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.

We're on an abbreviated blogging schedule this week here on sojournmusic.com -- mid-summer break, leading into Independence Day.  But for those of you who aren't Sojourners or even necessarily Louisvillians (which, according to our site stats, is the great majority of you), I couldn't pass up the chance to share this short cartoon that our children's ministry put together, narrated by one of Sojourn's children.  We're using this to promote ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches.  Photos by Sojourn’s Dan Canales. 1. Fellowship So Deep, by Aaron Senseman and Kinley Lange.  This is a good choice for a song to usher a congregation together and begin a worship ... Continue reading »

Sojourn Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper, on reactions to the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson, the responses from some Christians, and a biblical perspective on death: As news of Michael Jackson's death spread across the internet yesterday, I saw Facebook and Twitter nearly explode. News outlets hit the pause button on nearly every story and sent crews out onto the streets to begin getting reaction interviews. The ensuing zoo nearly ... Continue reading »

Looking for chord sheets so you can start playing Over The Grave songs with your band or worship team?  Just curious about some of the lyrics? Check out our Over The Grave page.  We've now uploaded chord sheets for every song on this album, our first of two new worship records based on the hymns of Isaac Watts.

Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper, on the passing of singer-songwriter Tim Krekel: I was deeply saddened last night to hear that Louisville music legend Tim Krekel passed away after a battle with cancer. Tim has been a mainstay of Louisville music for as long as I've been hanging around music venues, comfortable sitting solo with an acoustic guitar or playing with a stage full of guitars, drums, and horns. His ... Continue reading »

Thanks to all of you who have purchased Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One.  We've seen several reviews for it so far in the blogosphere.  Here is what we've found so far, by some of our favorite bloggers across the country.  If you know of other reviews, share them with us! Between Two Worlds, by Justin Taylor "The lyrics, of course, are theologically sound--God-centered ... Continue reading »

Sojourn is hosting the B21 panel, organized by Baptist 21, tomorrow during the SBC Annual Meeting in Louisville.  The event runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at our Germantown campus, The 930 Art Center.  You can read all about this panel at the B21 website. Our Teaching Pastor Daniel Montgomery will talk on the panel, along with leading figures in the Southern Baptist Convention: Mark Dever, Al ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches.  Photos by Sojourn’s Dan Canales. Our liturgical reader addressed us to begin, saying: We show up here today to worship because our God, the Creator shows up. Our presence and actions are ... Continue reading »

If you follow me on twitter.com/bobbygilles or facebook.com/bobbygilles, you read my thoughts on what a fantastic time we had at last night's Over The Grave release party.  Southeast Christian Church hosted our event at their brand new building, The Block.  The building is a marvel, and the auditorium itself is one of the best in the city. Sojourners and lots of others packed the building ... Continue reading »

The video below takes you inside "The Block," the brand new (and quite huge) student ministry building of Southeast Christian Church.  As regular readers know, tonight we hold our CD release party here for Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One.  This event is free, so come on out and join us!... Continue reading »

Tonight at 7 p.m. Sojourn will play every song from Over The Grave, and Jamie Barnes will open with a set up his original music, including songs based on the Old Testament.  This is free, no ticket required, in a spacious and acoustically-fantastic new building called "The Block," on the campus of Southeast Christian Church. Get Directions From Google Maps Read The ... Continue reading »

Yesterday at TravelBlog, Sojourn's online journal, deacon Lachlan Coffey wrote about our little-known first album -- a live worship CD recorded shortly after Sojourn launched as a church in 2000.  The CD is called The Reverence And The Noise. It was low-budget, on-the-fly, but great fun and a true record of passionate congregational worship.  Just a bunch of young 20-somethings, hungry for God. We included two mp3s from the ... Continue reading »

Sojourn's Pastor Mike Cosper, on why we record our original worship music: The role of music in daily life has shifted dramatically in recent years. A few generations ago, it was not unheard of to gather in a home around a piano and sing Christmas Carols or hymns. The guitar or piano sitting in the corner of the room wasn't mere ... Continue reading »

Today is the day!  We officially ship all of your pre-ordered CDs for Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One, as we look forward to our big release party this Friday, 7 p.m. at a brand new, state-of-the-art building called "The Block," in the main campus of Louisville's largest church, Southeast Christian Church. Over the last month we've shared three new songs from Over ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches.  Photos by Sojourn’s Dan Canales. 1. The World Will Know, by Sojourn Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper and Brooks Ritter, based on Isaac Watts' "Psalm 22 Part 2","At Thy ... Continue reading »

Sojourn's Brooks Ritter is known by most of you as a featured vocalist on our worship CDs and a worship leader during Sojourn Gathered.  He's also a singer-songwriter who has been winning rave reviews across the Louisville music circuit.  In fact, The LEO Weekly, Louisville's largest alternative newspaper, is featuring him this week in their music podcast.  ... Continue reading »

Sojourn Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper announces our new record deal: A few weeks ago, we made the announcement on sojournmusic.com that after many months of conversations and prayer, Sojourn Music had walked away from a record deal.  It was a difficult decision for many reasons. We were about to release Over the Grave, and we really believed that the album had great potential. It's been one of ... Continue reading »

