Rev. Ron VanderGriend, an associate pastor of our church who works with missionaries in India, has offered to lead a group from a church along the Exodus route. The dates have yet to be determined but there is a flier at church containing what will likely be the itinerary of the nine day trip. One stop on the trip will be the pyramid at Saqqara, which some argue was the site of the grain storage built by Joseph. Ron recommended checking out the video and Wikipedia entries below for more information about the site.
Here is the part of the Wikipedia entry on “Imhotep,” whom scholars believe is buried there.
Imhotep (sometimes spelled Immutef, Im-hotep, or Ii-em-Hotep; called Imuthes (Ιμυθες) by the Greeks), fl. 27th century BC (2655-2600 BC) (Egyptian ii-m-ḥtp*jā-im-ḥatāp meaning “the one who comes in peace”) was an Egyptianpolymath,[1] who served under the Third Dynasty king, Djoser, as chancellor to the pharaoh and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. He is considered to be the first architect engineer[2] and physician in early history.[3] though two other physicians, Hesy-Ra and Merit-Ptah lived around the same time. The full list of his titles is:
Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Maker of Vases in Chief.
Imhotep was one of very few mortals to be depicted as part of a pharaoh’s statue. He was one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death. The center of his cult was Memphis. From the First Intermediate Period onward Imhotep was also revered as a poet and philosopher. His sayings were famously referred to in poems: I have heard the words of Imhotep and Hordedef with whose discourses men speak so much.[4]
The location of Imhotep’s self constructed tomb was well hidden from the beginning and it remains unknown, despite efforts to find it.[5] The general consensus is that it is well hidden at Saqqara. Imhotep’s historicity is confirmed by two contemporary inscriptions made during his lifetime on the base or pedestal of one of Djoser’s statues (Cairo JE 49889) and also by a graffito on the enclosure wall surrounding Sekhemkhet’s unfinished step-pyramid.[6][7] The latter inscription suggests that Imhotep outlived Djoser by a few years and went on to serve in the construction of king Sekhemkhet’s pyramid which was abandoned due to this ruler’s brief reign.[8]
Dear friends:
Greetings from Honduras! I had begun writing a newsletter with a story and pictures about one of our partners in Guatemala. But that is on a back burner now with some events in the last week, for which I request special prayers:
1) Tropical storm Agatha: Last Sunday in Honduras, rivers were cresting and several areas were flooded, as this storm continued to dump rain over Central America. There were already almost 100 deaths in the region, most in Guatemala. The weather forecast was for 48 hours of more rain, so people feared devastation equal to that of Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Praise the Lord with us that around 7pm, the rain stopped for more than 24 hours and a greater crisis was diverted.
Pray for God’s comfort for those who lost family members in tragic ways from the mudslides and floods. Also pray for the hundreds who have lost their homes and the thousands who have lost property and are cleaning out mud and sewage from their homes.
In Guatemala, CRWRC is already responding with food and supplies for the poorest families with damage in the area of Quetzaltenango. The Guatemala team is also studying whether a longer-term response is needed.
2) Surgery for Caspar: More than four weeks ago, Caspar’s back began to bother him and the pain progressively grew worse to the point that he can not sit (or drive) and spends most of his time on his back. Tests revealed he has two herniated discs, complicated by pre-existing scoliosis. He is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday to remove the discs and fuse several vertebra with titanium rods, to gain more stability in the spinal column. It will be a delicate surgery and require four weeks of recovery on his back so the vertebra and screws form a tight bond. We’ve opted to do this in Honduras because Caspar can’t imagine the pain of traveling, the four weeks of recovery will be more comfortable at home, and we feel the surgeons and medical facilities are adequate. Please pray for God’s guidance of the surgical team and for Caspar’s smooth recovery.
Thank you for your support and prayers!
Leanne and Caspar Geisterfer
Greetings from Yaounde. I, Ann, am back in Yaounde after a wonderful two weeks in the States. I went to Indiana to participate in the festivities surrounding my father’s retirement. He’s been a professor of Christian philosophy for over 50 years. I’m very proud of both of my parents and am so happy I could go home for all the celebrations.
