Evensong Rising - The Mission
The Mission
"I hope that you connect with God in a meaningful way while worshiping with this recording. I know that I do. This is the sixth recording project that I have been intimately involved with and it was by far the most challenging to complete. But as I listen back to it now, moments before shipping it off for manufacturing and then distribution, I can say that there is nothing I would change. This is the first EsR (Evensong Rising) recording that leaves me feeling completely satisfied.
This CD was a year and a half in the making. The tracking began in September 2008 and finished in January 2010. The project contains the first song that I ever wrote for EsR as well as the second to last song I wrote in Connecticut. In other words, the songs on this album were written over a seven year time period. In my opinion, these were the most powerful songs written during the Stanwich Church era of the band.
Over the course of making this project, a lot has changed for EsR. Through a prophetic dream God gave my wife Angie, I heard a call to become an Anglican priest. (www.themia.org) and move to Chattanooga, TN to plant a church called The Mission. Jason and Satoya, Time and his wife Michelle, and another musician friend of ours named Aaron all felt similarly called to become leaders in the new church. In September 2009, we all moved from New England to Tennessee. I won’t bore you with all the details here, but to learn more about our new church, check out www.missionchattanooga.org. Brian Hardin, our long-time friend and producer is also on staff at The Mission. Because this move south dominated the emotional landscape of everyone involved during the completion of this recording, we decided to title the album accordingly.
What this move means for EsR is that only four of the seven members moved south. Anna stayed up north and is now the Worship Director for a morning service at Stanwich Church. Garnet remains a Music Director in his church in Queens, while he and Tyler are key members of our newly forming sister band, Evensong North. We all remain good friends and I am sure we will play together again from time to time. But this CD marks the end of a seven year era for EsR spanning from 2002 - 2009.
When we moved south, we immediately began auditioning musicians to replace Garnet, Anna, and Tyler. What we discovered however, was that they were truly irreplaceable. Up north, we had developed an amazing chemistry together that couldn’t be replicated by new musicians, no matter how capable they were. After much prayer and discussion, we decided it would be better to movee in a new direction musically. This means we are exploring different instrumentation and new ideas in songwriting. The new sound is going to take some time to develop, but rest assured, EsR should be back in the studio sometime within the next year. In the meantime, please enjoy this recording of seven people loving God and each other in the midst of worship." – Chris Sorensen
Of all the worship bands in America, Evensong Rising was founded in the nation’s oldest and most historical church. That venerable house of worship is Greenwich, Connecticut-based Stanwich Congregational Church, which predates the American War of Independence. In fact, regiments were sent by the church to America’s Revolutionary War. Stanwich, now over 275 years old, is starting a revolution of its own where the ancient and future coalesce in the music and ministry of Evensong Rising.
In 2002, Stanwich called upon Chris Sorensen to serve as Senior Associate Pastor. Chris, a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist with a Masters of Divinity was soon charged with the task of pioneering a new type of worship service. Eventually becoming frustrated with the lack of depth in many of today’s contemporary worship songs, Chris drew from his theological training and began writing his own and collaborating with others. "A group of us got together to rethink what church and worship could be," says Chris. "First, we wanted to make the most beautiful offering we possibly could. Second, we wanted to give people a glimpse of the power, mercy, love, and intimacy of God."
"I believe that modern worship needs an influx of depth," says Chris, "The old hymns had a richness that many modern worship songs lack." Infusing modern musical expression with the hauntingly beautiful and meaningful significance of centuries past, Evensong Rising delivers a forward-looking musicality that echoes the depth of something very ancient. "One of the things we were drawn to early on was the mystery and transcendence seen in the ancient church," says Chris, "Our church itself is over 275 years old."
With an abiding respect for the heritage of the early church, Evensong Rising began to incorporate songs and hymns co-written by people of the early church, people who have been dead for centuries. Through this artistic marriage of old and new, Evensong Rising creates a moving and mystical worship experience that leads into the deeper presence of God. Chris reveals, "Evensong Rising seeks to elevate the quality and depth of modern worship. Specifically, we seek to ignite an Ancient/Future worship movement." Evensong Rising has identified the emergence of a generation hungry to experience God through the elements of ancient worship that are returning to the prominence and meaning they once had. He continues, "When we worship God, we seek to bring in many of those long forgotten elements of worship. In some kind of supernatural, unexplainable way, we know something significant is happening when we worship together."
