As I read Peter Marty’s recent column on the importance of music leaders in faith contexts, I pondered the nature of worship and the challenges of music leadership. Marty describes one of the effects of musical worship this way: “A weight of mystery will fill up the interior dimensions of people’s lives.” As I considered this weight of mystery, I realized I wanted to hear other people’s thoughts on this.
Luckily for me, CC has a discussion-based newsletter, Going Deeper, and I write the discussion questions for it! Here is the most recent offering, with a set of questions about Marty’s article. My hope is that little pockets of community are hosting dialogues about the role of music in churches as we speak. It occurs to me that since you receive this Editors’ Picks email, you may already know about our other free newsletters. But you may not—so here is the sign-up page for all our email lists. For instance, you can sign up there for Books Worth Reading, a weekly note from books editor Elizabeth Palmer with bonus book news and recent reviews like the one below about the subversive political power of taking a nap.
“Excellent church musicians—whether they play piano, lean into an organ, lead a band, compose music, or direct a choir—are theologians in their own right.”
“Tricia Hersey’s tone rests somewhere between euphoric wonderment and prophetic derision. She marvels at the body and the healing power of rest while lambasting the exploitative power of racialized capitalism.”
“I do not blame the church member who sought spirituality without discussing difficult subjects. For centuries, most majority-White churches have taught the separation of spirituality and social justice.”