Hopefully you've followed along with us as Sojourner Chuck Heeke has brought many compelling photos from last week's Advance '09 conference, where Sojourn led in worship.  We've published several photo blog posts here on sojournmusic as well as different ones at our sister site, TravelBlog (travelblog.sojournchurch.com).  We have several more, featuring Sojourn, conference teachers like John Piper, and more shots from the convention floor. But first, Chuck shares with ... Continue reading »

Sojourn Community Church is hosting the Baptist 21 panel at our home, The 930 Art Center, during the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting in Louisville.  Our Founding/Teaching Pastor Daniel Montgomery will be featured in the panel, which features key Southern Baptist pastors, seminary presidents and leaders: Danny Akin, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Daniel Montgomery, David Platt and Ed Stetzer. We'll also be selling our brand new Over The Grave: ... Continue reading »

Sojourn worship leader Joel Gerdis is also a fixture on the Louisville music scene, through bands such as 49th Star and The Muckrackers.  He's also a talented songwriter -- he contributed songs and well as vocals on Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One. Today he shares the story behind "May Your Power Rest On Me," which he wrote with Neil Robins.  This is the ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches.  Photos by Sojourn's Dan Canales. We began to worship together by listening to the Call to Worship based on Psalm 27; John 4:23.  As always, you can ... Continue reading »

Yesterday I published a photo blog of pictures that Chuck Heeke took, featuring the Sojourn band leading worship at Advance '09.  Today, Chuck is back with photos from the Re:Sound event featuring the worship bands from Sojourn, Vintage 21 and Mars Hill, our lovely merch girls and J.D. Greear, pastor of The host venue for Re:Sound, The Summit Church: ... Continue reading »

Courtesy of Sojourn photographer Chuck Heeke, here are some photos of the Sojourn band kicking off Advance '09 with a worship set that included songs from our brand new Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One: Brooks Ritter on vocals and guitar, Alex O'Nan on drum... Continue reading »

Sojourn band advance 09 soundcheck Originally uploaded by chuck.heeke This photo features the Sojourn band that is playing at Advance '09 today and Re:Sound tomorrow, featuring songs from our new worship CD "Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One." Sojourn's Chuck Heeke took this photo, live from ... Continue reading »

As most of you know, the Sojourn Music band will lead worship during Advance '09 this Thursday (the three-day conference will feature worship services with Vintage 21 and Mars Hill bands as well).  Then this Friday, Sojourn will play a special free event (for anyone in Durham, not just Advance attenders) dubbed "Re:Sound," along with the Mars Hill and Vintage 21 bands.  (Visit the Re:Sound Facebook ... Continue reading »

Last week we uploaded the first song mp3 from Over The Grave, our new worship album, to our Myspace and Facebook players.  That song is called "Only Your Blood Is Enough," and if you haven't heard it, you should check it out. But another thing you should check out is the second new song from Over The Grave, entitled "How Long."  Rebecca Dennison and Mike Cosper ... Continue reading »

Some people say that musicians can't get up early, begin a day industriously, or make appointments on time. Pshaw!  I took the video above at 8am this morning.  It is proof, yes proof, that three Sojourn musicians were up bright and early, practicing the set list for this week's Advance ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches. I’m reporting from the morning set list this week, which differed on several points from our evening set list. 1. Shelter Me, by Buddy and Julie Miller.  I've shared most of the lyrics with you here in this weekly series, at one time ... Continue reading »

Rebecca Dennison writes about performing as part of an acapella trio, singing backup for a singer-songwriter, and leading worship for Sojourn: I currently sing out with the Sandpaper Dolls (an experimental a'capella group...which is much cooler than it sounds), lead worship at Sojourn, and provide backing vocals for Jamie Barnes whenever he asks.  Each of these opportunities has called ... Continue reading »

Thanks to Laura Beth O'Nan for supplying these photos from this past Saturday's Lower Town Music Festival in Paducah, Kentucky.  Sojourn's Jamie Barnes performed a set of solo material, backed up by our own Rebecca Dennison on vocals and Mike Cosper on guitar.  Then the Sojourn band performed worship music on the festival's Main Stage. ... Continue reading »

The other day, Sojourn Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper and I were ruminating about the fact that it seems like forever (although it's just been three months) since recording wrapped up on Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One. And only now in the closing days of May can we finally begin to share some of it with you. Last Friday I posted info here ... Continue reading »

Brooks Ritter- The Horse Fell Lame from Jeff Venable on Vimeo.  Gonna be in Louisville this Friday?  Or gonna be online?  Either way, ... Continue reading »

Who are these guys (and gal)?  Why, it's a Sojourn traveling band.  This picture comes courtesy of Laura Beth O'Nan, and it is one of several she took at this past Saturday's Lower Town Music Festival in Paducah, Kentucky.  I'll publish all the rest of those photos, taken during Sojourn's music set, on Wednesday. pictured clockwise, left to right: Megan Shaffer, ... Continue reading »

