Firstly, this piece today is much more for my friends and colleagues at Ripon College Cuddesdon (RCC) - this is the college I'm training at in preparation for Ordination, which (God willing) will take place next summer - 2017. I hope this piece will be of use to anyone who leads or plans worship...
Within college I have the dubious honour of being one of two worship leaders. It is our responsibility: to pull together the talent and skills from across the college (which we do marginally well); to plan the basic structure for the term's worship, which involves balancing our use of traditional and contemporary styles (which we do less marginally well than the first duty); we help shape patterns and choices through our introduction (or shelving) of certain music/hymns/songs; we encourage people to engage with the college's breadth of style and volume of worship; and finally, we draw upon our (and others') skills to contribute to the weekly 'Worship Rehearsals' where we consider (in 25 minutes) an aspect of our shared community worship life.
This week had been ear-marked for 'Song Bashing', i.e. we were going to have a brisk romp through a few songs we fancied using in future weeks/months, or ensure new material already used was bedding in well.
I was, therefore, less than amused when our Worship Director (the member of staff responsible for the college's Worship life) asked if I would consider how we might encourage students to use more songs of LAMENT or SOCIAL ACTION.ha!
Thanks for that!
Earlier in term I'd led a session on 'choice and variation in Morning Prayer' (we do Common Worship Morning Prayer Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, at 7.30am), and a second session on Hymnody/Song Choices. The second session was really a two-for-one - we tried to do too much in 25 minutes.
And so it proved again tonight - 25 minutes was NEVER going to be long enough to cover all the ground...
SO......
Mindful of what I didn't say, and in an attempt to capture what I did, here are my thoughts on this tricky (if very topical) issue of choosing songs that look to life's harsher realities.
Foundations
Firstly, I encourage people to look at this excellent blog by Bob Kauflin. He's a Worship Leader and theologian I respect working with a team of worship leaders and song writers who ensure they craft songs of depth and substance. Within the blog he explores why we shy away from songs of Lament, and ways to approach the subject. Bob's blog also includes links to three other blogs he's written that include songs he's used. In addition, here's a useful blog by Cardiphonia. This has a host of resources to aid you - I confess I haven't checked them all out...yet!
I think the simplest way to start this topic is to accept that all too often our worship has a tendency to rely on a overly-realized eschatology. Many Christians accept the 'now, but not yet' paradox that life in the here and now presents: we're simultaneously here on earth (now) but citizens of heaven (the not yet). Unfortunately, our worship tends to focus much more on a 'shiny happy people' syndrome which makes over-reaching claims about how much of God and his kingdom has broken out in our lives. Yes - God is faithful and loving, but we have to accept that to the widow, the abused, the marginalised and many many many others their lives are not rosy or happy - and their circumstances do not testify to a loving, kind, faithful God.
Thankfully, we are in good company for the Psalmist has many causes to cry out to God in desperation and anger - WHERE ARE YOU??
Our worship must accept and address these real emotions.
BUT!!!!!!!!!! (and this is a clear warning!)
These songs (the few you can find) are not to be flippantly dropped into a service without a second thought.
For instance, the John Bell and Graham Maule song 'Christ's is the World (A Touching Place)' includes the following verse:
"Feel for the parents who've lost their child,
feel for the women whom men have defiled,
feel for the baby for whom there's no breast,
and feel for the weary who find no rest"
These are not easy words to read, let alone sing, let alone sing if you know somebody for whom these categories are true, let alone if you are one of the people in those categories...
This is NOT a tick box exercise - "Have we included a song of lament in this service?"
No, indeed, we should always ensure that songs like this are coming out of either the theme of the Bible passages we read, the sermon, or perhaps real events going on around us, but we must be pastorally sensitive. Always!
Categories
I would say that you have to be alert to some subtle distinctions too.
Some songs are less lament, and more corporate confession. Other songs don't really do anything more than offer intercessions on behalf of other people. A Lament is defined as 'a passionate expression of grief or sorrow'. So yes, a lament could be on another's behalf, corporate or individual - but the emphasis, I would suggest, is on GRIEF. Songs of Lament in church flies in the face of our espoused HOPE. But it is important these songs are written and sung. There is a place for songs that accept our responsibility - where we confess our sins. The key difference I would suggest is that confessional songs focus on our sin, whereas Lament can be about the sin we feel that has been done to us, or a general sense of God's absence in the face of trials and suffering.
Trials and suffering is the key link to Social Action songs. These appear to fall into one of three broad camps: songs about Acts of Mercy (references to the poor, blind, needy in a general sense, but built upon Jesus' instructions in Matthew 25); songs about Mission (a more settled focus on taking the Word to the 'lost', whatever lost means); and finally songs about Injustice (explicit reference to sin in the world that should be challenged).
I think the last category (Injustice) is the trickiest to approach. In these songs we are deliberately naming the sin and evil around us. This may prompt questions and anger in some congregations. How about these words from 'Inspired by Love and Anger':
'From those forever shackled
to what their wealth can buy,
the fear of lost advantage
provokes the bitter cry,
"Don't query our position!
Don't criticize our wealth!
Don't mention those exploited
by politics and stealth!" '
How easily might these words be sung on a Sunday morning?? They beg a response and prayer - don't they!
Slim Pickings and the final verse pick-me-up
But where to even start...?
There are some songs/hymns about social issues. There are scarcely a handful of genuine songs of lament. There's a fair bit of the confessional stuff I've listed above.
What you tend to find are songs that have blurry edges.