While I was gone, Ray spent more time at home than usual so he could take care of the kids. Apparently, he didn’t have an idle moment while he was home, because when I got home I discovered that he had fixed about 25 things in the house. He patched screens, fixed toilet seats, put up closet doors, planted flowers, built a table, and the list goes on. What a nice surprise for my homecoming!
As we anticipate the second half of 2010, we are looking forward to some changes — as usual. Ray is especially looking forward to the return of pilot Daryl Young, so the Yaounde flight program will have four missionary staff members instead of three. More changes are in store for the aviation program, since about five new pilot/ mechanics are on their way here. Some are coming for just a year or two, and some young pilots are coming long term. Many of them won’t arrive for a couple years, because they have to finish their training, raise financial support, and learn French first. But we are so thankful for all the new people in the pipeline!
I am anticipating lots of change too, since I have been asked to work as the Personnel Director for the next year. The person who currently fills this role is going on furlough for one year, so I will fill in for him. I am actually looking forward to this year, because I have lots of ideas about how to help our colleagues in various ways. I’ll still be going to the village for exegetical sessions once a month through December so our group can finish the book of Revelation together.
The kids are all doing well and are finishing their school year in the next week or so. Anneke will be leaving in two weeks for a mission trip to the Northwest of Cameroon. In addition to doing physical labor, her group will also be leading a Holiday Bible Club in three different places. One of these villages is in an area where there are no Christian churches. While they are in that area, Anneke and her friends will live with the villagers and participate in their day to day activities. It sounds like a wonderful trip, and we hope the kids will learn a lot and be a blessing to others.
We thank God for you and your partnership in the work of Bible translation in Cameroon.
In Christ,
Ray and Ann Kapteyn
Anneke, Peter, and Andre
Prayer Requests:
1. That Ann can be a blessing to the other missionaries in her role as Personnel Director.
2. For the high school students on their mission trip – that God will keep them safe and healthy, teach them, and let them be a blessing to others
3. For the new pilots and mechanics – that God will provide everything they need and speed their coming to Cameroon.
Leanne and Casper Geisterfer are a pair of missionaries we at SBCRC support. Here is an email that we recently received from Leanne.
Caspar finished teaching a course on “Preaching” at the Honduran Theological Community (CTH) Seminary to a class of 8 students. After some introductory sessions about process, they were required to preach three sermons each to the rest of the class, being evaluated by their peers. The students come from a variety of churches and although none of them are currently pastors, they are active in different ministries. They’re studying theology at the seminary because of a desire to deepen their knowledge of scripture and be able to serve their churches more effectively. Next quarter, Caspar will be teaching a course on Basic Biblical Knowledge.
I returned to the Caribbean. First, I was part of a strategy session in the Dominican Republic, where the combined ministry team (both CRWRC and World Missions) considered how to focus on church health and community transformation. The Christian Reformed Church of the Dominican Republic, with over 100 congregations, will continue as a partner. But strategies for “healthy churches” will include others that genuinely seek to be vibrant witnesses in transforming communities. Some exciting results may be anticipated from these changes.
Next, I was in Haiti, where the devastation is still overwhelming, among signs of change. Thanks to the generous contributions of so many, the CRCNA’s disaster response efforts are underway in two streams. The Disaster Response team of CRWRC is undertaking a major response in four communities near the city of Leogane, close to the epicenter of the quake. Transitional housing is under construction as plans are made for longer-term reconstruction. At the same time, the existing CRCNA joint ministry team (called Sous Espwa) is working with partner organizations to respond to needs in the areas where their programs were carried out.
As part of an evaluation in Haiti, I worshipped at a small rural CRC in the south. The front wall of the church had fallen so one could observe nature behind the pulpit. The remaining walls were a little off kilter, but still holding up a tin roof. Within that setting, it was a blessing to hear the congregation continue to praise God because only three members of the entire denomination (of 23 churches) died during the quake. They have a vibrant testimony.
