A NIGHT OF CONFESSIONS
Collaborative Ash Wednesday Service
I just returned from a very unique Ash Wednesday service and wanted to reflect immediately. This collaborative night of worship featured music by the immensely talented Haley Montgomery (Dall), one of the preeminent musical artists/creatives in San Diego and beyond!
As I entered the historic First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, which has been around since 1869, I was glad to see so many familiar faces from the vast tapestry of the Christian community that I was so intricately interwoven into for nearly a decade and a half before taking up the Lord’s calling abroad. From friends and ministry leaders who have gone on to plant new churches or start new businesses—to musicians and worship artists with whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and collaborating.
On the way in, I was handed a pamphlet that outlined the program for the evening, and I was astonished to see how many partners/collaborators were involved:
Churches
Communion San Diego
First Presbyterian Church of San Diego
Garden City
Harbor City Church
Makers Church
Neighbors Church
New City Church
Parish Collective
Rancho Vista Church
Regeneration Church OB
Resurrection Presbyterian Church
Risen San Diego
San Diego Christian Fellowship
Sanctuary
Set Free San Diego
Nonprofits
Flourish San Diego
Hope for San Diego
The Table Art Society
Shema Center for Christian Formation
What an ecumenical assortment of churches and nonprofits who, as one minister rightly put it, take Jesus’ words seriously when He said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I know for sure that all of the partners listed above do not agree about all things concerning theological frameworks and certain particulars that are all too often cause for disagreement and, at times, division. Yet in this space and for this purpose, they all were unified both in the essentials of the faith and their collective desire to worship the Lord.
MUSIC
The program laid out six different movements led by creatively and meticulously crafted rearrangements of songs from Haley Montgomery’s album Confessions (below), which ordered each segment:
Corporate prayer
Call and response
Question and assurance
Individual confession
Scriptural readings
Poetry or storytelling
Silence and reflection
Distribution of ashes
Haley faced slightly inward toward an accompanying blend of duet singers who each met her at centerstage to form a symmetry, as three harmonizing background vocalists stood on the far right for each song. The remaining space was neatly adorned with a string section, piano, bass, lead guitar, and, as always, her husband, Brian, on drums. There were jazzy syncopated rhythms, layered riffs, sudden breaks, and in-the-pocket tempos that I couldn’t help but groove along to as I sat or stood worshiping the Lord.
For those who love intentional Holy Spirit-led liturgy—you’d be right at home. I was drawn into each seamless movement of the service led by ministers from each church and wowed by the sheer register and range of Haley’s passionate yet pinpoint vocals during each song. She was melodious and sharp as ever, with no note out of place—a tried and true instrument of God leading us all in song.
During and after the service, I was left with one aching question…
Would something like this work in the United Kingdom?