John Bell
Musician, author, broadcaster, pastor, worship innovator, and composer of the popular hymn, “The Summons,” Bell will be offering regional workshops for laypeople, music leaders and worship design teams in the Las Vegas, Tucson and Phoenix areas this February.
Sunday, February 12, 4:00 – 6:00 pm in Las Vegas
“Singing the Unsung” (see details below) at Green Valley UMC, Henderson NV, 2200 Robindale Rd. 89074 gvumc.org, (702) 454-7989. Suggested donation $5; childcare will be provided for children 0-6 years old.
Monday, February 13 to Wednesday, February 15 in Tucson
The Gathering, a retreat for the clergy of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Tucson, AZ. Click HEREfor flyer.
Wednesday, February 15, 7:00 – 9:00 pm in Tucson
“Singing the Unsung” (see details below) at St. Francis in the Foothills UMC, 4625 E. River Rd, Tucson, AZ. For more information (520) 299-9063. Suggested donation: $5-$10.
Saturday, Feb. 18, 9:00 am – Noon in Fountain Hills
“Looking for a Bigger Jesus” (see details below) at The Fountains UMC, 15300 North Fountain Hills Boulevard Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 (480) 837-7627. Suggested donation: $20. Register online at johnbell.eventbrite.com
Sunday, Feb. 19 in Fountain Hills
Preaching at 9am and 11:15 am, plus Q&A at 19:15 at The Fountains UMC, 15300 North Fountain Hills Boulevard Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 (480) 837-7627. www.reachtouchteach.com
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Workshop Themes:
“Singing the Unsung”
How do we develop corporate identity in worship and song? How can we improve congregational singing? At the workshops John Bell will reflect on the theology of the Church’s song and teach how we can sing and pray together with integrity. Bell will offer tools to improve the singing of the whole people of God and introduce songs from around the globe.
“Looking for a Bigger Jesus”
For many people Jesus’ primary feature is being gentle. This flies in the face of the Gospel, but is preserved in songs and artwork which depict the kind of passive savior who is unlikely to inspire radical discipleship. In this workshop, John Bell will look at moments in the Gospels which provide a much fuller understanding of Jesus and at hymns from far and near which are an antidote to the more soporific ditties.
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John Bell is an ordained minister in the Church of Scotland. Rev. Bell has produced many collections of original hymns, songs, and liturgies through Wild Goose Resource Group, including two collections of songs of the World Church. He lectures throughout the world and is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level. Rev. Bell is a member of the Iona Community. A number of his compositions, including “The Summons,” are found in The Faith We Sing.