In terms of family news, we were thrilled that our son Reuben was able to visit us in Honduras in late April. He was about to move to Edmonton for summer work at a tree nursery-farm where he had worked two years ago.
Unfortunately, Caspar’s travels around Honduras on roads of questionable condition have taken their toll. He has had severe back pain and x-rays recently showed a compressed disc. He is now committed to five days of rest with medication to make the swelling subside and get pressure off the nerves. At that time the doctor will determine how to proceed.
Praise God with us for:
▪ The dedicated students at the CTH seminary!
▪ The new ministry strategy in the Dominican Republic.
▪ Construction of transitional shelters in Haiti!
▪ The time we enjoyed with our son Reuben in April.
Please pray with us for:
▪ Complete healing of Caspar’s back, so he is able to function freely and without pain.
▪ The challenges facing the Honduran CRC in planning for the next program year. Caspar’s condition has made it difficult for him to accompany them in planning.
▪ Implementation of the “Youth Impact” program among the young adults of the Honduran CRC in either Olancho or the capital region.
▪ Positive results for sustainable agriculture programs that help farmers increase production in poor conditions.
I had intended to write a series of four posts related to pastoral care. I got two completed. However it became clear that what was needed was something more formal, something which had the insights and approval of council. There are two versions of “Pastoral Care at SBCRC,” a shorter and longer one. This is the shorter one. (Hard copies of it are at the information table in the atrium.) We will make the longer version available as well at some point.
With a document like this, it’s important to make sure we’re clear as to the meaning of terms. So, first, some definitions:
PASTORAL CARE: the corporate effort of the church to help one another grow in spiritual maturity.
PASTORAL OVERSIGHT: the task given to the council and pastoral staff of ensuring that pastoral care is a corporate effort.
PASTORAL COUNSELING: a specific form of pastoral care usually conducted with individual(s) and either the pastor or an elder(s) or both to address a range of spiritual concerns–whether theological, ethical, relational and/or psychological.
PASTORAL VISITS: an informal but spiritually substantive meeting between someone in the church community and a pastor and/or council member (also known as “going out for coffee,” “getting together,” etc.).
Here then is the rest of the document:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THE CHURCH?
The Belgic Confession offers three “signs” or “marks” of the true church.
preach the gospel
administer the sacraments
discipline the saints
Most of us have at least a general idea as to the meaning of the first two. It’s the third that catches us off guard a bit. Discipline is the process whereby one becomes a disciple. It’s how one learns to conform one’s life to the pattern of Christ. Rebuke may play a role in that, but so does encouragement, knowledge, affection, and many other things. From this perspective, fulfilling the call to “discipline the saints” should be behind all we do.
Pastoral care is a particular expression of this calling. It refers to the efforts whereby the church cares for those within its community in ways that sustain and advance individuals on their pilgrimage together. Pastoral care is expressed in a range of ways by a range of people– from sending a get-well card to praying for one another to providing spiritual counsel in times of crisis.
PASTORAL CARE AS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT
As a church, it is important that we, particularly the elders and pastoral staff, are willing and available to respond to crises. However, in our efforts as a church to carry out the task of pastoral care, probably the most important thing we can do is to develop a strategy that can effectively and efficiently integrate individuals and families into a web of meaningful, life-giving relationships. In such relationships they find the resources, not only to prevent the kinds of crises that arise from a life lived in isolation, but to experience the joys and challenges of being transformed into Christ’s image.
DEFINING PASTORAL OVERSIGHT
“Pastoral Oversight” refers to the task of the council and pastoral staff to remain alert to the needs of individuals and families and to attempt to address those needs. However, the responsibilities of “pastoral oversight” extend beyond this as well. Part of the work of pastoral oversight is to ensure that the way we function as a church enables individuals and families to participate in this corporate effort. Are our programs, positions, organizational structure, facilities, etc. conducive to enabling members of our community to receive and extend pastoral care?
