From a miracle in Syria to a revival in Asbury
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From a miracle in Syria to a revival in Asbury

The ground is sturdy, until it’s not. Until it’s pulled out beneath you like a rug. The aftershocks of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeastern Turkey have hit the globe, but most especially those in the city of Gazientap. Over 50,000 deaths in Turkey and Syria have been confirmed so far, while others continue to…

A quick look at Kevin Max
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A quick look at Kevin Max

Less commercially successful than his former dctalk bandmates TobyMac and Michael Tait (now of Newsboys fame), Kevin Max has always been a black sheep in the Christian music industry. Recently in the headlines for identifying as an “exvangelical,” Max has been using his distinct voice and eclectic style to make some of the most interesting…

A new song for Indigenous Sunday
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A new song for Indigenous Sunday

“The Lord is God. He watches over all the lands, and we are put together, from the earth, by His hands,” sang Don Amero, a Cree musician and member of a Winnipeg CRC church. They are the opening lyrics to a song Amero wrote for the Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee (CIMC). The committee’s focus for…

We need worship music, not music worship
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We need worship music, not music worship

When I say the word “worship,” what pops in your head? You might hear an organ playing a familiar tune or remember your mother clutching her hymn book, harmonizing to “Come, Thou Fount.” Alternatively, you may envision a full band on a stage, with colourful lights and a bass so heavy you can feel it…

Holy Ordinary Things
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Holy Ordinary Things

Wendy is the person in our church who takes care of the details. She is the one who sorts through the candles after the Christmas Eve service, taking out the ones that burned too low, cleaning the ones that are discolored from the smoke. Wendy irons the drapes we hang on the front wall. She…

Worship and work must be one
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Worship and work must be one

Turn your eyes upon JesusLook full in his wonderful faceAnd the things of earth will grow strangely dimIn the light of his glory and grace That was the chorus of my conversion. When I began my life of following Jesus in 1969 we sang that hymn over and over again. The piety rang (mostly) true…

Songs to savour
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Songs to savour

In my recent essay, here in Christian Courier, I reflected on the strengths and weaknesses of some of the music – particularly Christian music – I have been collecting across the years. If I could bypass these pandemic days and invite you to our house, you could see amid the hundreds of records and hundreds…

Not Allowed to Sing in Church? Maybe That’s a Good Thing
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Not Allowed to Sing in Church? Maybe That’s a Good Thing

There are no rollicking versions of “Way Maker” or thoughtful renditions of “O Come to the Altar” blasting over the sound systems of most churches these days. Health officials have banned corporate singing in many areas for how it can spread COVID-19, as it did at a single choir practice of 61 people in Washington, which resulted…

At the Feet of Jesus
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At the Feet of Jesus

A large wooden crucifix stands toward the front of the crypt sanctuary in St. Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal. While the crucifix is not central within worship, it evidently receives much attention. A striking feature of the crucifix is the worn nature of Jesus’ feet – the paint is worn away and the surface smooth from the many hands that have rested there.

Music of the People
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Music of the People

In our last column I summarized some of the contributions Celtic Christianity offers (“Three Celtic Gifts,” April 22). John Bell presented and applied these “offerings” in a recent conference sponsored by the Wisdom Centre in Calgary.

Road Trip
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Road Trip

Ten years ago, the Spouse and I drove across Canada with our two small children. You might even say our too-small children. Blue was not yet two years old and Beangirl was only approaching her fourth birthday.

Sing! Alleluia
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Sing! Alleluia

With a second-hand acoustic bass and zero real practice since high school, I joined a Hope Fellowship praise team last summer. There are a lot of talented musicians at our church, so this felt like a big deal.