As many of you know, I got married recently. The bride, Kristen, first began attending Sojourn in August 2009 and joined Sojourn Music a short time later as a worship leader. She sings, plays piano and guitar, and write songs — so now I get to live with a demo vocalist and co-writer. Not that that’s the most important thing …
It was a very Sojourn Music wedding. Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper officiated and several worship leaders performed music and attended. I thought I’d share some “Sojourn Music” wedding photos with you below, but first I’ll share demos of two original wedding songs, which we used in the ceremony.
Brooks Ritter and I have written several songs together, including “Lead Us Back” from Before The Throne and “Living Faith” from Over The Grave. Here, we try our hand at a wedding hymn, entitled “Wedding Hymn.” The lack of originality in the title is my fault, but Brooks supplied his killer sense of melody to my lyrics.
Kristen Gilles wrote the second song, “His Design.” During the wedding, Lorie King and Brooks sang it for us, while Dan Cassin played keys. On the demo, Kristen sings and plays.
This is the closest Mike Cosper will let me come to a stage mic.
From left to right: Kristen (seated), me, Lorie King, Dan Cassin, Jamie Barnes (seated, looking like a Kingpin), Mike Cosper, Brooks Ritter, Rebecca Dennison.
Chuck Heeke (whom we hired to do the wedding photography) takes so many of the photos you see here on sojournmusic.com that I figured I’d post a photo of him. Here he is, in the bottom left corner, taking a photo of the rest of us.
Executive Pastor Bryce Butler, my best man, pretends to play Cosper’s pedal steel guitar in this pic.
I actually have no idea what this is about, but that’s Dan Cassin and Brooks Ritter.
Jamie Barnes is one happenin’ cat.
Could you guys make more Wedding Songs. Songs used at weddings are from the mainstream world. I’d like songs that exalt Christ rather than saying “with out you [the other person] I’d have nothing.” We should be saying that about Christ not the person. I enjoyed these two. Could you guys make more?
Thanks,
Mark