PREVIOUS MODEL
In recent years, pastoral oversight had been accomplished by dividing the congregation by last name into Care Districts. An elder, a deacon, and a Companion in Christ (C.I.C.) were assigned to a district and met monthly before council meetings to discuss the needs of people in their districts and pray for them. During elder meetings, attendance reports were reviewed. Among other things, this was an opportunity to note names that changed their association from, say, “visitor” to “regular attendee.” These were divided up similarly to the rest of the congregation. Each elder was responsible for names in their portion of the alphabet.
CURRENT MODEL
In the fall of 2008, The Weather Report was presented to the congregation laying out various priorities for the next three to five years. Among them was a priority to develop and strengthen the role of small groups. Toward that end, we decided to make small groups rather than Care Districts the primary avenue through which to conduct pastoral care. In other words, rather than overseeing a Care District, elders join a small group. He or she then becomes the elder for the individuals of that group. The primary advantages of this change in model were (1) that it makes small groups more integral to the work of the church and (2) that it provides a more natural avenue for regular, meaningful contact with individuals within the congregation.
In an ideal world, every member of the congregation would be in a small group and the elders and pastors would be distributed evenly among them. While we are pleased with the level of involvement in small groups and hope that it continues to expand, this is not the ideal world. There are certain things that need to be fleshed out so that every member and regular attendee is assigned an elder.
PASTORAL OVERSIGHT FOR MEMBERS AND REGULAR ATTENDEES IN SMALL GROUPS WITHOUT AN ELDER1
An elder will be assigned to groups that lack one in their group to check in regularly with the facilitator to hear how the group is doing and to see whether there are any particular needs that need to be addressed or simply kept in prayer.
PASTORAL OVERSIGHT FOR MEMBERS AND REGULAR ATTENDEES NOT IN A SMALL GROUP
While some elders are assigned to provide oversight to small groups, others are assigned a portion of the individuals and families who are members or regular attendees but not involved in a small group. They then share the task of providing pastoral care to this group of people with the Pastoral Care Team. The Pastoral Care Team is composed of the Senior Pastor, the Pastor for Christian Formation, the assigned elders, and other interested members of the congregation. They commit to keeping in contact with those not in small groups and keeping abreast of needs they might have.
PASTORAL OVERSIGHT AND PASTORAL CARE FOR THOSE WHO CHANGE THEIR ASSOCIATION FROM VISITOR OR OCCASIONAL ATTENDER TO REGULAR ATTENDEE
Our congregation is blessed to have new faces join us in worship on a regular basis. The attendance registry records when someone has moved from merely checking us out to seeing us as their church. They no longer check the “visitor” box but have become a “regular attendee.” As a result of this change of association, they are assigned a mailbox and, unless they’re already in a small group, an elder. Either this elder, a member of the pastoral staff, or the pastoral team then contacts them. In addition to whatever else, this person expresses gratitude for their decision, lets them know who their elder is, and offers to address any questions they might have.
PASTORAL CARE AND THE PASTORAL STAFF
Three staff positions have direct pastoral care as a focus: the Senior Pastor, the Pastor for Christian Formation, and the Pastor to Youth. All three members perform pastoral visits and offer counsel. The Pastor to Youth focuses on working with middle and high school youth and their parents, while the Senior Pastor and Pastor for Christian Formation are involved with the congregation more broadly, including working with the council to carry out the task of pastoral oversight. It is their job to keep well informed of the needs of individuals as well as of broader, more systemic needs in the church.
Portland-based indie folk band Horse Feathers is one of those bands you really should know. They stopped in South Bend Friday to play a concert at Subkirke, the South Bend Christian Reformed Church’s concert venue, for a small but enthusiastic audience. They are currently on tour promoting their newest album, “Thistled Spring.”
Perhaps most comparable to a band like Iron & Wine, Horse Feathers specializes in that type of melodic indie rock that seems most appropriate for listening to in a serene meadow. They use guitars, pianos and drums just like everyone else, but also feature a cello, some violins, banjos and even a saw.
