Behind every creative project is some kind of story. That story will certainly almost always include the desire that what is created is deemed valuable and beautiful to culture. With the coming of the new Hills Beyond album it would be natural to assume that this is something that our talented rock stars are hoping will get some notice and perhaps a few sales. Who wouldn’t want that?

That’s not what this story is really about though – at least as I’ve been able to be a small part of it.

Convergence Zones. The name for our young adult ministry was inspired in part by the convergence zone just north of the county line here in Seattle. I’m no weather expert but the gist is that it’s a unique place where weather systems slam into each other in such a way that you can get snow and sunshine just miles apart from each other. You can also speak of a convergence of great minds such as Lewis and Tolkien coming together to dynamic and creative effect. Where there is a convergence, what you’ll often find is something that dynamic, creative, unique, unpredictable and perhaps even a little chaotic. What I love more than these songs is the process of convergence that brought them about and how it might point us forward.

Zone 1. There’s often lots of discussion around trying to figure out what’s relevant, edgy, cool and will connect with emerging culture. The assumptions are often that we need to create something with a bit more rock because that’s what the kids like. The second question then often is, “what’s the popular package and songs to acquire?” What if instead of trying to figure out what’s relevant, we simply create space for talented men and women to create, lead and wrestle with age old questions of faith? What if there’s a place for these artists to interact with a community wrestling with how to articulate and live scriptural truths? What if we invest leadership time and resources in them instead of just for them? What if we could give space for the results to be more than predictable?

My delight around this album comes from the fact that it’s a tangible example of the new and creative life that can arise as we invest in young thoughtful and talented leaders – even in a multigenerational mainline church that still loves it’s robes, hymns and organ. We don’t have to look for the future in the latest trends or hottest churches – he and she are sitting in the pew next to us looking for ways to meaningfully and creatively contribute.

Zone 2. Conversations around worship are often heated, full of passion and from my perspective often boring. They tend fall into familiar lines of argument that never intersect and often lead to less that fruitful outcomes while missing the main thing entirely. Some of this has to do with categories that have become almost meaningless, chief among them: traditional and contemporary. At their face I couldn’t tell you which one I’d like, which one would put me to sleep or which one would make me want to gag. What I do know is that old people are supposed to like traditional and young people are supposed to like contemporary, neither of which I’ve learned is very true beyond the stereotype.

That’s why I love that Kyle suggested the new terms of iconic and artistic in the midst of this process. There are time when the musicians should intentionally hold back their artistic zeal so that a congregation might be able to better see through the song to what God has to say – iconic. There are also times to pull out the stops and let the pure artistic brilliance draw us to the beauty, power, creativity and majesty of our truly awesome God – artistic. Both have their place and both must be used thoughtfully and well. No matter what our musical preference, we love both – stick around for an organ postlude any Sunday morning if you’re not sure what I’m talking about, and bring ear plugs.

If songs from the Hills Beyond strike you as odd at first – welcome to the club. There are songs that take a more iconic stance such as Have Mercy and Arrest Me and then there are songs such as Empire that tend toward the artistic. Beatitudes, written as part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount made by head spin. I don’t think I ever expected a song inspired by words such as blessed are the meek to come out of the gates swinging and get in your face. That being said, it’s become one of my favorites and one that I find myself singing and praying even in my car as ask God to -give us your heart, send us your Kingdom so we can live like you!

Indie rock or worship? I don’t know, but hopefully something that pushes the translation of the Gospel into new articulations that can engage our hearts in meaningful and formative ways for the challenges that we face today.

Zone 3. I’ve heard about rumors of distant wars fought over style, taste and what music is actually real worship. Categories of people, skills and talents often seem to become simplistic caricatures. Easy dualities smash together in the amazing men and women that I’ve been able to interact with both in this album and throughout my time at UPC. The same musicians that can “rock out” on Empire or Doxology are the same classically trained men and women who love sacred music and traditional liturgies. These are men and women who carry no animosity for “traditional” worship because sing in the choir with their mentors and friends. The old boring lines of worship wars are breaking down within individuals and the relationships they cherish. The question that drives the Hills Beyond is not, “what will make us rock stars?” but, “how can we serve the community?” If that means rearranging the music for a traditional service , great!

There’s a larger conversation that I hope The Hills Beyond can help contribute to. A conversation around integrity in worship, empowerment of emerging leaders, formation and equipping of God’s people, translation of the Gospel and the new work of the Church that stands not in opposition to the past but gratefully on the shoulders of the faithful.

May God Have Mercy on us as we seek to give fresh articulation to what God’s people have been proclaiming for thousands of years.

Peace :: Jon