The Sandwich King

For the Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephens University.Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

Imagine if Handel tried to present his Messiah during mass.  Obviously his vision was too grand to be presented in Church.  He was a composer so he had an avenue for his inspiration.  And it’s a good thing he did, his composition is still touching people 266 years later.

I wonder if there are people in my church like that.  I wonder if I am one of them.  Maybe there are people in your Church like that, and maybe it’s you.  Is there a place and time that people like that can be creative and present their art and music to the Church?

In my worship team I have a 14 year old guitar player.  He’s extremely talented and loves Stryper .  He draws much of his musical inspiration from them.  However many of the songs we play don’t allow for him to express his musical talent the way he really wants too.  He always has a good attitude and keeps his playing down, but when he gets a chance he really takes it.

What if people like him were given a time and space, outside of the regular worship setting, yet still within the context of worship and Church, to present their offering, their hard work and talent before both God and the rest of us?

Traditionally we’ve held contadas, and pageants, and plays, so why not modern concerts, or art exhibitions?  This type of event would provide a great place and time for an artist or musician to express their creativity in ways far beyond a traditional worship setting.

This would give the artist freedom to experiment and develop their art in ways that are perhaps complex and inaccessible to some people.  Perhaps it would draw a completely different type of crowd.  It might draw some of the cool hipsters from the local community college or university, people that don’t normally go to Church

In my mind I imagine if a band like Mogwai were a Christian band, and what would they play for such an event?  The music would probably be much the same, maybe there would be a program handed out to everyone describing what is going on in each song, that this song was taken from this scripture, or this song is about this theme, etc, etc.  Just like a classical concert.

One of my favorite bands, British Sea Power, have written their own soundtrack to the old black and white movie Man Of Aran .  And it is both moving and compelling, if not tinted with sadness.

What if bands like these were given access to the Church.  I would love to do is to let our Church double as an all age music venue for both local and touring bands.  Sure this would produce more problems to deal with, but it would allow people who don’t normally go to Church to at least step inside one, and perhaps God will grip their hearts.

Lets find out if there are any great, moving, and compelling, artist or musicians among us by giving them an opportunity to express themselves.