It's Wednesday, and I have already sat with more than my normal weekly share of hurting, suffering people. That's why I tell you today, my favorite time of the year is here - not Christmas, not sending the kids back to school (anyone remember that Staple's commercial?). Its our 'Hope in a House of Blues' series at Lake Forest the next four Sundays. Where we do something very biblical -apply the poultice of lament (what's a poultice? keep reading) honestly together, as people who love and long for God, over our blues. With sights set firmly on the goodness of God through his Son Jesus.
Through a mashup of Scripture (this year: Dread/Fear, Depression, Doubt, Death), Music (this year we're expanding genres - to include southern gospel singers with tamborines week 1, psychodeltic blues from NY week 2, a foremost 'Newgrass' player of bluegrass week 3, and our now-old-friend Mike Farris week 4 in Huntersville), and Art (our artists are transforming the Huntersville worship center into the feel of a grand old theatre circa 1900).
I don't just like it for the music, even though its going to be amazing (this year we're kicking it up a notch and hosting national musical guests weekly on our Huntersville campus, and musical or speaking guests weekly in Davidson - the first conversation with the musicians is always priceless "you mean you want me to play my music in church?"). I mostly like this series as a poultice.
What's a poultice? In the third grade I read biographies of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett (so I could prepare to become them when I grew up), and ran across this word frequently. A poultice is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body. Native Americans used mashed up pumpkin, Daniel and Davy might use warm moist bread or soaked tobacco. The effect? To draw the pus and inflammation of a wound to the surface, and draw it out into the poultice. Allowing the wound to heal and the body to return to health. There are so many blues in our fallen world that we apply the poultice of this series regularly. We want to be a church community that laments openly, loudly, honestly, sympathetically, often, and biblically.
Psalm 5:1 is an apt description of many of the psalms/songs/prayers in the Bible: "Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament." The original 'liner notes' written at the beginning of Psalm 102 describe that Psalm as v.1 "A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord."
This is exactly how we will serve one another and our friends who live in the blues and are looking for hope this series. Gather as people who have grown weak and are yet bold to ask God to 'consider our lament.' Because we know God as loving heavenly Father, and Jesus told us to talk to him, through Jesus as the Great Physician. Here's a news writeup of the series, in case you're interested, with descirptions and links for our various guest artists. Its my favorite time of year!
Lake Forest Church Brings Blues Worship Fusion to Sunday Morning Setting
Hope in a House of Blues Series features national artists from a variety of
Blues genres
Huntersville, NC: A Lake Forest Church tradition returns with a new spin
in 2013. The Hope in a House of Blues series is four weeks of finding hope
amidst the reality that the blues are inescapable in our lives. Each
Sunday includes special guest speakers and/or musicians who will share their
words and music (gospel, bluegrass, rock, Americana) as a sweet balm for our
weary souls.
“We use this series to point out the fact that art and music are inherently
spiritual activities, allowing us to express both the human spirit and our
desire for God,” said Lake Forest’s Lead Pastor, Mike Moses. “Although we’ve
done this series four times before, year after year, we never run out of
material. The blues in this world and in our lives are so ever-present. In this
rendition, we’ve explored new opportunities to fuse the music, worship
environment, and Bible teaching. We hope it will be a powerful, transformative
and ultimately healing experience for everyone who walks in our door.”
Hope in a House of Blues begins April 14, 2013 at the church’s Huntersville and
Davidson, NC, campuses and will continue each Sunday through May 5, with
services at 9:30am and 11am. The theme of the 2013 Hope in a House of Blues
series is “Blues in the Key of D” and includes messages that address dread,
despair, doubt and death – all with an inspiring, blues-based musical backdrop
and worship environment.
Schedule of Guest Musicians
The McCrary Sisters will bring their passion and soulfulness to kick
off the first week of the series in Huntersville. Ann, Deborah, Regina and
Alfreda are the daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary, who was one of the
original members of the legendary gospel quartet, The Fairfield Four.
On April 21 in Huntersville, Kerry Kearney, a slide guitar master, will
play and work his instrument to limits that amaze even the most seasoned
musician or cultured music fan. Kearney’s style, which is referred to as
“Psychedelta,” is his own brand of music containing an upbeat mix of American
Blues and Roots with a twist of a very unique sound all his own.
Concord’s own Jim Avett, father of Seth and Scott of the Avett Brothers,
will bring his honest country tunes and the stories he uses to introduce his
music to the Lake Forest Davidson Campus on April 21. The son of a Methodist minister and a
classically trained pianist, you can find Jim performing at musical festivals
up and down the East Coast. His performances have been described as similar to
“spending the evening on the front porch singing and talking with a good
friend.”
Bluegrass banjo player, Stevie Barr, will perform with The Church
Sisters in Huntersville on April 28 and in Davidson on May 5. Barr’s family
owns and operates Barr’s Fiddle Shop in Galax, VA, a gathering spot for
bluegrass and old-time musicians the world over. Stevie literally grew up in
the shop, taking it all in and becoming a fine player in his own right.
The Church Sisters, twins Sarah and Savannah Church, are now appearing on
numerous TV specials including "The Joey and Rory Show",
"Larry's Country Diner" and "Country's Family Reunion.” In 2012,
they were honored to join Christian superstar, Brandon Heath on his "Blue
Mountain Tour.”
Long-time Hope in a House of Blues guest, critically-acclaimed musician and
vocalist Mike Farris comes for the finale of the series in
Huntersville and will play with worship leader, Kyle Dillard. Recipient of the
Americana Music Association’s “New & Emerging Artist of the Year” award in
2008 and winner of the 2010 Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for “Best
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year.”
Farris’ voice connects and mesmerizes in such a way that it doesn’t matter if
the songs are his own compositions or ones sung 200 years ago. As Mike
puts it “this music - it’s so beyond us, we only perpetuate it. We are just
cooks in the kitchen.” If so Mike Farris is one “cook” with an immediate
voice.
Lake Forest Church is a growing, Evangelical Presbyterian Church with campuses
in Huntersville and Davidson, NC (just north of Charlotte). Since its
beginning, LFC has been known for reaching “people who’ve given up on church,
but not on God”, through a clear and engaging focus on Jesus. Sunday worship
times in Huntersville, located at 8519 Gilead Road, are 9:30 and 11:00am.
Worship times in Davidson, located at Davidson Elementary School at 635 South
Street, are 9:30 and 11:00am.
Contact and reference information:
For more information on Hope in a House of Blues: Contact Susan Arrington, LFC
Communications Manager, at 704.650.2009 or [email protected]
Visit the Lake Forest Church website at: http://lakeforest.org
More on the McCrary Sisters, visit: http://musiccityroots.com/artist/the-mccrary-sisters
Visit Kerry Kearney’s website at: http://kerrykearneyofficial.com
Visit Barr’s Fiddle Shop’s website: http://barrsfiddleshop.com
Visit Jim Avett’s website at: http://www.jimavett.com/
Visit Mike Farris’s website at: http://www.mikefarrismusic.com
Visit Kyle Dillard’s website at: http://www.kyledillard.com/
