Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) is the primary service churches and ministries use to deal with copyright issues related to worship materials. Churches buy a license that allows them, among other things, to print and project songs in their services. They keep records of the songs they use, then send periodic reports in to CCLIContinue reading “Three Worship Songs Now in the Top 25”
Category Archives: Worship Music
Church Music Philosophy and Guidelines (Roman Catholic)
During Church Music Month, we will give you a chance to look at portions of documents on the subject by various church groups and denominations. We begin with a thoughtful and thorough paper by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, published in 2007, called, “Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship.” You canContinue reading “Church Music Philosophy and Guidelines (Roman Catholic)”
Exuberant Easter!
Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 J.S. Bach The soundtrack in my mind during the Easter season is all Bach, timpani and trumpets, and bright celebration. These days I have been listening to a shimmering 2011 recording of the JS Bach Easter and Ascension Oratorios by the Retrospect Ensemble. Easter Oratorio is one of five works byContinue reading “Exuberant Easter!”
Song for Ordinary Time (14): Order My Life
This is a simple worship chorus I wrote years and years ago, linked with two verses from a favorite hymn. Together, they form a prayer that God will bring order to our inner worlds and cause us to cling to him. The recording is by no means professional, but I hope it will not detractContinue reading “Song for Ordinary Time (14): Order My Life”
God’s Mercy and Our Lack Thereof (Trinity 13)
In Bach’s day, the readings for the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity included Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. The cantata he wrote for that day in his third cycle of cantatas (Aug, 1725), uses a powerful text on the Gospel written by Salomo Franck. It powerfully contrasts God’s mercy and our lack thereof in caringContinue reading “God’s Mercy and Our Lack Thereof (Trinity 13)”
Beautiful Music at Ground Zero
By Chaplain Mike At historic Trinity Church in Manhattan, daily prayers for peace have been offered since the days following 9/11. This week, to mark the tenth anniversary, they will turn to the music of J.S. Bach to provide comfort for those commemorating the sad events of that day. The New York Times story reportingContinue reading “Beautiful Music at Ground Zero”
What We Could Have Heard on Sunday
By Chaplain Mike Instead of worship songs like the one we talked about this morning, how appropriate would the following Bach cantata have been in worship last Sunday, as Hurricane Irene was cutting her path of devastation up the east coast of the U.S.? As we remembered our brothers and sisters in the world’s troubledContinue reading “What We Could Have Heard on Sunday”
Someone Has to Put a Foot Down
By Chaplain Mike I haven’t really offended anyone for awhile, but I’m pretty sure that streak stops with this one. Sorry, but somebody must speak up and draw a line somewhere when it comes to what some call “worship” music. Today, I’m writing about one song. Churches everywhere sing it these days. Many, many well-knownContinue reading “Someone Has to Put a Foot Down”
A Musical Primer on the Ancient-Future Path
By Chaplain Mike If I were to design a course to teach about spiritual formation from an ancient-future perspective, my soundtrack would be the new album by John Michael Talbot, called, Worship and Bow Down. Remarkably, this is Talbot’s 53rd (!) record, but it is different than most of his previous releases. In light ofContinue reading “A Musical Primer on the Ancient-Future Path”
Augustine’s Inner Conflict about Music
By Chaplain Mike Music has always been a matter of contention in the church. We’ve been talking about that with regard to current “worship wars” and “revolutions” in church music. That is NOT what this post is about. No, I want us to think about another conflict with regard to music in the church, oneContinue reading “Augustine’s Inner Conflict about Music”
The Internet Monk Archives 