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aaron_mitchum
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Name: Aaron
Interests: God, culture, music, reading, art, movies that don't suck (and a couple that do), conversation, taking pictures, Red Tea, cycling, coffee, taking walks with my wife.
Industry: Music and Art
Message: message me
Member Since:
6/9/2004
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| I have been stubborn about it for five years but I am finally leaving Xanga. My blog has now moved to: http://aaronmitchum.typepad.comThat's where the new posts are, see you there! | | |
| After experiencing Jeff Johnson's Selah services for the second time
last weekend and some long talks with him about how those are born. I have put
together one that we will be attempting to divulge this Sunday with both
the middle and high school students at Hillcrest Covenant. I'm excited
about this and pray the Lord will use it to give those of us in the
room a pause in our lives that will bring God's presence deeply.
It
took a long time to put together all of the prayers and psalm readings
and songs (some Johnson's, some Taize, some original and some
contemporary) and rehersal last night went well but to pull it off
seamlessly will take some more practice between now and then. One of
the things I like so much about the Selah is the lack of attention on
the front. It less about a personality driven worship experience. It
seems to allow more direct connection between the community and God.
More on this after Sunday. | | |
| Usually during an event put on by YouthFront I am busy through out it and don't have the opportunity to enjoy it, this was not the case at the Altar this last weekend. For me it began Thursday night when I picked up Jeff and Susie Johnson. Jeff is an artist who in the last few years has began to specialize in leading what are called, selah services. You can read more about this at his Selah website or the Selah service blog. Page and I felt very blessed from spending time with Jeff and Susie this weekend, both through his services (which center around silence, psalms and meditative songs) and in the many conversations we had.
Friday night was the official start of the weekend, it was then that I met the featured lecturer, conversation guide and communicator, Ian Cron. Ian is also an artist, an Anglican priest at Trinity Church in Greenwich Conn, author and gifted communicator. Here's what made this weekend so special concerning both Ian and Jeff, their generosity. Each were extremely willing and desired to get to know people and enter into conversation with them. As an artist I felt enriched being exposed to these guys.
We focused on the life of Saint Francis, and his pursuit of Jesus Christ in his life. This included looking at films, hearing lecture's, conversation around camp fires, the reading of poetry, liturgy and of course the telling of jokes and stories. Complemented by Jeff's Selah services I wasn't ready for the weekend to end. Page remarked that our Sunday morning liturgical service was the perfect gathering for her, she would love to have a service like that every week.
Another hi-light of the weekend was being with the Teen Staff (from both South and West) again. The formal part of our interaction was on Saturday night when we gathered in the snack shack to remind each other of the truth's we learned during the summer and to share about what's happening in our lives right now. This was concluded with praying together and singing the doxology. It was a great time and turn out!
A view from one of many sacred spaces at the Altar
Some of the Teen Staff and I having a great time :)
Jeff Johnson and I
Even Bono got to come!
Page and I out walking on the path's Saturday
The chapel was an awesome and sacred feeling place
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| This topic is close to my heart. I have had many conversations with friends over the last few years about how to write worship songs today.  Maybe more specifically about what to write about. I ran across an article that Brian McClaren wrote on the topic. It was exciting to read for a few reasons.
First, that in Kansas City I believe a handful of people have been writing and incorporating many of these practices, thoughts and have seen some success (i.e. God being more at the center in the song, the reality of life shining through in our lyrics, biblical themes being explored that aren't normally in music, the arts being used [poetry, prayers, spoken word, music as more than just a four chord highway for the lyric to drive on], and something that wasn't spoken of; how the church community is being used in worship, looking inward more than outward in who leads and who is used).
Second, it brought up some new thoughts and challenges that were enticing to hear. Theology has always been important in worship song writing, but for too long it's been a narrow inward focused theology that's driven it. This theology has shaped a culture of church goer's. Songs that are personal and about them and their relationship with God connect much more than others. I get this, I'm a product of it. It's much easier to "interact" with God at a personal I Thou relationship. But it seems that the Bible calls us to more than that. Again, we see that all of these things connect back to the ecclesiastical theology we have. Our worship writing (a.k.a. teaching) should be overhauled, and if that happens it won't stop there, that Kool-laid leads to a broader understanding of what it is to be a Christ follower. Leader's are needed to bring forth a reminder of the other areas included and maybe even more central in our worship to God.
Finally, the tone in which it spoke was soft, non-confrintational. It spoke from a posture of humbleness and a desire to serve the church rather than critique and mock it publicly. This showed love.
McClaren Link to the PDF download
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| The Postmodern Youth Ministry Conference went very well. My boss Mike King blogged about it, you can read a summary of it at his blog.
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