Songs of Peace
So, I found out yesterday that I'll be filling in as the worship leader this coming Sunday. (I could do a whole blog post or discussion about planning ahead, etc., but it's a) not going to help me for this Sunday and b) not anything I have control over)
We're going through the Beatitudes and this week is "Blessed are the Peacemakers." My thinking so far on this is going in several different directions:
-the second half of this beattitude--"for they shall be called sons of God"--speaks to how peace is intrinsically the character of God
-Peace--the intent for God's creation--is something we craft, we fashion, we work toward; this is part of the redemptive process, where all of creation, all nations, come back into harmony with each other and with God.
-The Kingdom of God, within and among us, is a complete reversal of what "Kingdom" typically means ("empire" by force). Our allegiance to our King compels us to embody this alternate reality, where the submission triumphs over command, where the least are greatest, where we triumph by making peace, not by conquering.
-Drawing from my recovery background, making peace is making amends, reconciliation on a personal level
Constraints: While the band and I are pretty flexible, our church has a very limited repertoire of songs people know. If it hasn't played on K-LOVE in the last 5 years, we probably haven't sung it before. While I want this to change, doing 5 unfamiliar songs is just going to disengage people.
I guess I'm first of all looking for thoughts about the what it means to be a peacemaker, and consequently to be called a son of God. And secondly, I'm searching for specific songs that might tie into that theme.
Two songs have come to mind already, though I don't know if I will use them:
Breathe Peace by Robbie Seay
How can I keep from Singing (hymn, Lowry)
Any reflections, ideas, suggestions?
We're going through the Beatitudes and this week is "Blessed are the Peacemakers." My thinking so far on this is going in several different directions:
-the second half of this beattitude--"for they shall be called sons of God"--speaks to how peace is intrinsically the character of God
-Peace--the intent for God's creation--is something we craft, we fashion, we work toward; this is part of the redemptive process, where all of creation, all nations, come back into harmony with each other and with God.
-The Kingdom of God, within and among us, is a complete reversal of what "Kingdom" typically means ("empire" by force). Our allegiance to our King compels us to embody this alternate reality, where the submission triumphs over command, where the least are greatest, where we triumph by making peace, not by conquering.
-Drawing from my recovery background, making peace is making amends, reconciliation on a personal level
Constraints: While the band and I are pretty flexible, our church has a very limited repertoire of songs people know. If it hasn't played on K-LOVE in the last 5 years, we probably haven't sung it before. While I want this to change, doing 5 unfamiliar songs is just going to disengage people.
I guess I'm first of all looking for thoughts about the what it means to be a peacemaker, and consequently to be called a son of God. And secondly, I'm searching for specific songs that might tie into that theme.
Two songs have come to mind already, though I don't know if I will use them:
Breathe Peace by Robbie Seay
How can I keep from Singing (hymn, Lowry)
Any reflections, ideas, suggestions?
Tags: peace
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Permalink Reply by Josh Linman on -
Hmm...trickier topic than I thought it would be. Hope these aren't too late...
As It Is In Heaven - Matt Maher ("let your kingdom come, let your will be done)
Words To Build A Life On - Mike Crawford (good overall beatitudes song, epic in length though)
Let The Praises Ring - Lincoln Brewster
God of Justice - Tim Hughes
How Good And Pleasant - Tommy Walker
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Permalink Reply by Nate Woodward on -
Josh Linman said:
Trickier for me too! And it's not too late at all--I won't need to finalize everything till Saturday. "Words to Build a Life" might be good as music for extended reflection and response time. I would want to put together some images for that (any suggestions? ;-)Hmm...trickier topic than I thought it would be. Hope these aren't too late...
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Permalink Reply by Josh Linman on
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Maybe you could just have black text for the verses or highlight specific words/phrases and then have pictures of families in different stages of life...doesn't tie in to your peace theme though...maybe if you make it a more global thing...Kenyan family, Russian family, Texas family?
Or maybe you mother theresa next to osama bin laden...and do those juxtapositions between war and peace...
Just found out both flickr and google now have an option in advanced search to search for creative commons - commercial use pictures...great help in finding legal images to use. Then there is always sxc.hu.
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Permalink Reply by Josh Linman on
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Hey Nate, how did the weekend go? What were the final song choices?
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Glad it was worthwhile.
Here are a few of my own attempts at something similar:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=517339806071
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=515251735581
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