The Spirituality of Popular Music: Raising Funds, Lifting Spirits & Attracting Newcomers

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 4:50 pm by Dwight Lee Wolter

The Spirituality of Popular Music: Raising Funds, Lifting Spirits & Attracting Newcomers 2017-01-18T16:50:35+00:00 Dwight Lee Wolter

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In an era when fewer and fewer people go to church, it is often the song, not the sermon, speech or blog that touches people’s lives in a deep and meaningful way. Houses of faith may embody ethics, morality and good deeds; but the church can learn more of these same things from the street, perhaps as much as the street can learn from the church.

The Beatles, for example, are proof that spirituality flows both ways. As a child being raised in a troubled home; religion and spirituality were discussed about as often as we discussed opera, which was never. Music and, to a lesser degree, nature were my sole soulful companions. One day, I turned on the radio and heard a hit song that began, “Help! I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! You know I need someone! Help!”

I was a twelve year old boy and, like John Lennon, I also needed help, but I didn’t know where to turn. I did not have a girlfriend, therapist, church or relationship with this “concept” called God to turn to. So I turned to the Beatles, none of whom professed or practiced Christianity and yet they wrote and recorded song after song that came from a place of deep spirituality. And so it was not Jesus, Yahweh, Allah, L. Ron Hubbard, Sigmund Freud, Higher Power, Jehovah or G.O.D. (Good Orderly Direction) that led me to hope for some “Help!” It was the Beatles. George Harrison was a Hare Krishna who wrote “My Sweet Lord” and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”; John Lennon wrote “Eleanor Rigby”; “Imagine” & “Give Peace a Chance.” Paul McCartney wrote “Lady Madonna”; “Black Bird”; “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude.”

I didn’t have a church but thank God I had a radio and a record player. It was popular music that impressed, inspired, inoculated and inundated by soul until, by the grace of God, I was led to a church for the first time in my life at age 34 ~ and church became my spiritual home. Nine years later I was baptized and four years after that I was ordained by the United Church of Christ. And then one day ~ over 15 years after becoming a pastor ~ I was late in picking up my son from school because I was stuck in rush hour traffic. I was not ~ to put it mildly ~ using this plight as an opportunity to practice prayer and serenity. I was angry, resentful, impatient and going nowhere. My son would be worried; dinner would be late; and I would be rushed to make it to a church meeting I was leading and for which I was under-prepared. Flying down the highway at three miles per hour; I slammed my hand against the dashboard and turned on the radio.

And then it happened. I heard the first few measures of a favorite song from my youth. Suddenly a single tear meandered its way down my cheek. Feelings of love, sweet longing and wholeness encompassed me. What happened? Music happened!

That was when the genesis of a series of musical events came to me. The series is now in its fifth year. We use the Spirituality of Popular Music as a key to unlock the door that often separates people who go to church from those who don’t by allowing music ~ not doctrine, creed or dogma ~ to begin an exploration of the relationship between music, musicians and spirituality. The series is also an invitation for people to consider, perhaps for the first time in a long time, what in their spirit was awakened by a particular song and why. It is held in the church; but is not for a specifically Christian “audience” ~ just as music need not be in order to reach people’s spirit. It is (but need not necessarily be) based on live performances. And it is most certainly not preachy, expensive, or an attempt to plant and harvest new members.

Rather, The Spirituality of Popular Music is a very rewarding and enjoyable way to fund the feedings programs of the church (we have not had to ask church members or the government for any funds to assist the operations of our soup kitchen and food pantry in the five years since the series began). I write the “libretto” (script) that introduces and places the songs like beads on a necklace. I choose the songs and the order in which they are played and make it available, for a nominal fee, to churches that would like a replicate or adapt the series to fit their own circumstances. The suggested admission fee is reasonable and, ultimately, optional; in that we clearly announce in advance advertising as well as at the door that “no one will ever be turned-away for lack of money.” A few pay less than the suggested fee, and many pay more. All guests are welcomed and acknowledged equally, graciously, and hospitably.

We have raised tens of thousands of dollars and the events have drawn thousands of guests and over 100 musicians who petition to be part of the next event. They perform for free, although some are broke and we always discretely offer honorariums for them to accept or reject. Some of the attendees have joined the church, most have not. Nonetheless, they form a “congregation” of the spirit that can be counted on to assist the church virtually whenever we ask and they are available. People who attend are roughly 50% returnees and 50% first-timers, meaning that we are constantly refreshing and renewing our audiences. About three-quarters of the people who attend this spirituality series do not regularly attend church, synagogue or fellowship. Many have not attended a church service for ten, twenty, or thirty years. And yet they come. They know it is not a concert (after all, the title begins, “The Spirituality of…”). They are clearly seeking a spiritual connection to… something. We meet them wherever they are on their spiritual journey and consider it a good beginning that they may or may not choose to pursue further.

I often wonder if they are seeking a spiritual connection with the music itself? Are they seeking a spiritual connection to a person or event in their earlier life that was triggered by the music? Are they somehow, in some way, consciously or not ~ seeking connection with God? I don’t know. I don’t know if they knew either. I don’t know if it matters. But I do know it is working.

I am deeply grateful that the church I serve is willing to be physically and spiritually open to the community by sponsoring events in the church whose primary purpose is to assist people in connecting with the God of their understanding; whether that God be called Jesus, Yahweh, Higher Power, Big Bang, To Whom It May Concern, or some other name for the awe and mystery at the center of creation and creativity. It is a great thing that the musicians and “congregation” that exists primarily outside of the church are willing to share their spirituality with us ~ so that we as a church may remain flexible and teachable and may continue our own growth along spiritual lines. We all have much to learn.

Churches, music directors, choirs, deacons, educators, mission and ministry teams involved in social outreach and social justice, and many others may be inspired by the financial, spiritual, joyful and ecumenical success of this ongoing series.

If you are interested in learning more or possibly adapting this series (or solo event) for your church; I will be leading a webinar on “The Spirituality of Popular Music” under the auspices of the Practical Resources for Churches (PRC) on Tuesday, January 24th at 7:00 in the evening (Eastern Standard Time). For information, contact: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3098104187832652036

Dwight Lee Wolter is pastor of the Congregational Church of Patchogue on Long Island, New York. He is the author of several books. He blogs at dwightleewolter.com and tweets @dwightleewolter

christianity

Church

Previous Post

January 6, 2017

Standing Rock: Building Deeper Alliances with the Land and our Neighbors

Next Post

January 23, 2017 Leading Differently: Disruptors Needed

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was Paul's original name?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthias Levi Simon Saul