Heretical Worship

Sneak peeks and reflections on non-churchy church gatherings, resources for worshipers and worship leaders, snarky remarks and more - mostly from among the community of Jacob's Well in Minneapolis, MN (Jacobs-Well.net). Connect more with me at ChrisTripolino.com

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Some theological cannons going off from Sufjan. 

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Song Library

I’m constantly looking for new songs. Good songs. Perfect songs. Sometimes people send me those songs and it’s lovely.

I want to let you in on the rubric that I use for considering songs for the Jacob’s Well song library because I need your help with this!

STEP 1: Think of a few songs that really hit you in the gut; songs that hold deep richness & meaning for you

*Note: I’m not just looking for songs off Christian radio. I’m looking for real, deep, artful, songs that really touch you. Everything is fair game.

STEP 2: Run it through the rubric below. If you feel like it passes, share the artist and title in the comments below!

THE RUBRIC: 

1.) Relevant (this should be a given if you’re considering it)

2.) Transcendent (Opens people up. Think about others. Maybe the archaic language, a focus on blood, a very small picture of God, cheesiness, or other elements would distract or divide rather than connect them to God and others)

3.) Honest (aspirational songs are fine, but we want to see the whole depth and beauty of human experience, not just “Life sucks and it always will” or “Everything is Awesome.”)

4.) Singable (“I can’t sing along with the verses,” or, “It’s got too big a range” - nope.)

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Still here?

It’s been a while, friends! Sorry for not being around Tumblr! Are you still interested in hearing about some alternative ideas on church and the format, content, intent, atmosphere, and approach of gatherings? Let me know what you’re looking for! ~Chris

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subtitles, race, & language in our songs

Have you ever noticed how common it is in songs that get used by church communities to lean on the metaphors of white/black, light/darkness for good/bad? I always try to be aware of the kinds of metaphors I use in the songs I write and choose to be shared by the Jacob’s Well community. I’ve been trying to be even more aware of it during this time where we’re discussing race. I had even mentioned it to my group last week and then, at the last minute, I changed a couple songs and missed a couple of those. They’re everywhere. 

What I’m not saying: writers of hymns, songs, and Bible passages are bigots who should know better.

What I am saying: it’s worth being intentional about not perpetuating unhealthy and unhelpful ideas in oppressed segments of a population (i.e.: white=good/ beautiful, black=bad/ ugly). Thinking about this when writing and choosing songs is a little thing that leaders can do. 

-CT

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Songs:  Love [Gbm] by Matt Morris Buy | Watch | Lyrics Long Train Runnin’ [Gm] by The Doobie Brothers   Buy |Watch | Lyrics Your Love Never Fails [G] by Jesus Culture  Buy | Watch | Lyrics ​Hold Us Together [C] by Matt Maher​ Buy | Watch | Lyrics Love Is Different [A] by Caedmon's Call  Buy | Watch | Lyrics Love Revolution [E] by Lenny Kravitz Buy | Watch | Lyrics

THEME: Love (Part of a series called Because It Hurts) SONG SELECTION: My approach this week was to pull at lots of different threads to get us reflecting on our perceptions of love and God's presence in the midst of it. I don't know if there's a more common theme in music.  Probably because it's one of life's most common themes...and because it hurts. BAND STYLE: Rock BAND CONFIGURATION: 3 vocals, Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Drums, and Keys NOTES: this was a normal week plus spaghetti, John Melloncamp, and texts about unrequited love. 

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Jacob’s Well: July 19, 2015 -Incurably Passionate About Integrity

  FLOW:  Tourniquet [A] by Jeremy Messersmith   Buy | Watch | Lyrics People of God [D] by Gungor   Buy | Watch | Lyrics Don't Carry It All [G] by the Decemberists   Buy | Watch | Lyrics Prayer Give Us Clean Hands [G] by Charlie Hall   Buy | Watch | Lyrics Welcome & Say Hi Message (Greg Meyer) - Podcast | Twitter Offering Trade My Love [Eb] by Sandra McCracken   Buy | Lyrics Sending (including sending of Bay Lake campers and JW regular Amanda) We Will Run [E] by Gungor   Buy | Watch | Lyrics

  THEME: Integrity (Part of a series called Incurably Passionate) SONG SELECTION: This week, songs were brought in that showed unconditional support and acceptance, encouraged us to be doers, not just wishers; and courageously sharing our needs and shortcomings so we can get help, start fresh, and follow through. *Style, speed, energy, key, sing ability, honesty, theme, & how well the community knows them are always considerations for me. I've got some filters for bad theology, obnoxious or archaic language, and other stuff too. BAND STYLE: Indie BAND CONFIGURATION: 2 vocals, Electric, Bass, Drums, and Keys NOTES: A pretty "standard" flow for us, sparse instrumentation, good contact with the theme. Probably a little Gungor and CCM heavy.

