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.
What Worship Music Do Sojourners Listen To In Personal Worship?
Sojourn member Will Kotheimer, who has interviewed Brooks Ritter and Eddy Morris for sojournmusic.com, recently asked a question on the Sojourn Church private message board: “Besides Sojourn CDs, what do Sojourners listen to in private worship?” I thought it would be interesting to note some of the responses from our members, compared to many discussions I’ve had with Sojourners about this topic in the past.
I’ll make this a two-part series. Next week I’ll highlight a bunch of artists and records that various Sojourners mentioned recently, but first, here are the “big three” music makers that always come up in these discussions with Sojourn members. Check them out:
Mars Hill Church (Seattle) Our sister church in the Acts 29 Network has a thriving worship arts ministry with many different bands, each having a signature sound. Thus far they’ve chosen not to release their CDs on the web or through international distribution channels, but you can hear many Mars Hill songs in the radio player on their website. You can also visit their Song Repository page for bio’s on their various bands and links to mp3’s and lyrics.
Indelible Grace This collective grew out of college student ministry (primarily Reformed University Fellowship). Led by pastor Kevin Twit, this community of music artists writes new melodies and arrangements for classic hymns. The basic style might be labeled “Americana” or “folk,” although there are quite a few musical influences present in the various Indelible Grace albums.
Sovereign Grace The music ministry of this church network aims to provide local churches with new music centered on the cross and strong in biblical theology. Another strong appeal of Sovereign Grace to Sojourners is the teaching on worship provided by Director of Worship Development Bob Kauflin, who has a blog and a book called Worship Matters that should be required reading for all worship leaders.
Of course Sojourners listen to worship music from other sources. Some mentioned in our most recent discussion are new to me. I’ll list them as one of next week’s blog articles, so stay tuned (subscribe to sojournmusic.com’s RSS feed for free and you won’t miss a thing!)
August 28, 2008 at 12:58
One of the perks of membership, apparently
As an attendee working towards membership, may I give my favorites?
I’m old school. When I got saved in college, after 80s’ DeGarmo & Key and 80s Petra (I was way late to the party) and all of the other CCM rock and pop of the early 90s, I discovered Maranatha! Music. First and foremost, it connected me right to the Lord. I’m giving away my charismatic roots, but the music has such an annointing on it, like the Holy Spirit is present in the music and the lyrics (much of which comes straight from the Bible).
How can I describe it? It’s like…a tool used by the Holy Spirit to communicate His presence to me and in me. I’ve played this music more than once when I wanted to really get into worship, and I have felt the presence of the Lord!
You can tell musically it’s rooted in the 70s, but for me is had more of a timeless feel.
Later on, I discovered Vineyard Music. Early Vineyard had the same vibe as Maranatha!, being that the early Vineyard churches came out of Calvary Chapel (which birthed Maranatha! Music). Later on, Vineyard Music developed its own style, but I tell you for a time in the 90s it also had an annointing from the Lord.
More recently I’ve been blessed by the music that’s come out of Passion and from British worship leaders like Matt Redman and Delirious!, and American leaders like Chris Tomlin and David Crowder.
I was blessed in part by them because I discerned that the same Spirit that blessed Maranatha! and Vineyard for a time also has blessed those aforementioned artists.
I also feel the Spirit in the music of Sojourn and Mars Hill, and what little I’ve heard on The Journey and Village Church podcasts. Can’t speak for Sovereign Grace and Indelible Grace, but the Spirit moves as He wills, and maybe the cloud is hovering now over the Reformed corner of the church.