Can anyone play the dobro or mandocello?
By Rev John Battman
As one of those still privileged to be involved in leading others in worship, I wanted to share with you some encouraging words that I read by one of today’s leading Christian worship song writers.
For my birthday, friends gave me the 2 CD set ‘The Best of Stuart Townend Live’, including See what a morning’, My First Love, In Christ Alone, Our God is Strong and Mighty. These recordings, made at big Spring Harvest type events, reflect the kind of scenario where Stuart first became known. At the same time I’ve just heard the second of his contribution to the series, ‘The New Hymn Makers’, entitled ‘The Power of the Cross’ sung by the St Michael’s singers in Coventry Cathedral. (an aside; in our contemporary worship music, when is it a ‘song’ and when a ‘hymn’?). On the sleeve Bishop Wallace Benn says “Frankly I think he is the new Charles Wesley for our day and generation’
Stuart, with his background in New Frontiers, certainly has brought much to the church in relation to ‘congregational’ worship song/hymns. By that I mean music that is designed to be sung by the worshipping congregation rather than by the ‘music group’ or soloists. His latest offering, is called ‘The Journey’, and with this he stretches minds and hearts in a new way..
A recent review I read states “The Journey is a playful folk album featuring his latest compositions…It differs from his previous collections in that the sound is less traditional and more relaxed, with a strong folk feel running through. So, it won’t be to everyone’s liking, and some of the pieces may be more for the small group gatherings, but what Stuart says in relation to his latest offering I believe is particularly significant as we ‘go forward’ ( to use the phrase much used in the world of work, politics, entertainment etc.!) in our offerings of worship in music to the Lord.
The reviewer writes.. "I asked him whether Christian music had become too stadium rock-oriented. He said: “What often happens is that Christian rock music has become the ‘sound’ of worship. People used to say, when they saw electric guitars and drums come into church, that you can’t use those in worship. Well, now I think we have to say, hang on a second, you don’t have to use ‘those’ in worship. God has given us many different musical styles in order to express our creativity.”
As one who has in a variety of church situations sought to encourage different kinds of music in worship, be it South American rhythms in that culture, or the use of a ‘band’ where only choir and organ had been the experience, I felt the words of this gifted musician and worship leader who has figured so much on the ‘big band’ scene come with particular impact..
In his own Blog, writing about The Journey, he says “I happened to read a very early review where the reviewer couldn’t work out whether it was a ‘folk album’ or a ‘worship album’ – as if it couldn’t be both! And in some ways this articulates exactly why I wanted to make an album like this. Whereas a few years ago some people objected to the use of drums, electric guitar and bass in worship, now it seems it’s not worship UNLESS it’s got drums, wall to wall electric guitars and an eighth-note driving bass!"
"So we’ve tried to revive the sound of fiddles, whistles, flutes, clarinets, string quartets, accordions, banjos and brass (not to mention dobro and mandocello courtesy of Bryn Haworth!) in worship, in the hope that at least some of these instruments will start making a reappearance in the worshipping life of churches everywhere (although I appreciate that many do already). And under the influence of everything from Kate Rusby to Bellowhead, Bombay Bicycle Club to Tom Waits, we’ve tried to break free from the 4 chord rock anthem while still presenting congregational tunes and theological truth that will inspire worship in the people of God.”
In my own church it has been great to witness the encouragement given to some of our younger instrumentalists and singers in the formation of a Youth Band, but I wonder how many more musically gifted people there are in our church family who could be encouraged to offer their gifts, particularly those who may not feel that they fit into the ‘band’ format. I recalled one occasion in our early days in Ipswich when we attended a service where the congregation was wonderfully led by a pianist and violinist; also the couple of occasions when the music for the Administration of Holy Communion was a solo guitarist.
How can we respond to the encouragement/challenge Stuart Townend brings to us, not to give anyone space to ‘perform’ in church, but for more of the gifts of God’s people to be released in the Church in worship in song in maybe new ways that is still meaningful to the people and pleasing the Lord. So, can anyone play the dobro or mandocello!!..whatever they are..
A final quote from Stuart writing about his latest offering. One of the tracks is entitled ‘Simple Living’ and is just about that. The lyric includes: “Oh teach me Lord to walk this road, the road of simple living, to be content with what I own and generous and giving.” Stuart writes “So many songs focus on the experience of worship. It is good that we have those, but because they are so predominant, there are very few songs which are doctrinal songs that focus on who God is.”
He explains: “Actually the Bible has very little to say about the way we conduct our services, but a lot to say about our daily lives, so our worship should reflect that. One of the biggest challenges in the west is our attitude towards money… are we being seduced by the consumerism around us that is all-pervasive or, actually, do we have the right attitude towards being content with what God has given us and being generous?”
Of course, the encouragement to use all kinds of instruments and voices and movement is not new. As the Spirit led the Psalmist to write…
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
In the love of Him who deserves the worship of the whole of our lives..
Revd John Battman is a retired Anglican minister who has spent many years working with the church in South America and more recently in the UK. He now lives and worships in Ipswich
| 
