WORSHIP works
Events facilitated by or including workshops by Alison Adam.
NOVEMBER 2008
1st: Egham, HYTHE.
A day of workshops focusing on congregational song at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.. Contact: Rev Sue Loveday. (sue.loveday.ctsurrey@lineone.net)
16th: GREENWICH, The Journey
On the third Sunday of each month, at 6.45 pm at The Forum, Trafalgar Rd, Greenwich SE10: The Journey is a welcoming and open space for all those who wish to gather for reflection and worship. (http://www.greenwichunitedchurch.org.uk/thejourney.htm Contact Martyn Coe: 020 8853 0563)
23rd: OUNDLE
Afternoon song workshops, ending with worship at St. Peter’s C of E. church. (Eleanor Raydon: alanrayden@hotmail.com)
27th: LONDON
A Wee Sing at All Hallows by the Tower – continuing the regular monthly series of singing gatherings run by Alison, Bertrand Olivier and Emily Walker.
The event is for all-comers and is free, though donations welcome. Tea and coffee from 6pm, singing from 6:30 – 8pm.
(www.ahbtt.org.uk)
DECEMBER 2008
21st: GREENWICH
The Journey: ‘Blue Christmas’ – reflective worship focusing on the stresses of the season and offering calm and tranquillity in the sometimes chaotic, sometimes difficult season.
details – see above.
JANUARY 2009
18th GREENWICH
The Journey, see November, above.
22nd: LONDON
A wee sing, see November above.
25th: EWELL, Surrey
A big sing and worship from 4:30 - &:30 at Ruxley Anglican/Methodist Church. (Rev. Stuart Thomas:020 8393 5616 revstuart.thomas@btinternet.com, St. Francis Vicarage, 61 Ruxley Lane, Ewell, Surrey, KT19 0JG)
FEBRUARY 2009
15th: LONDON
A wee sing, see November above.
22nd: BROMSGROVE
An afternoon of workshops on song and evening worship.
(Andy Lyons. andylyons239@yahoo.co.uk)
ALISON ADAM...
...brings us up to date with a recent project of hers that nears fruition, and one that articulates one of her most deeply-felt passions!!!
What a joy to meet someone, as I did last week, from Rwanda and to start singing a song with them! Actually the song we shared was one I know as coming from the DRC but he knew from his home in Rwanda. The versions varied, but the connection was beautiful!
When we sing each other’s song the connection is powerful.
This is a superb reason for introducing children to songs from other cultures and traditions.
And here is a superb reason for mentioning a new book and CD which will be coming our way via GIA Publications of Chicago this summer, called Sing With The World.
John Bell and I have put together a collection of global songs aimed at those who work with children. It’s a vocal grand tour – with the songs of people from twenty-four countries. Through these songs we hear their distinctive voices in the rhythms and melodies and we also experience our common voice as people of faith.
The Body... for adults, for children
The notion of being a part of the Body, and all that means about connectedness, is one that children relate well to. And so, using these songs is a great way to affirm with them that we are part of the global Body of Christ. They connect us with people of other cultures, both at home and overseas, and when we get children singing them their experience of difference is enriched and affirmed. In singing them, we pray with and for people around the world and we contribute to the building up of that Body.
In many Western Churches, there is a danger of gravitating too much towards a performance culture in our music, whether that be via the contemporary worship band with a big amplified sound, or the polished performance of well resourced choir. When this happens, the voices of the congregation are under-valued.
'Can’t’? or ‘Cant’? No... Cantor!
There is quite a bit about leading as a cantor in the book. I have spoken about this subject in Goosegander before and I am more convinced than ever about the effectiveness of such a person.
A cantor is a musical enlivener, as musicologist Michael Hawn would put it. The enlivener enthuses the singers, dictates the pace and mood, communicates what the singers will sing next, and when it's time to stop! This is a skill worth practising and passing on as it will enliven the singing of any group.
The cantor comes into their own in African songs. Here, short repeated or cyclical songs are intended to be sung many times over, as the occasion demands and without a leader, the song simply goes on and on. The cantor, however, will energize the singers, with calling lines and other vocal phrases, improvised ad lib. It’s not something we did that much of in the recordings of WGWG, but there are hints of it in ‘He came down’, ‘Wa wa wa emimimo’ ’Amen Siyakudumisa.’
If this is new to you, and seems scary - the best way to learn is simply to start doing it. There are some good simple examples to get you started in Sing With The World.
Song-signing (...not book-signing)
In the book I encourage people to sing in the original language for most of the songs. Children enjoy singing in other languages as do teenagers. I had a particularly powerful experience of being able to connect with year 7 and 8 (1st and 2nd year) boys in secondary school music classes because we were singing the songs of their heritage.
I also encourage singing with the language of Signing for some of the songs in the book.
The use of sign language in singing is first and foremost a way of being inclusive. However, it is also a gift from the deaf community to the hearing community. When we sign as we sing, we immediately begin to embody the song, because we move.
It can be a gentle tool to encourage those more inhibited people to move as they sing. It can be a liberating tool for pent up dancers who never get to move in worship! For those who are kinaesthetic learners, the use of signs, gestures and movement will help them to learn more quickly and express themselves more fully.
The signing used should be simplified and is usually somewhat stylized for singing. Seek out someone with skills in this area to help you.
The USA has a superb website (www.aslpro.com)which has helpful video footage for the signing of words as well as a section on specific ‘religious’ usage of words. I would be glad to know of anything similar for BSL (British Sign Language).
I believe that the work involved is worth the effort – it will be both profound and fun!
Only one of the songs in the collection is a children’s song. They are songs for everyone to sing and are ideal for all-age worship. The particular value of this book is the simplified arrangements which have young voices in mind. There are new accompaniments, arrangements and vocal harmonies.
The book also gives hints for making educational and spiritual connections as well as ideas for using the songs both in school and in church.
It is my hope that in singing Global music with young people that we will deepen the connections we make to people and places. We will sing and worship beyond boundaries and discover the Spirit of God is working through song.
More details of ‘Sing With The World’ can be found on the Cataloguegander page.
To contact Alison, write to WORSHIP WORKS, St. Mark's Centre, 22 Greenwich South Street, Greenwich, London, SE10 8TY; E-mail: alison.adam@worshipworks.co.uk; Tel: 020 8853 0565
