Monument To Mercy - Live

I've just got in from the Stuart Townend "Monument To Mercy - Live" concert at CCK. It was well worth the seven hour trip from North Wales to Brighton!

The quality of the music was amazing. Dave Fellingham's choir, strings and brass sections made it a particularly memorable evening, and there was the usual high quality service from Lou Fellingham and the Phatfish gang, while Mark Edwards did a great job at the piano. Perhaps we should try something similar at the William Aston Hall, NEWI sometime?

It was good to be there too to hear Lou's selection from her "Treasure" album before Stuart and the hoards appeared on stage. We were then treated to a very close rendition of Stuart's album "Monument to Mercy", with additional bonus songs "O Church Arise" and "In Christ Alone" to close.

It was a really fun evening, but the real thrill was the focus on the God we adore: the Father whose grace has made us children of a King, the Son who has made this possible by dying in our place, dealing with the wrath that is justly due to us, and the Spirit who helps and strenghthens us each day and assures us of our eternal place in God's kingdom.

We should be so thankful to God for giving such gifted people to his church, who encourage and teach us so clearly from the Bible, and who help us with words to express our love and gratitude to him.

Songsmith - Stuart Townend Interview

[An extract from Tom King's interview in the October 2006 edition EN. Read the entire interview online here.]

Stuart Townend’s songs have captured the hearts of Christian people across the whole church spectrum. As he embarked on a new tour, he talked to EN.

EN: What, or whom, are your primary musical influences?

ST: I suppose my musical influences are quite varied. My church upbringing acquainted me with hymns, but I particularly loved the gospel sound of Andrae Crouch. Then there were secular music influences, which included David Bowie, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Irish folk, and Stevie Wonder, plus some classical music from my piano lessons. This helped me keep a foot in both the classical and pop genres.

EN: Tell us a little about how you write your songs.

ST: It can be very varied. Sometimes you just get a line of a melody, and that sets you on a path of adding to it, and thinking through the content. Some-times, particularly when I’m working with Keith Getty, we work through some of his musical ideas, and then decide a particular theme, based on what songs we think might be lacking in the church repertoire.

EN: Hymns seem to be very important to you. Why is that?

ST: There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, I love writing in the more concise, formal lyrical style that hymns require. I’ve always been interested in words and poetic form, so I like the challenge of a set meter and rhyming pattern. But I also like hymns because they’re so accessible to a range of churches and worship styles, from organs to bands. I love the idea that something like ‘In Christ Alone’ can work in a cathedral as well as a contemporary worship setting.

EN: What do you think makes a good hymn?

ST: That’s a whole subject in itself! I think the best hymns express the truth of the gospel in fresh, poetic, but passionate ways. Instead of using clichés, the best hymns bring revelation and illumination to familiar truths.

...

A Stu+Lou Wrexham Report

The William Aston Hall of NEWI, Wrexham, was packed to bursting as Stuart Townend and Lou Fellingham, “Stu and Lou”, came to town. In a hopefully first-of-many event put on by ColossiansThreeSixteen, the 900 who managed to get tickets were treated to songs from Stuart’s recently released “Monument to Mercy” album and Lou’s first solo project “Treasure”.

The night was a definite success! The first half of the evening was a time to sit back and enjoy being sung to. Starting off with Stuart’s “In every day that dawns”, with the fresh and dynamic arrangements that characterise his album, then moving on to the excellent and encouraging “Hard pressed” from Lou. A great start!

The second half of the night had us up on our feet and singing together, the song “O God of love” drawing everyone back to their seats. Stuart then led us in a few reflective songs, before we declared the victory of the resurrection in the powerful “See what a morning”.

Amongst the evening’s big encouragements were the scriptures and stories behind the songs. We heard the inspiration behind “Puritan prayer”, a song asking God to work in us through every trial and hardship, to be for further generations a signpost to God’s grace and a monument to mercy. We prayed that prayer together as we sang. Lou also spoke with a down-to-earth honesty about the reality of difficulties in the Christian life, and of the reality of our God who is to us a refuge and our strength.

At the heart of this second half, and the whole night, was the cross of Jesus. “Oh to see the dawn” reminded us with great impact of the mighty work done for us on the cross. Finally, to round off the evening, we joined in singing “In Christ alone”. It was sung like a creed, with the varying denominations proclaiming together all that we believe; the weighty truths of the incarnation, substitutionary death and resurrection life of Christ. You couldn’t help but be firmly encouraged. As Stuart closed in prayer it was clear to all that the focus of the night was God’s glory and gratitude to him for all he has done and continues to do.

Although free earplugs were available the sound was at a good level for almost everyone, and the excellent music and atmosphere of the evening was aided well by sensitive lighting. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. And the purpose of the organising team for the night was “to promote music which builds up the church to the glory of God”. I’m glad to say it did exactly that.

SJFS

[The above report appears in the December 2006 edition of Evangelicals Now, and is reporduced here by permission]

Was it really just two weeks ago?

Ready to go?


Lights, crowd, action!


(North East Wales Institute)


But, over so soon!