I've launched a new website at craigmitchell.com.au
While this site will stay active, new posts will be on the new site, and I'll also be migrating some material to the new one. Please come and visit!
Music videos for most of the songs in my book Deeper Water are available here.
Here's a recording of the song I co-wrote with David MacGregor, "How Shall We Sing?" in 2018 after the Songwrite event in Brisbane. It was prompted by Dr Tanya Riches' input about writing songs with a local flavour. The song is a suggested resource for a Day of Mourning in Uniting Church congregations on the Sunday prior to Australia Day. We finally got around to making something that would help people to learn the song. It was written as a lament. As it happens the chorus is kind of anthemic, so I decided to start it quieter and let it build up. The wonderful Steve Bevis provided the vocal. David's piano playing is in there, and I'm to blame for the rest of it. I learn by trial and error so this is me learning a bit more about recording.
I'd appreciate hearing your feedback.
The score is in my book "Deeper Water" (see link below).
How Shall We Sing?
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in this strange land?
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in this strange land?
This endless desert
These golden sands
This blue horizon
These green islands
How can we sing the song?
How can we sing the song?
How shall we hear God’s story
of this strange land?
How shall we hear God’s story
of this strange land?
This timeless dreaming
These rocks and bones
This wisdom people
Their ancient home
How can we sing the song?
How can we sing the song?
Come hear a new song
Come hear a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong
How shall we cry God’s weeping
for this strange land?
How shall we cry God’s weeping
for this strange land?
This broken homeland
These stolen years
Their hidden history
This trail of tears
How can we cry the song?
How can we cry the song?
How shall we live God’s story
in this strange land?
How shall we live God’s story
in this strange land?
With eyes wide open
and gaping hearts
With truthful longing
and stumbling start
How can we live the song?
How can we live the song?
Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong
How can we bring the Lord’s peace
in this strange land?
How can we bring the Lord’s peace
in this strange land?
With justice raining
When poor are blessed
With love outpouring
From east to west
How can we bring the song?
How can we bring the song?
Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong
Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong
lyrics: Craig Mitchell © 2018
music: David MacGregor © 2018
From "Deeper Water" published by Mediacom Education 2021.
On the weekend I made a simple computer recording of "There is a Thin Place" - a song I wrote with David MacGregor last year. It is meant to be in the style of Taize, a simple melody with the option to add vocal harmonies and instrumental parts as the song evolves. The wonderful Amelia Koh-Butler provided the vocal. Please have a listen. The song is in my book "Deeper Water", including the vocal and instrumental arrangements. Right-click or Control-click to download the mp3 file. Two lyric videos.
There is a thin place
where heaven touches earth
and promises find birth
Be this our place today
There is a thin place
where all Creation sings
and hearts with longing ring
Be this our place today
There is a thin place
where someone lost is found
and futures are unbound
Be this our place today
There is a thin place
where grieving is released
and sorrowers find peace
Be this our place today
There is a thin place
where we are touched by fire
revived by God’s desire
Be this our place today
There is a thin place
where people gather round
we stand on holy ground
Be this our place today
Words by Craig Mitchell. Music by David MacGregor. Copyright 2020. CCLI 7163875
From "Deeper Water" published by Mediacom Education 2021.
This is super-cool and interesting. A mapping of how people respond to works of art. A project of Google Arts & Culture and the University of California, Berkeley.
Click here for the introduction and to access the interactive map of artworks and emotions.
Today I led worship for our presbytery eLM ministers network (equipping leadership for mission). It was Ascension Day, and one of our colleagues is about to finish her role. So it was a time of thinking about leaving, and change. I used the text that follows in Acts 1, about the apostles choosing the successor to Judas.
The theme was "Falling Up". I had a pile of autumn leaves in the centre of the circle. I played a video loop of leaves falling from Pexels and two instrumental pieces - "Falling Asleep" by Tindersticks (from the Claire Denis original motion picture L'Intrus / Vendredi Soir) and "Falling" by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis from the soundtrack to The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
The call to worship was a piece from my book Deeper Water - "We bring who we truly are".
Acts 1 - Jesus ascends and the disciples wonder what to do next. There's a Jesus-shaped gap to fill. There's also a gap left by Judas in their company.
So we reflected on leaving places of ministry, or significant ministry tasks, and how we would love it to be as if Jesus has left the building but it's also as if Judas has left - the good and not-so-good of ministry left behind us. What feelings do we have about leaving, and who and what are left behind?
I'm delighted to announce the publication of my book of creative worship resources, Deeper Water, published through Mediacom Education - available here. (You can download the Contents page and Introduction.) The 180 page book contains gathering words, seasonal prayers and liturgies, creative prayer stations, guided meditations, drama scripts, all-age blessings, and 11 original songs, most co-authored with Tim Beale, David MacGregor, Allan Hoare and Leigh Newton.
The wonderful cover illustration was made by our daughter Grace Mitchell.
While much of the material could be used or adapted for Sunday morning worship, it also lends itself to more varied settings - worship in the round, retreats, camps/conferences, 'alternative' settings.
Several years ago I started putting worship words of mine into a folder with the idea of possible publication. These go back to North Ringwoon UC where I started a drama group in the 1990s. While at The Joint Board of Christian Education and Uniting Education I edited a book of guided meditations and started writing prayer resources for The Upper Room's Devo'Zine. Later when we moved to Adelaide from Horsham, I had the opportunity to lead worship at Rosefield UC, and at the College Chapel services for Parkin-Wesley and later Uniting College. At rosefield we started Alive@5, a monthly all age worship and learning time, and Interactive Christmas and Easter events. Material from those programs is also included here. During this time I started attending the Uniting Church's national Songwrite event and was encouraged to work on some songs. A year of supply ministry at Blackwood Uniting Church gave me the opportunity to write regularly for worship and to curate some epic worship services.
Finally, during the challenges of 2020 I found myself with the time and need to reflect and write. Three new songs were completed.
So the collection is something of a journey and hence an eclectic collection. I'm grateful for the individuals and communities who have been part of that journey.
Next week we're doing an online launch with the help of a bunch of friends. Come join us on my Facebook page. It's a public event so you don't need to be a Facebook member.
And thanks to Mediacom for being part of this!