Subkirke is a small venue, located inside the church. The band played by the altar, but the sound quality was great and the setting was incredibly intimate. It was perfect for both Horse Feathers and their impressive opening act Caroline Smith and The Good Night Sleeps.
Caroline Smith, a singer and songwriter from Minnesota, came only with her band’s bassist, but put on a really great show. She sounds like a mix between Joanna Newsom and Florence of Florence + The Machine. The duo’s live set was excellent. Their harmonies were tight and they played a broad range of songs, including a Joanna Newsom cover, which showed an impressively talented young band.
Horse Feathers played a great set, featuring both songs old and new. They are of that impressive breed of bands that truly sounds so much better live than on record. That is because, aside from being incredibly talented musicians, the passion in their music is palpable in person. Lead singer/guitarist Justin Ringle is mesmerizing, but backing members Sam Cooper, Nathan Crockett and Catherine Odell take his emotional guitar tunes to the next level, always adding new layers to their songs, each playing several instruments in any given song. Highlights from the set include old songs “Curs in the Weeds,” “Falling Through the Roof” and “Finch on Saturday,” and new songs from “Thistled Spring,” “Belly of June” and “Cascades.”
“Thistled Spring,” though similar in tone to previous Horse Feathers albums, feels different nonetheless, probably due to the fact that it is the first album recorded by the current foursome of Horse Feathers. Though Justin Ringle has been with Horse Feathers from the start, other band members have come and gone, with Ringle, Cooper, Crockett and Odell as its current incarnation. If anything, “Thistled Spring” feels more ambitious than past albums. That is not to say it’s better, but there is a growth and maturity in the sound of the band.
The album opens with its title song “Thistled Spring.” It is a beautiful, sweeping piece that really displays the sound of the violin and cello. A great start to a great album.
“Starving Robins” immediately changes the tone of the album, focusing more on the guitar, banjo and drums and picking up the pace of the album. “Belly of June” is the lead single from “Thistled Spring,” and it picks up well where “Starving Robins” left off. It’s another great upbeat tune, perfect for summer listening at the beach.
“Cascades” takes the pace back again as a beautiful ballad featuring a saw. “The Drought” has some kind of Spanish inspired mandolin going on and is a nice change of pace from the typical Horse Feathers sound. “The Widower” is more of the band’s typical slow ballad, but it is easily one of the most beautiful songs on the album. “Thistled Spring” closes much the same way that it opened, with the slow melodic song “Heaven’s No Place.” It is one of the best examples of Ringle’s great vocals and features all that is best about Horse Feathers, incorporating several different instruments and changing throughout.
“Thistled Spring” is a great album by a small indie band that will hopefully start to get more attention and recognition for their talents. There seems to be more in “Thistled Spring” that will appeal to a broader audience, so hopefully this is the band’s chance to really make their presence known. It is also perfect music for a long night of studying for finals or for a calm summer day at the beach.
Although the album, and really any other Horse Feathers CD, is definitely worth picking up, if the opportunity to see them perform live ever presents itself, take it. Their awesome album cannot do their live performance justice.
While I have no intention of throwing music videos into sermons regularly, I am grateful for the freedom to be able to trying something like this. Thank you to all of you who expressed your appreciation for it. I’m sure not of you felt this way. Thank you to you for being gracious.
The video used Sunday is by a band from Iceland called Sigur Rós’ (“sig-oor roas” like roast w/o the “t”). The idea of accompanying readings from Scripture with their video for Glósóli (beats me) came from the blog, Tall Skinny Kiwi. He sticks with the words of Jesus. I threw some Isaiah in there for good measure.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and scatters them. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. [John 10: 1-16]
The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. [John 10: 2-4]
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and
they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. [John 10: 27-29]
I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. [John 10: 7-10]
Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. [Matthew 14:19]
I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. [John 13: 34]
No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. [John 15:13]
If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it. [Matthew 19:21, 29-30]
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry. [Matthew 11:28-30]
So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:25, 32-34]
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.’ [Isaiah 43: 1b-7]
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. [Matthew 28: 18-20]
Mark Roeda, pastor of SBCRC, and David Banga, director of worship and arts at the church and artistic director of Subkirke, conceived the idea of the venue last summer [in response to discussions revolving around] where the church was going in the next 35 years.
