10.04.08
Steve Bell “Devotion” tour
Every two or three years Steve Bell comes through the Okanagan. Last night we heard him and his band up at Vernon. A great concert, and really a worship experience. I’m glad it isn’t billed that way, however. I suspect the reason is that Steve would not want to “market” worship.
Steve has always been a writer of songs for congregational worship, and in recent years that particular gift has come to the fore. In some ways he is a musical Brian McLaren. The son of a Baptist minister who is now in an Anglican context, Steve increasingly finds himself reaching back to move forward, embracing Celtic and liturgical rhythms. This latest album includes the Lorica set to music: a lovely piece adapted by Gayle Salmon. The concert is billed like this:
An Evening of Music, Story and Worship with Steve Bell and Band
Featuring Jon Buller, Mike Janzen and Roy Salmond
Also Introducing New Signpost Recording Artist Kerri WoelkeÂ
Tonight Steve is in Victoria, then Nanaimo, then back home, then its down to California.
The new album includes lyric sheets and lead sheets. Steve wants to equip the church to recover something we have lost in worship. I want to teach a couple of pieces we heard last night to our own community, particularly “Who condemns you now?” The simple phrases come from a story you will recognize. It goes like this..
Who condemns you now?
Neither they nor I..
Go and sin no more..
Go and sin no more..Â
The concert had a discernible structure moving from invocation to celebration to the eucharist to thanksgiving. The songs are simple, Scriptural, Trinitarian, and contemplative. “Who condemns you now” follows songs inviting us to the table. As part of the intro to this piece Steve recalled his father’s saying, “We do have a dominant religion in our culture: we believe that we are unlovable.”
Two years ago I did an interview with Steve and you can find it HERE.
Brother Maynard said,
October 4, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’ve only heard the clips on the website, but I’m looking forward to picking up this album. Of course, the songs are familiar to me from St. Ben’s — many of them, like the one above, are written by Gord Johnson. Beautiful stuff, simple lyrics that one can meditate on and sing repetitively… in a meditative, contemplative, prayerful way rather than a monotonous one. Not sure how they pull it off writing like that, but the more you sing them, the deeper they get into your soul. You’d think you’d tire of them, but somehow you don’t.
len said,
October 5, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I remember Gord from Winnipeg Bible College, or was it Trinity Baptist church.. not sure, but it was my Winnipeg days 1978-1981… I agree, these simple and scriptural songs are habitations of Spirit.
Signpost Music » Devotion Concerts said,
August 4, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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