The Genesis Project

by Christyn Perkons

Imagine your congregation singing contemporary songs written by Anglicans … perhaps written by someone from your congregation!

Do you want to introduce contemporary songs into your Sunday worship, but struggle to find songs that capture the Anglican ethos? Are there choir members, musicians and poets in your congregation who might be excited by the opportunity to learn how to write contemporary faith songs?

The Diocese of Niagara, in conjunction with Infinitely More (Allison Lynn and Gerald Flemming), is offering an opportunity to be part of a community of worship songwriters. Through supportive hands-on work, workshops and personal online mentoring, the Genesis Project aspires to nurture songwriters who will compose and introduce exciting new worship music into the churches of our diocese. This experience is open to musicians, songwriters, singers, poets, writers and anyone with a passion to create music for worship.

“The Genesis Project seeks to model itself after great Christian musical collectives such as Bethel, Hillsong and Holy Trinity Brompton. We want to join with all levels of writers who are passionate about creating music for worship. This is also a unique opportunity to be mentored by experienced professionals, over a period of time, while you imagine, fashion and ultimately finish your new creation,” explains Gerald.

Here’s what is on offer: a day-long songwriting workshop on September 23 that will use workshops to root participants in the basics of songwriting, coupled with lots of writing and co-writing experiences over the course of the day. The registration fee includes online mentoring by Allison and Gerald from September to January, as participants continue to develop their songs.

The experience continues with a second workshop on November 25. At that time, songwriters will get feedback, work on further refinements with a guest clinician and get tips for bringing the songs to completion.

Finally, the whole experience concludes with a concert on January 27, at which the participant’s songs are featured.

Allison shares, “We’re excited to bring together songwriters from all genres of worship songwriting. Our desire is to draw people into the heart of worship, whether it’s with new hymns, contemporary worship songs or singing words from Scripture.

We also hope to create music that will embody the unique character of the Anglican Church—songs that are liturgical, sacramental and reflective of the church seasons.”

Bring your passion, your interest, your curiousity and your sense of playfulness and let’s create songs together!

Check out the diocesan website for more information or to register.

Canon Christyn Perkons is Director of Congregational Support and Development for Niagara Diocese.