Monday, Sojourn Worship Arts Pastor Mike Cosper and co-record producer Neil Robins selected a working list of songs for Sojourn’s next worship project from among the many submissions they received from our songwriters.  Here is part of the text of Mike’s announcement to the writers:  Hey folks, We’re excited to announce the selections for the new Sojourn record. We received 60+ songs from 20+ writers, and have spent the last several weeks visiting and revisiting the tunes to determine what the best direction is …. We’ve narrowed the list to the selections below, though a few songs not listed are still “on the radar” …« Read Entire Post

The continuation of our three part interview with longtime Sojourn worship leader/ drummer Alex O’nan of Interstates, an exciting new band that mixes electronic beats with live music and compelling video footage.  Interstates has just been signed to a two-disc record deal with The Record Machine.  They are set to release a new CD during a record release party at The 930 on May 2, and will then go on a cross-country tour with label-mates, Foxhole. Here, Alex talks about the history and development of the Sojourn music ministry and our various worship CDs, as well as the formation of …« Read Entire Post

Alex (left) and Kyle Noltemeyer of the new band Interstates, recording for The Record Machine (photo courtesy Mickie Winters).  Now we continue from yesterday’s interview with Alex, ready to hear all about the correlation between trains and drum technique, the development of Sojourn’s music ministry, the side-splitting rap project “Goldsmith French Fry,” complete with mp3 of “Cereal,” and more. WK: I’ve seen those. I was wondering, did you have any inclination, any clue at all when you were shooting the first video that you would end up being a train conductor? AO: I had absolutely no clue. WK: That’s amazing! …« Read Entire Post

Train conductor.  Film-maker.  Drummer.  Electronic music-maker.  Sojourn worship leader.  Alex O’nan is all these things, as well as being a committed husband and a dedicated brother and servant in the Sojourn community.  In the next three articles, we’ll peep in on a conversation between interviewer Will Kotheimer and Alex, as they discuss, among other things, Alex’s passion for train conducting and the fascinating films he makes on the tracks, his use of video footage as part of live music performance, his part in the long-time instrumental rock band Of Asaph, the hilarious rap project “Goldsmith Frenchfry,” the development of Sojourn’s music ministry …« Read Entire Post

 Where are you, O God? We are lost in the night; have you cast us from your presence? Temptations surround us; their masks grin through the darkness. We run from them, but which way should we go? Where can we hide when all lies in shadow? Have mercy on us, O God. Our eyes are swollen from tears; our bones are cold with fear; our souls have been broken-do you not hear, Lord? Save us! According to your steadfast love, answer us! Do not hide your face, but draw near and redeem us! Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, …« Read Entire Post