Add a dash between that three and five and that’s about right. (I only wish I had the foresight to anticipate 2045.) Subkirke is an attempt to implement the Weather Report’s challenge to strengthen our outreach to grads and undergrads. It differs from most outreaches in that these concerts contain no explicit attempts to promote our church or present the gospel. This makes some people uneasy and leaves others confused. And, quite frankly, it requires patience from everybody. We won’t need to wait 35 years to gauge its effectiveness, but it will take some time.
After all, what we are trying to do is develop a reputation for hospitality both for college students and for the arts. To be hospitable to these things requires we not impose an agenda on them. We host these events and these people simply because we enjoy hosting these events and these people– not because they serve as a means to some self-serving end. They don’t have to attend church next Sunday for us to value them.
That’s not to say we wouldn’t love having them join our church community. We want good things for those we care about, and our church community is a good thing. But our care for them is not contingent on their joining. We want them to join because they’ve experienced something through our hospitality that makes them curious for an explanation. What would explain a people that love so freely?
Will hosting these concerts result in people asking these questions? It already has. But it’ll happen more often. Just you wait.
You can read more about why we are doing Subkirke by clicking here.
On the surface, these are two very different bands. Nomo is an afro-beat jazz outfit composed of over a half-dozen members from the east side of Michigan. Horse Feathers is a folk trio out of Portland. One’s funky. The other is hauntingly beautiful. One thing they have in common is critical acclaim (both have received strong reviews from Pitchfork– which can be finicky, if not mean.) But it’s by no means the only thing in common. Both bands have roots deep in particular musical traditions.
Nomo plays Afrobeat, big band jazz. And their earliest albums are, in a way, tributes to the great artists of the genre. However with each subsequent album they’ve developed its own, unique sound. This comes from the Pitchfork review of their 2008 release, Ghost Rock: “the groove is still at the heart of the band’s music, but it’s a deeper, stranger pulse than they’ve worked before, and arrangements have shifted away from Afrobeat crunch to a spacier, more symphonic approach. Call it cosmic funk or electro-jazz or something similar, but you can’t call it Afrobeat revivalism anymore.”
Horse Feathers, on the other hand, play folk music. There is something about their music that sounds familiar, like these are songs you’ve grown up with. But it’s not precious, not nostalgic. It manages to sound fresh and contemporary, both borrowing from a range of folk traditions and transcending them.
In short, both bands illustrate well the call to creativity. We don’t cut ourselves off from tradition in our own creative enterprises, nor do we feel constrained to replicate tradition. Our task is to help that tradition to speak in new ways.
And finally in addition to illustrating creativity both bands have reputations for great live shows.
GETTING A PREVIEW:
The next two posts are videos of the bands.
To download a free single from Horse Feathers, click here and then “Save Page As” in the drop down menu under “File.”
To download Nomo’s Daytrotter Sessions, click here and follow instructions.
Perhaps most comparable to a band like Iron & Wine, Horse Feathers specializes in that type of melodic indie rock that seems most appropriate for listening to in a serene meadow. They use guitars, pianos and drums just like everyone else, but also feature a cello, some violins, banjos and even a saw.
On the surface, these are two very different bands. Nomo is an afro-beat jazz outfit composed of over a half-dozen members from the east side of Michigan. Horse Feathers is a folk trio out of Portland. One’s funky. The other is hauntingly beautiful. One thing they have in common is critical acclaim (both have received strong reviews from Pitchfork– which can be finicky, if not mean.) But it’s by no means the only thing in common. Both bands have roots deep in particular musical traditions.