Worship in Polyrhythms: Deeper Worship in Post-Christian Culture
In this episode we chart a fresh and deep course for worship (on a Sunday) in post-Christian communities: worship in polyrhythms. There is so much potential for fresh, deep, and biblical creativity in corporate worship. Yet worship leaders often lack a rich understanding of what they are doing. Our guest is professional percussionist Jillana Nickel. Jillana and I play Cuban music, and she teaches me to play the cowbell.
Check out:
· Jillana’s website: Jillanacreative.com
· Mark’s book, “Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, chapter five, “Worship in Polyrhythms.”
Trading Jazz Piano for Graffiti. Reframe Church as: Receiving Jesus’ Love in Your Neighbourhood.
In this episode we trade jazz piano for graffiti. We ask: “What if we reframed the witness of your church as receiving Jesus’ healing, and extending Jesus’ healing, in your neighbourhood?” In this episode, Mark walks the streets of Canada’s poorest postal-code with philosopher and pastor, Dr Jamie Hellewell. Jamie has been a resident of Vancouver’s Downtown East Side for twenty years.
Check out:
· Mark’s book, “Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, chapter three, “Local.”
Music played in this episode:
· Opening tune: A blues improvised on the spot
· Closing tune: “Cherrywood,” composed by Mark Glanville
Kinship with Creation: A Key for the Future of Faith. Guest Sage Kosa
Our kinship with the creation is crucial for the life and witness of the churches in post-Christian neighborhoods. Our guest is leading horticulturalist, Sage Kosa. Hosted from the grand piano, alongside a potted sword fern.
Sage Kosa owns and operates Kindred Gardens (Vancouver), a garden design, install, care, consulting, and coaching business.
Check out:
· Mark’s book, “Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, chapter eight, “Creation.”
“I Practice Scales to Become a Saint”—Coltrane: Christ Followers & Artists
Artists and Christ followers walk a similar path, as those who discern the truth about the world. The artistic gift of intuitive discernment, of expressing reality with clarity and soul, relates to the Christian gospel. Mark explores a woven kinship between artists and Christ followers while playing the grand piano.
Leader-full Not Leader Led
This episode unfolds a vision for leadership in post-Christian church communities. Our guest is Wynston Minckler, a top acoustic bass player. Mark and Wynston show how jazz bands are “leader-full” communities, offering a fresh and exciting pathway for church leadership.
Check out: Mark’s book, Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, chapter two, “Leader-full.”
Produced, written, and edited by Mark Glanville
Associate produced by Daniel Melvill Jones
Trailer
The Blue Note Theology podcast offers a fresh vision for the church in post-Christian neighbourhoods. Blue notes in jazz and blues music create tension and some of the deepest creativity is found in that space. In this trailer, meet your host, Mark Glanville, a professional jazz musician, theologian, and author, as he introduces the concept of blue notes in jazz and blues music and sets up for the first season of Blue Note Theology. The first full-length episode launches in early December.
Produced, written, and edited by Mark Glanville
Associate produced by Daniel Melvill Jones