The Sacrament As Music!

From the Association to the Ventures...

Music Impacts the World and Religious Belief!   

From Telstar to Tommy James...

Music Impacts The Way We Think!

Explore What Music Says To You.

     Rod Stewart celebrates you're "Every Rock 'n Roll Song to Me" on his most recent album 'Another Country.'(2015) Can the same apply to contemporary music as an expression of your faith? Let's go back...to The Sacrament As Music.

"Hear the sweet chord, how it touches my soul, 

Hold on to it, don't let it go.

Feel the hard guitar strokes, 

they shake me so, Grab for them, don't let them go.

The voice, its message clear; it calls me..."

     And so begins the opening notes of the "The Sacrament As Music." It is hard to say why music has had such a hold on me; perhaps the influence of my father, Glen or oldest brother, Bob. Perhaps, the trumpet and cornet, which I still play today. It may have been the power of Top 40 radio in the early 60's. It could very well have been the Beatles!
     Regardless, music is part of my DNA. So much so, in 1973, while still in seminary, I began to explore music as a fundamental expression of our culture. My theological foundation is in the teachings of Paul Tillich and his school of thought which summarizes our ultimate belief (concern); the ground of our being, to be in Jesus and love for Christ as summarized in the Bible, remembered in Church History and given expression in Culture. Throughout the summer of 1973 while I was performing a ministry in the town where I grew up (Wooster, OH); a night ministry in local bars & taverns, a youth art project and an industrial chaplaincy (Rubbermaid), I spent my free time developing a series of essays called "The Sacrament as Music". Basically, it was a blending of music with scripture and literature. Influenced by the early performers of "Jesus Rock", and mainstream rock artists, I discovered the groundbreaking work of Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Russ Ballard, Mark Farner and Phil Keaggy. I further explored what other mainstream artists and groups were contributing to a greater understanding of music and religious expression, for example; The Call. This work led to a more expressive written curricular work used in youth ministry and Christian Education.