One of my favourite songs in this genre is 'O Lord the Clouds are Gathering' by Graham Kendrick. I've used this song on a few occasions, notably once in Yorkshire not long after the London Riots (which were spreading around the country). The response from the congregation was moving - it had clearly struck a chord. The song addresses sin around us, our choices to ignore God, the horror of war, but the chorus switches to an 'us' mentality. I especially like the use of both the Kyrie Eleison motif ('Have mercy, Lord') but also the quote from Amos 5:24
"But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream"
However, and this is an important facet of virtually all these songs, even when the subject matter is tough and gritty, there is almost always a positive final verse. Theologically, I understand. Most Psalms of Lament have a turn to faithful trust in the final verses, even in the midst of despair.
There is one notable exception: Psalm 88.
Might it be possible to sing any song in church which has an ambiguous or unresolved end?
One that I have found is Stuart Townend's 'We Have Sung Our Songs of Vict'ry', which ends with the chorus:
How long
before you drench the barren land?
How long
before we see your righteous hand?
How long
before your name is lifted high?
How long
before the weeping turns to songs of joy?
There is no happy ending. Yes the final verse declares that we 'know a day is coming'...but they conclude with 'how long?'
Sourcing these songs
So you decide to try out some of these songs, where to start?
In fact, how do you begin to broaden your repertoire in general?
Firstly, do some detective work. Talk to your friends, ask on Facebook. Just in preparing for my session today I asked the community and learnt of three songs I had no idea about. You should also try to visit other churches and try different YouTube/Spotify channels that might expose you to new material.
I've had a long aversion to Taize, but Spotify and the wealth of Taize albums has meant I've had reason to really engage with their catalogue of material - lots of it is beautiful.
Always try to stay open-minded about what you might learn from other traditions.
Secondly, do some homework. Look at the indices of your songbooks.
You should invest in one or two music hymnbooks. At college we use A&M, which is 'Ancient & Modern' (2013) and 'Complete Anglican Hymns Old & New' (2000, although a newer updated version is available). You might prefer 'Hymns for Today's Church' or 'New English Hymnal'. Either way I really do think having access to some old traditional hymnody is a great place to start.
For more contemporary styles you have three broad 'book' choices: SoF which is 'Songs of Fellowship' series (6 volumes), 'The Source' series (4 volumes), and 'Mission Praise' series (2 volumes).
Personally, I have grown to love A&M and SoF. A word of caution though, unless you're really committed to staying 'cutting edge' the very latest SoFs may not be necessary. You know what style suits you, but as a guitarist I trust the chord arrangements in SoF for all songs, especially any hymns they include, which is a lot actually.
Once you've got your book you should look through the indices - you can usually look up songs by Bible Reference and/or Theme.
What you'll notice is how few songs there are under the themes of sorrow, lament, social action, justice, etc.
Thirdly, do some listening.
Okay, you've found a handful of hopeful looking songs - but you don't actually know the tune/song at all.
I have found Spotify and/or YouTube a good place to start to try and locate a song to have a listen.
Or you could use various online portals for support:
For Hymns: Hymnary, Cyberhymnal or Oremus. I've also recently been pointed to Andrew Remillard's YouTube channel which you can search through by Hymn tune name.
For Contemporary: WorshipTogether, Worship Central, weareworship, and Praise Charts.
Have an explore!
Finally, you need to have a sing!
Additional tips
- Don't try and crowbar these songs in, especially the ones with tough lyrics. Be especially sensitive!- It may be that you find a song and it works well musically but the time is never right - be patient. I've sat on some discoveries for years before I feel the time is right to use a song, etc.
- Always keep in mind the core underlying structures/shape of worship.
Whether you adhere to a loose: gathering-word-prayer-sending out model,
or a more Eucharistic flavoured: processional-confession/absolution/Kyrie-Gloria/praise-readings/acclamations-creed-intercessions-offertory-Sanctus-Agnus Dei-distribution-post-communion/praise-sending out/recessional
finding a suitable spot for a song of lament will be tricky. Some songs about justice would be entirely appropriate around the confession, others the prayers, while others act as great stimuli to get out and walk the walk! Think about where you place these.
- Remember the joy of hymns: you can use a familiar tune with unfamiliar words if the meter works. Here's a blog introducing meter.
- Also, remember to introduce new songs carefully and sensitively! I'll blog about new songs sometime...
Final Comments
This blog has ended up taking an entire evening to write...and probably a long time for you to read it - sorry!!
But this issue is important.
My favourite Psalm is Ps.42. It includes the opening: "As the deer pants for the waters so my soul pants for you, O God." But within a short span you end on the less positive note:
"Why are you so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God." (v.11)
Two verses earlier, "why have you forgotten me?" (v.9)
Are we honest with ourselves about where we feel close or distant from God?
Good worship is not a result of one service, it is a disposition of the heart, which finds expression in a community. Worship is measured by its fruit - does God get glory, is Jesus lifted up, and do we see a deepening pattern of discipleship. Are we more loving, joyful, peace-ful/peace-making, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled?
For these things to happen I think we must be honest and authentic with God - privately and corporately. We do not put a pious veneer on our lives to pretend we're okay. We're called to mourn and weep with those who mourn and weep. And sometimes we are the ones mourning and weeping.
I wonder, given the political and emotional climate in the world today, what might happen if we created more opportunities in our worship for our worries, grief, grievances, fear, sorrow, anger and lament. If the world saw Jesus being lifted up, worshipped and praised, the Prince of Peace amidst our honest struggles - would this be the sign of hope the world needs?
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