Sunrise from the top of Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawaii, October 2021. Photography by Eric Wefald
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As a Pastor and alternative come-as-you-are worship leader, I wanted fresh and alternative songs. Easy to sing, but not trite praise choruses. I wanted lyrics informed by the depth of theology. I searched everywhere, but that resource did not exist.
However when I attended national gatherings for church youth groups, with more than 30,000 teens and adult advisors filling a stadium for a week of fellowship, worship, and service to our neighbor in need, I was in awe of the singer-songwriter musicians who led us. With their permission and blessing, I transcribed or arranged their music into sheet music for the local church musician, complete with piano-vocal scores, guitar graphical fretboard guidance, recordings by the artists themselves, and lectionary worship resource and suggestions. Songs For Worship, volumes 1 and 2 is the result. |
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The Lutheran magazine says:
When Martin Luther was frustrated that there wasn't music in the language of the people and the Reformation, he wrote hymns for worship. The same has happened today: Let your worship leaders know about Lutheran Songs Today. . . and you'll discover a wealth of wonderful songs for more than just youth gatherings.
reported by Tom Lyberg, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Findlay, Ohio, Oct 2009, & also host of the Wired Jesus Podcast, www.wiredjesus.com
The President of Luther Seminary had this to say:
Lutheran Songs Today Live' is more than an evening filled with Prayer & Praise - and lots of GREAT music; it's an experience with the Spirit. God's Spirit works through the music, the Hip-Hop dance, the bands and the incredible fellowship these musicians have with each other. After this concert, you'll be singing new music on Sunday morning. Don't be surprised if you leave the concert changed.
The Rev. Dr. Richard H. Bliese, President, Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Music
has brought much joy in my life. I have been blessed to be in many singing groups through the years, and was a founding member of the Yale Camerata, sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. I'm also proficient in piano, playing for high school musicals (e.g. - Cole Porter's "Anything Goes"), enjoying the greats from Chopin to Fats Waller. I have performed in many musical theater groups, from Godspell to The Music Man and more. Alternative worship bands, a Gospel choir, and ancient-contemporary worship ensembles are some examples of the groups I've led. In 2012 I was the lead musician for the MACUCC (Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ) Annual Meeting, teaming with musicians from Iglesia Hispana UCC from Lowell.
has brought much joy in my life. I have been blessed to be in many singing groups through the years, and was a founding member of the Yale Camerata, sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. I'm also proficient in piano, playing for high school musicals (e.g. - Cole Porter's "Anything Goes"), enjoying the greats from Chopin to Fats Waller. I have performed in many musical theater groups, from Godspell to The Music Man and more. Alternative worship bands, a Gospel choir, and ancient-contemporary worship ensembles are some examples of the groups I've led. In 2012 I was the lead musician for the MACUCC (Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ) Annual Meeting, teaming with musicians from Iglesia Hispana UCC from Lowell.