WICKED...SO GOOD!

I have fallen in love with this musical! Wicked is a stunning prequel to the Wizard of Oz, concentrating on the story of the witches. Due to hit the West End in September it comes straight from a very successful run on Broadway.

Composer Stephen Schwartz although a name you may not immediately recognise, has an impressive production list behind him, Godspell, Prince of Egypt, Children of Eden, and lyricist for Pocohontas and Berstein's Mass. There is no doubt whatsoever that this musical is phenomenal, with highly original, passionate and intelligent writing. Having listened to the soundtrack repeatedly, buying the music and singing and playing through it, I am truly convinced that this will be huge in this country and take its place alongside the classic greats of musical theatre. I will be doing my utmost to go and see this show, and hopefully before Christmas in order to see Idina Menzel (the lead in the Broadway production and the voice on the official recording) and so would most definitely heartily encourage others to do so! However, as enthusiastic I may be about the music and production of this stunner, there is something more that intrigues me about this show and its storyline.

Basically, (and not wanting to give too much away, you can find a full synopsis here) this story centres on the captivating, surprising tale of how a misunderstood, green girl named Elphaba becomes 'wicked' but her unlikely friend, Glinda, becomes 'good'. Evangelistically, this show is rich with themes and topics that are begging to be explored. There are issues of self image and social ostracism that run through the plot, but there is so much more than this. As Elphaba sings the song No Good Deed she uses the phrase, "no good deed goes unpunished", as everything she does for the good of others seems to backfire, adding to the public despising of her. Surely there are so many people who have turned their back on 'doing the right thing' for fear that things may turn sour, that they will be unappreciated. There is such a witch hunt mentality, The March of Witch Hunters reminds me so much of the scene of the crowds turning on Jesus.

On his own website Stephen Schwartz says this: "I am on record as saying I do not discuss my own religious background or views. This is because I don't want people's reactions to my shows to be filtered through anything but their own personal beliefs and philosophies. I don't want audiences to react based even partly on the extent to which their own beliefs and backgrounds correspond to my own. This is a long-winded way of saying that I think the work speaks for itself, and the fact that each person brings his or her own point-of-view to it is precisely my goal."

I truly believe that God works through such talented people as this in bringing new ways through which we can explore the realities of society and then relate them to our own faith. The stunning music will simply ensure that many more people will see and talk about this show, and maybe Christians will snap up these opportunities to open conversations, to utilise this wonderful music and lyrics in the sharing of the gospel.

Hmmm...there's s much more I want to say about this show, but think I'm going to have to see it first!

Gb

R x

MY FIRST TRAVELS AND MAYBE EVEN FIRST REAL CONSIDERATIONS!

Why is it that when you need to do a lot of travelling and you have no air con, the weather is steaming, and at the point when you can have a nice lie down in the garden, the thunder arrives?! Ah well, such is life!

I had a lovely meeting and chat with Rev Brian Hoare yesterday. For those that don't recognise the name, he's Methodist minister, ex-President of Methodist Conference and hymn writer, amongst many other things of course! We discussed my many ideas for my research, and agrees that there was just so much to look at it's incredible.

One of the main issues we raised was that of the extent to which someone can be saved through music. We agreed that as much as we can understand a person gaining an experience of God, and even be brought to a knowledge of God through music, surely, it is not possible to understand the full revelation of the gospel through this. For this to happen there must be greater explanation, this therefore must incorporate lyrics and/or some form of talk. Still this leaves me wondering as to whether the possible spiritual response had during an instrumental, or completely secular concert would lead anyone to a faith in the God that we as Christians believe to be single and true, or would this simply raise an awareness of the spiritual world, unguided, possibly a dangerous and easily misfooted path.

So I guess the question therefore is, musically, what part does music play in the salvation process? Is it merely an aid, or can it really have a greater impact on bringing people into the presence of God? When people hear Handel's Messiah and are made aware of an experience of God, is it because the words of scripture are just so powerful, or the music is so emotive that it moves us to contemplate God, or is it truly a combination of the two?

Hmmm...well...my thoughts are beginning to muddle due to tiredness, but please, comment and let me know what you feel on this topic. I'd be especially interested to hear from anyone who is themselves a musician, and also those for whom music has played a key part in their faith journey (any style and genre, I'm not picky!)

Bless you in your musings,
R x

ON BECOMING A LOCAL PREACHER...

I've been told several times this evening that I have now joined the great tradition of preachers...existent for thousands of years...which is all very nice...but don't know that it means much to me yet!


It's been an emotional evening, granted, I cried profusely whilst giving testimony, which I am most mortified at (professionalist streak coming through again!), unfortunately therefore, so did my parents and several of the congregation! Was all way too emotional, but hey...I said what I felt God wanted me to say, who am I to argue!

