NEWS : Sanctuary Jazz update

November 21, 2003

Greetings to all -

I recently returned from two trips.  The first was to attend the Jazz in the Church Conference in Stony Point, NY.  I was invited to give a presentation on my music ministry, Sanctuary Jazz, and how we integrate jazz into the worship service at the Studio, which is held each Sunday at 11am at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ in Scottsdale, AZ.

I was impressed with the high level of musicianship and commitment to bringing jazz into the church.  I also had the opportunity to talk with several jazz music ministers and clergy and found the conversations to be stimulating, and I left feeling encouraged.  As a matter of fact, I am finding more and more jazz musicians who have a commitment to the Lord.  I have been hearing from jazz musicians from many places including Canada. Things are happening.

It is safe to say that most jazz musicians who have this type of commitment can often feel as if they are in their own orbit.  The percentage of jazz interested is pretty grim—something like 4 or 5% of the music buying public.  Now take that number and pare it down to Christian jazz musicians and you'll quickly see how one can feel alone.  So, after attending an actual national conference of jazz church musicians, although mostly from the east coast and Midwest, I really do feel energized and encouraged by the experience.

Here are some things we were left to consider:

• We need to identify jazz musicians in our communities who have an interest in serving the Lord through a jazz-based music ministry
• We will be looking at opportunities to increase an awareness of jazz music ministries
• Consideration of a west coast version of the conference
• Development of a jazz music ministry Internet website that would act as a resource center for musicians to congregate and display their work in CDs, written arrangements, etc.
• Creation of a Jazz In Worship radio program
• Develop courses in jazz and jazz ensembles that could be integrated into degree programs at seminaries.
• Establish a Directory of jazz church musicians and clergy
• Establish a Directory of Churches currently using jazz in worship
• Piggyback the Jazz in Worship Organization with the International Assoc. of Jazz Educators and have a booth at their annual convention
• Create new types of worship that use jazz.  This is important because it offers pastors an opportunity to try a new format for worship without disrupting their current schedules

I invite you all to send feedback on any of the above.

My second trip was to Flint, MI. and the Woodside Church where I played for a unique Jazz Vespers service, gave two clinics on Jazz in Worship on Saturday, played and spoke at their Sunday service and concluded my trip with a Sunday evening concert of solo jazz piano.  This was a wonderful trip.  I found the pastor, the Director of Music and the congregation to be warm and open to new ideas for music and experiential worship.  What was interesting was that this congregation was an older group of people—not too many young people—but yet they were not adverse to having something new and different in the form of worship; case in point, the Jazz Vespers.  It was held in the Sanctuary with card tables set up with candles in a sort of coffeehouse setting.  People brought their own readings and in some cases simply improvised their feelings in the Spirit.  All of this was filled in by my musical offerings (jazz, of course).  This was a new twist on Vespers for me and I found it very moving.

God's blessings to all -