This set list is one of many that you can find at the worship music set list blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com, featuring many different kinds of churches. I'm reporting from the morning set list this week, which differed on several points from our evening set list. 1. Bow, by Sojourn's own Jeremy Quillo.  You can read the story behind this song, by Jeremy himself, here on sojournmusic.com.  ... Continue reading »

We know, we know.  There have been several false starts regarding the release of Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One. We think you'll find it worth the wait, but at the same time, we're chomping at the bit to release this record.  As you know, the main reason for the delays has been record label negotiations (and the frustrating thing is, we can't ... Continue reading »

Welcome to the final weekly installment of “Why We Do What We Do,” the series where we talk about common elements in Christian worship services.  Last week we discussed expressions of dedication and commitment to God as part of the worship liturgy.  This time we talk about the benediction -- a blessing for the road.... Continue reading »

We are blessed within the Sojourn Community to have many talented music artists.  Of course you're familiar to those who play and sing on our worship albums and frequently lead worship on Sunday, as well as those who write posts or sit for interviews here on sojournmusic.com. But Sojourn celebrates music from the church as well as music for the church.  ... Continue reading »

June 4-6, Sojourn will be a part of the Advance 09 Conference in Raleigh, NC.  The Sojourn band will lead worship, along with Vintage21.  We'll have our brand new Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One CDs, and will share songs from that project with all who attend.  For more about ... Continue reading »

You can find the music set lists of many other churches who participate, as we do, in the worship music blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Photos here by Ryan Harvey. 1. How Long, by Sojourn's Rebecca Dennison and Mike Cosper, inspired by Isaac Watts's metrical version of Psalm 13.  "How Long" is cut #3 on our soon-to-be-released ... Continue reading »

This will begin a new series of posts by Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper on the life and work of Isaac Watts, whose songs are the source material for the upcoming Sojourn record, "Over the Grave" There is much to be said about the legacy of Isaac Watts. A master of words, a faithful pastor, and one who ... Continue reading »

Welcome to another weekly installment of “Why We Do What We Do,” the series where we talk about common elements in Christian worship services. Last time we discussed tithes and offerings as part of the worship liturgy.  This week we talk about expressions of dedication to Christ in preparation for the Sending.  It is that portion of a worship ... Continue reading »

Sojourn will perform a 45 minute set in the major Kentucky music & arts festival Lowertown on Memorial Day weekend this year, and Sojourn worship leader Jamie Barnes will perform a solo set of songs from his The Recalibrated Heart and other records. Lowertown is located in Paducah, Kentucky.  The Sojourn band takes the Main Stage on Saturday, May 23 at 4 pm as part of this weekend-long festival.  ... Continue reading »

Worship leader and songwriter Jeremy Quillo, also a founding member of Sojourn and featured vocalist on several of our worship records, tells the story behind his song "Bow."  You can view the chord sheet to "Bow" from our These Things I Remember page, and hear it on Last FM: The song "Bow" pretty much came from ... Continue reading »

You can find the music set lists of many other churches who participate, as we do, in the worship music blog carnival at fredmckinnon.com.  Photos here by Dan Canales.  For any locals who get confused by my commentary: I'm reporting on the evening set list, although the photos were taken during morning services.  We had ... Continue reading »

Last year here on sojournmusic we gave away a free mp3 of a new Mother's Day song written by Sojourn singer-songwriter/worship leader Jamie Barnes.  We even threw in a chord sheet! If you weren't around then, check it out here -- it's entitled "Remember Me (Prayer of Hannah) and is based on the biblical prayer of Hannah, who mothered the prophet Samuel. We hope you have a fantastic ... Continue reading »

If you’re familiar with Sojourn recordings or worship services, you’ve no doubt heard the vocals of Rebecca Dennison.  Rebecca is an amazing singer, featured on Before The Throne (check out the “My Maker And My King” mp3 on our Before The Throne page), These Things I Remember (listen to “Faithful” and “Of Psalm 51” from that ... Continue reading »

I think the album cover for our upcoming record -- Over The Grave: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume One -- looks fabulous.  In fact, all of the album art, packaging and text inserts are so amazing that it would be well worth owning a physical CD rather than just a ... Continue reading »

As many of you know, this August Sojourn will open our second campus in Louisville.  Our current home is The 930 Art Center in Old Louisville (in or near the Germantown, Smoketown and Shelby Park neighborhoods).  Our new site will be in the St. Matthews area.  We'll continue to hold four Sunday services at The 930 and one service in St. Matthews. Read The Sojourn Elders' Letter: ... Continue reading »

You can find many other church music set lists in the Blog Carnival at fredmckinnon.com, which we participate in each week.  Our normal photographer,  Dan Canales, was out of town today.  But have no fear -- Dan asked Ryan Harvey to take photos this week, and Ryan was happy to oblige.  Besides photography, Ryan also ... Continue reading »

We know, we know.  Although our 2007 record Before The Throne, rated 5 Stars by Christianity Today, has been available on iTunes and other digital providers, we've been out of stock on the physical CDs for far too long. But no longer!  I've seen the boxes myself -- we have 1500 brand new copies of Before The Throne right here, waiting to mail out to you.  You ... Continue reading »