Diversity is intrinsic to Evensong Rising and it is perhaps their most defining characteristic. It’s been said that Sunday is the most segregated day in America; well someone forgot to tell the people in this band. Chris says, "The music is a melting pot of sounds… from rock to bluegrass to reggae to jazz to soul and then back to rock again… sometimes all in the same song." Virtually every genre of music is found on the band’s self-titled new release coming in summer 2008. In truth, the music quite literally reflects the members of the band. Chris explains, "You see, when you have 3 Jamaicans, a Celtic violinist, a rock drummer, a pop guitarist, and a lead singer from the south, together playing the music that they love, Evensong Rising is what you get."
To be more specific, what you get is New York jazz notable Garnet Walters (keys), former touring member of Atlantic Star, Jason Foster (bass), and gospel vocalist Satoya Walters Foster, along with Celtic violinist Anna Leinbach, New York session drummer Tim Newton, who has recorded and toured with Duncan Sheik, lead guitarist Wes Roberts, and singer-songwriter Chris Sorensen – he’s the one from the south. Drawing comparisons to Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, The Neville Brothers, and Edwin McCain; Evensong Rising mixes world music, soul, singer-songwriter and rock into an eclectic amalgam that defies classification.
Evensong Rising is blurring the lines and redefining worship music as we know it. For them, this goes far beyond transcending musical boundaries; they are in fact, redefining what Christian music means. But they would be the first to tell you that music has very little to do with their mission. Several years ago, opportunity knocked and doors opened for the band to begin touring. Instead of jumping at the chance, they took the time to ask "why?" Chris elaborates, "We considered it, but why tour… to satisfy our own egos? No. If we were going to tour, it had to be about something more. So, we founded our own non-for-profit called "The Rising Group." The steadfast goal of The Rising Group is to bring about Spiritual Awakening and Humanitarian Activism. Since then, the band has been doing "Rising Events" all over the North East. Armed with purpose and a cause that eclipses musical aspiration, they are now looking to bring their mission to a national audience. "We are doing something completely different than anyone else out there. Un-churched people come to our Rising Events, because we care about what they care about… the poor. We know God cares about them too," says Chris, "Jesus seeks to build God’s kingdom on earth. He speaks about helping the helpless, feeding the hungry, setting free the captives. Christ’s followers are expected to continue building God’s kingdom. When Christians pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," we are praying about a kingdom here and now."
Reaching the church and un-churched presents a number of challenges, but Evensong Rising meets them head on with their proven cross-generational and cross-cultural appeal. The band itself is multi-ethnic and comes from various denominational backgrounds, through which, they are tearing down traditional boundaries that are sadly indicative of the American Church.
As Evensong Rising seeks to be used to bring about Spiritual Awakening and Humanitarian Activism, they believe that God uniquely meets people in and through worship. And they seek to be the vehicle to bring that worship to both the churched and un-churched. "As people experience God through the worship led by our band, we hope that they are set free by Christ and that they grab hold of that freedom and use it to set others free around the globe." Chris continues, "if you came to one of our worship services (we don’t play concerts… we bring worship on the road), you would have the opportunity to come to know Christ, you would have the opportunity to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, and you would have the opportunity to actively participate in projects that build God’s kingdom on earth. You would leave with the message that God loves you, is willing to free you, and wants you to set others free."
Evensong Rising seeks to create a worship experience that allows for the Holy Spirit to move in power and change people’s lives. "We believe that God uses us to change the uglier things in our world. Our band hopes to inspire people to go out and be Christ’s hands and feet in our broken world," says Chris, "It’s the idea that humanity has been separated from God by sin… that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth and died on a cross to remove that separation between humanity and God… and that humanity has the ability to be reconciled to God, the Father, through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe that this is certainly good news, and we seek to help people find Jesus Christ in and through our ministry as a band."
Song Titles:
Almighty King
Be Still
You
Worthy Is The Lamb
Doxology
Steadfast Hearts
Steady Now
Ghost Of You
Goodbye Me
With You
Praise To The Lord
Word, Deed and Power
After The Storm