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Song Links:

Smile Like You Mean It - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics | The Show Starts Now - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics | Don't Carry It All - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics | Typical - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics | Love Revolution - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics | Down In The River To Pray - | Buy | Watch | Lyrics |

Band Config: Straightforward rock sound with 2 Electrics, Bass, Drums, Keys, and 3 vocals. Shooting for an honest/ energetic expression of the JW community out at Minnehaha Falls Park and Bandstand.  Thanks to Eli Elstad for leading while I was out of town! It sounds like it was a great day down at Minnehaha Falls Park.

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Made To Grow

This is a quick iPhone recording of a song inspired by conversations among Jacob's Well related to the DIRT series. It pulls from Jesus' parable of the sower. My friend John Roemhild helped me out.

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a playlist on Spotify

Each morning I have to get my daughter up around 5:30 so that she can be on the bus in time and I’ve used this playlist for this year (with some little tweaks) with pretty good success.  It becomes the soundtrack to her morning routine and an external time-keeper.  Here are the songs and what they are used for:

-Rise And Shine by Andrew Peterson: Start waking up! -Beautiful Things by Gungor: Toilet/ get dressed -Mahna Mahna by Cake: Brush teeth -Lord I Need You by Matt Maher: Hair/ other prep Breakfast          -Morning Mood (Peer Gynt) by Edward Grieg           -Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson          -Peppermint Wind by Peter Mayer          -Bread & Wine by Josh Garrels -Interlude by Attack Attack: Gather items (shoes/ backpack/ etc.) -Center by Charlie Hall: Centering time -You Never Let Go by Matt Redman: Out the door!

The songs are timed out with roughly the time that my daughter needs to make it through these activities and get out of the house.  The playlist is intended to be custom for her, but I think the idea is easily transferrable to whatever timing and whatever kinds of messaging and energy you think might be helpful for you or your kids.  I’ve long intended to do the same thing for a bedtime routine as that can be a source of some crunchy feelings around our house.  Maybe you want to make one!

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Wrapping up our “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” series.  We’ve had weekly visits with Mr. Rogers, live painting from Eddie Hamilton (www.painteddiepaint.com), and lots of good connection and reflection time about what it means to be a neighbor and create neighborhoods. This week we look at the “built environment” - all of the physical stuff around us and how that plays a part in creating connections (or not)!

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Bread & Wine

some great words for shared reflection yesterday from @JoshGarrels #jwNeighbor #jwROPE pic.twitter.com/3p60lxB40J

— Jacob's Well (@jacobswellmpls) May 4, 2015

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Neighbors on my bus - We discussed how we’re supported as an individual. Check out our podcast (http://jacobswell.podbean.com) to hear more about that!

The band was rolling with an acoustic/ unplugged kind of sound.  

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As we continue looking at what it means to be a neighbor, we’re talking about neighbors we’re afraid of.  Maybe that’s next door (or even in your house), down the street or across the world.  Good tunes from a lot of folks including Stefan Van Voorst, Joy Williams (of the Civil Wars), Jason Gray, and Robbie Seay.

Mike Rusert will even have a conversation partner today named Ahmed Mohammed to address some common socio-religious fears that are pretty common in the US.

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Here’s a quick pic of what Jacob’s Well will be doing this week when we get together.  Highlights: a little straight-up rock and making sandwiches as a community as an act of worship.

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What did Jacob’s Well do for Easter?  Well, I’d say we were a little heavy on the Gungor, but we had a great day as a community with some powerful painting stuff from Eddie Hamilton and good time of engagement and celebration together as we looked at life and death elements in our daily lives.

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jwSuperNatural

Jacob’s Well has been doing a some reflecting on God lately.  I know, weird, right? Here are some of the songs we’ve been using.

Yes, we can pffft the Spotify playlist but I thought you guys might want to listen again!

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Tom Waits/Cookie Monster mashup - God's Away On Business

Do you think of God as a painter who painted something pretty and hung it up to dry?  If so, this song might resonate with you... (it reminds me of Elijah's mocking of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:27 - maybe your god's on the pisser).  In case you haven't guessed, this isn't how I see God.