It almost felt a little trite to me to do the whole... "being a Christian isn't about having an easy life"...spiel...but rather what I wanted to say, and think I did say, was being a Christian doesn't mean we don't really mess up sometimes, and it also doesn't mean that we deal with things and move on, often they stay with us, and we just have to keep giving them over to Him, because they are always going to be an issue for us, whether we like it or not, they are our perceptions of Paul's 'thorn in the flesh'.


A most wonderful and beautiful friend of mine came to see me after the service this evening. She's 7 years younger than me, but we are such good friends! She told me how much she'd always looked up to me from being a young teenager. Part of me thought that maybe I'd let her down by not being the good role-model, but I honestly believe that she respects me more now becuase I am honest with her about my failings. She has seen my not so great nature, and yet still sees what God is doing in me. And my oh my, it's clear that God is doing in her life, and it truly is beautiful!

So, as much as I hardly remember the vows I made, I will remember that God will use our inadequacies as potently as He uses are successes.

R x

MAYC actually rocks!!!

I've just got back from Breakout weekend, (national Methodist youth event for those outside the small fortress that is Methodism!!!) I, with a few others, took a group from our circuit, who were, can i say...all absolute gems!!! and to be honest, apart from me agreeing with them that the green and yellow and the oggies, although MAYC heritage are a little too dated and are as good a cheesy Christian stereotype as you'd find on Neighbours, the event, titled 'Passion' went really well! I was loosely involved in the prayer stuff that was happening, but got to go really as a punter for the 1st time in about 6 years!

The young people we took seemed to really enjoy themselves, and I hope got a lot out of it. It's really difficult to tell as i'm not there all the time, but we leadery types managed to have a good heads together about what we can feasably do for the lot that we took, as we are by far the only ones under the age of 40 who are willing and able to do anything with them!

Now I'm by no means a youth worker, I can talk to them, but when it comes down to anything more than that I'd rather that someone who had a specific passion and gift for that age group was hired...but in the mean time...we'll do our best! But what struck me more than anything...was that we were in accomodation with at least 3 or 4 other groups, most of which had leaders in their late 40's at the youngest. Now don't shoot me for being ageist...but these leaders had no control over these guys, we ended up being the disciplinarians for those not even in our group....lads lying across hallways in sleeping bags so that the girls couldn't get to the toilet and the like! And those leaders were more bothered about the fact that they'd been woken up, rather than the welfare of the youths they had brought.

It just struck home to me the extent to which we have to put our youth 1st, in particular in that context. If we don't nurture, teach, discipline, guide and love them, then how will they ever understand the concept of God's nuturing, teaching, disciplining and guiding love???
I know that I am always the 'bad cop' when it comes to disciplining, but I found this weekend that that doesn't have to mean that they hate me!! I always assumed it would, but reasoned discipline seems more to provoke an understanding by those young people that sometimes it's good that they are challenged and that their ideas aren't always complete, and ultimately, I found that we developed more of a mutual respect.

I also spent the weekend telling everyone about my research...so here's hoping and praying that the money issue begins to get resolved!!

Bless u all,
R x

Hi people,
completely unrelated blog entry... but... how frustrating is it when you get to your late twenties and realise that you've never really done anything exciting!!?? I'm a fairly predictable person for the most part, i hate it, but i'm predictable! I have the opportunity to go to Hong Kong to see a good friend who works with Jackie Pullinger, experience the worship and rehabilitation community there and be in a place where God works miracles all the time and they are not covered up, hidden or just not talked about but are shared and rejoiced in... and instead of worrying about the cost...i just want to go. I just received a tax rebate for roughly the amount that the flight would be. I have no job (though not for want of trying!), nothing to keep me here, except...as my dear mother keeps reminding me, once that money's gone, I have nothing more to live off! Nothing to pay my phone bill, my car insurance, my petrol...life was so much easier when I had a wage!!!!

This is probably the first time I've ever worried about money, I've always known that God will provide, but now I just think that it's about time that I stopped letting Him do all the hard work and began to do some for myself. And I guess that if God wants me to go to Hong Kong...then I will get there somehow...if not...well then I'll just have to lump it!!

So if anyone has any great ideas about where I can get about £600 for my trip to Hong Kong, and then the next £7000 to pay for my MPhil...please let me know!!!

A financially frustrated Ruth xXx

Had an interesting thought provoked by a wonderful friend of mine (you know the sort that you sort of wonder how on earth they got so intuitive...especially when they're at least 4 years your junior!!). I played and sang at an open mic night at college this evening, was very informal, and maybe only 20 people there, but I just did 'Summertime'...nothing too special about that. But...as this friend witnessed...I felt so much more relaxed and comfortable doing this than I seem to when playing worship songs.

Maybe there is something in this, maybe it's reading too much into things, but tonight I could close my eyes and sing and play...and it really didn't matter what happened, I was in my own little world. Now to me, really that's how I'd love my worship to be, in my own little world, with only me and God, but as I wrote last night, it just doesn't happen that way it seems!

Said friend pointed out that this was interesting! I honestly feel that I can worship God as well...if not better by singing something I know and love so well and being able to explore that using the gifts that God has given me, in a style that I truly love. Why does worship have to include words about God? Surely worship is as much about appreciating what he has given...and I think that as much as I play, I know that I would not be able to do so if it were not for my Father's generosity in His abundant blessings to me, therefore, all my music making is worship, as it is all for His glory.

I just wish I was a better pianist!

Ruth x

As my lovely Supervisor has given me a heads up on his blog, I think it's only fitting for me to do the same for him! Pete Phillips is the New Testament Tutor and Dean of students at Cliff College, I also teach two of his kids for music theory. Just waiting for the results of a grade 5 theory exam at the moment in fact! I'm not sure who's more nervous, me or him, as it's the first time i've ever entered a pupil for ABRSM exams under my own name rather than a music centre!

I led worship this evening at the final celebration of the college year. It really taught me a lot about how lonely a place it can be to be in that kind of leadership role. The challenges of worship leading have been something that has been on my mind a great deal over the past year as I have done more and more of this. I find it difficult to comprehend a time when I haven't played in worship, although really, before I arrived at Cliff College I hardly ever played in my home church as we have an extremely talented organist/pianist, and several others to boot who fill in when he's not around!

As a musician, I'm sure that others of you will agree that there is such an element of professionalism, ruled by perfectionism, that this often becomes a barrier to worship. I have felt this greatly this year and have taken time out in order to concentrate on what my worship is about. I struggle greatly with listening to poor quality bands and worship leading, but have had to come to terms with the fact that worship is less about whether the notes are right, and all about whether our hearts are right. For me, I find that no matter how much I try, I find I am always distracted somehow when playing. Sometimes that is simply by the most beautiful sight in the world...people praising God! However, I believe that God will work in and through me, despite what I say, play, sing or do. In my preparation, I put everything into God's hands, even if it doesn't feel like that when i'm onstage!

This evening has left me very physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. Other circumstances have of course aided this, not least that I had been on the go since 7am, and my organising brain has not stopped all day, and unfortunately, unless I expressely have someone who is capable of calming me down, then I usually get myself into a terrible fluster to the point of wanting to sit down and just cry! But, yet again, I received lovely compliments on the manner in which I led the worship. Again, something with which I struggle...I'd hate it if noone ever told me, but I struggle to receive praise, especially when I can see that things weren't by any means perfect and could have been much better tonight!

The loneliness of the worship leader is trying for someone, for whom company and support is vital. But we play for an audience of one, and I too often forget His pleasure in me using the gifts He so generously chose for me at the conception of time. This sort of leads me on to many other thoughts about music and God. I still can't get to grips with why God invented music, and why it has been such a key feature in Jewish and subsequently Christian worship? Is it for His pleasure or ours, or both? For if it is solely for His pleasure and purposes, does he delight as much in the music performed so beautifully by an atheist virtuoso as much as He delights in the worship song badly picked out on by the piano by the Christian, desperate to be able to play music to honour and worship God.

Some more thoughts...maybe the Holy Spirit is allowed more freedom to move in a tired brain!!

blessings to all, always,

Ruth x

So, back from mission in Dagenham. I've met some wonderful people and seen that there are still struggling churches that haven't given up yet, and are still willing to make a change despite their average age being well in a pensionable bracket!

So some more thoughts on God and music. Something that has intrigued me... when Bach and some other contemporaries wrote their music, the headed each piece 'AMDG' - Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam...'to the greater glory of God'. What impact does that now have on the contemporary performer and audience? If such a devoted spirituality can write such beautiful music, is there an element of the spiritual in the response of those performing and listening, even in the most secular of settings?

This also raises the question of an audiences' response to what they hear. Is it all to easy to confuse a spiritual repsonse with an emotional one, or to what extent is there a crossover?

I'll let you ponder!

Welcome to my blog...this is merely the beginning, so please excuse the lack of anything much interesting to read, but please return in a couple of weeks to see what I've been up to and maybe had a few musings on my research area for next year's MPhil!


Am off now to Dagenham on mission with Cliff College (where I currently study and will be continuing with an MPhil course in September!)

Please feel free to leave any initial thoughts on the subject of music, theology and evangelism. I'm musing on the nature of music at the moment, what did God create it for...and how does God see music? We treat it as a great gift from our Father so how can we utilise it (in most if not all genres) to speak to others about the nature of Him.

God bless you in your thinking and experiences x