The Book of Heavy Metal!

Last week I had one of the monthly training days with all those who are in their first, second, or third year's as C of E Priest's in Lincolnshire. The topic was worship and music and I was asked to speak in the afternoon during a session on contemporary and secular music in worship. Obviously I was asked to talk about the heavy metal side of things and so I banged on for a while about how I've used it in my work -so in ministry and worship. I really enjoyed talking about the 3 big passions in my life - God, metal, and people. These 3 things are where my heart lies and what fills my heart and soul to be honest. I simply would not be George Smith without God, metal, and people, in my life.
At the session, my friend Reverend Liz Jackson talked about rock and worship, focusing on her work at The U2charist (a Eucharist service in Church, accompanied by U2 songs and focused on The Millennium Development Goals, see www.luminouslincoln.co.uk), and we also touched briefly on the SOS rock Eucharist service my friend Fr.Liz Brown is involved with.

The Christian message of loving God and loving neighbour is for all, and so should be available, accessible, and relevant to all. One way to do this for a growing subculture in today's Western society, in the UK, is to share the love of God and others (through actions as an emphasise far above and over, and often in place of, words) by engaging with the metal subculture in a way that is culturally relevant and accessible to Metalheads...otherwise we may as well be talking French to a group of non bilingual English folk! Ministry shouldn't be limited to any particular context, culture, or group of people, and so I aim in my ministry, and in trying to help and serve others, to share my ministry and acts of service and worship with the alternative subcultures in the UK at the moment (hopefully other Priests are sharing their ministry with other groups of people so that all are catered for, for want of a better phrase). Furthermore, life is and should be fun and so should faith and loving acts of service, so in the words of a good friend of mine, 'chill your beans' and have a good time!! Here's some ways I've aimed to do some of this so far....


Goth Worship
The first time I dabbled with bringing 'alternative' music and culture, or subculture, into my ministry was when I lead some services I labelled as 'Goth Worship' services, while I was working with youth at St.Albans Cathedral, about 7 years ago now. The services used gothic images and songs, and through meditation, prayer and music took a journey from the darkness to the light. I was influenced here by the 'Goth Eucharist', which has now evolved into 'On The Edge', at St Edward King and Martyr Church in Cambridge (www.st-edwards-cam.org.uk/goth-sub)
Photos and examples of prayers and readings I used:
God of all care and compassion, you support us through hard times and never abandon us.  Sometimes life seems bleak and useless when we are feeling low, so help us at these times to sense your presence and know that you are with us.  Guide us Lord, to know the goodness of life and to hold on to this.  Give us strength when we are without hope.  Be with us when we are anxious and help us to keep faith in your everlasting love.  And we thank you Lord that when we walk in the darkness you never leave us without your light.  Amen

    

Julian of Norwich reading

All the time he was showing these things to my inward sight, I still seemed to see with my actual eyes the continual bleeding of his head.  Great drops of blood rolled down from the garland like beads, seemingly from the veins; and they came down a brownish red colour – for the blood was thick – and as they spread out they became bright red.  /  This revelation was real and lifelike, horrifying and dreadful, sweet and lovely.  /  For that blessed flesh and frame was drained of all blood and moisture.  Because of the pull of the nails and the weight of that blessed body it was a long time suffering.  For I could see that the great, hard, hurtful nails in those dear and tender hands and feet caused the wounds to gape wide and the body to sag forward under its own weight, and because of the time it hung there.  His head was scarred and torn, and the crown was sticking to it, congealed with blood; his head hair and his withered flesh was entangled with the thorns, and they with it.  Furthermore, I could see that the dear skin and tender flesh, the hair and the blood, were hanging loose from the bone, gouged by the thorns in many places.

Bloodstock Chaplaincy

My friend Reverend Mark Broomhead, who runs 'The Order of the Black Sheep' (www.theorderoftheblacksheep.com), takes a team of about 10 Christians to minister at Bloodstock Festival (an annual heavy metal festival in Derbyshire, with an attendence of about 15,000 plus). The Order of the Black Sheep is a Christianity community for alternative people, based at 'The Gates' in Chesterfield. At Bloodstock we run the Welfare Tent and take care of Child Protection. The Welfare Tent is staffed 24 hours a day and we provide beds, warmth, blankets, water, hot drinks, emotional care, etc, to anyone and everyone who needs it during the 4 day event. My close friend James Lock also does this and I hope he doesn't mind the photo's I've included here of him hard at work!..in fact I could tell many stories about the shifts me and James have enjoyed working, from couples turning up in handcuffs and expecting us to be able to free them (we got some fire men in to do the job!..I wasn't complaining!!) to people throwing up on us, to people under the influence of drugs taking off their clothes, to people talking such utter gibberish that even we couldn't fathom them, etc etc..might have to do a post just on some of this randomnessss soon hahaha!!!)

Bloodstock 2011 

  

Bloodstock 2012

A Very Heavy Christmas 

In 2011 we started the, now annual, heavy metal carol service at Grimsby Minster (www.facebook.com/veryheavychristmas). We use traditional carols as you've never heard them before, mixing traditional carol lyrics and melodies with heavy metal guitar riffs, a live metal band, and lots of singing along, head banging, and shouting, all to bring a truly unique twist to a totally traditional celebration. I've put more details, photo's, song clips and interviews on a post earlier in the year, which can be found here at www.thegospelaccordingtogeorges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/rock-n-roll-angels-bring-thine-hard.html

A Very Heavy Christmas (2011)

Songs and interview clips from the first event can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gch2QCP_w0Q

A Very Heavy Christmas II (2012)

Photo's and an audio clip of 'Silent Night' mashed up with the riff from Led Zeppelin's 'Rock n Roll' can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5AORSsBzKg

  

 

 

Some metal and rock songs that, among others, I've used in Churches during worship:

'My Immortal' - Evanescence

'Somebody Someone' - KoRn

 

 'Bliss' - Muse

 

'Recovery' - Still Remains

lyrics to the above: 

When I wake up, I want to see you, I need to hear you, I want to live your life. In my day I fail to see, I fail to seek the one that gives life.

I've looked away from your grace, You've been waiting at the gates.  I've looked away from your grace, You've been waiting at the gates

I'm running, you're standing still. It's been so long since I've been here. I'm running, you're standing still. It's been so long since I've been here, Since I've been here.

It's time to come back again, It's time to make correction, Slain to the past. Resurrect me, Undeserving, you love me still, Slain to the past, Resurrect me, Undeserving, you love me still.

Your love, I love. Your love, I love. Your love, I love (I've run away a thousand times. I've run away for the last time). Your love, I love (I'm alone with bleeding and broken hands. It's been so long since I've seen your love).

I'm running, you're standing still (from your love, your love). It's been so long since I've been here. I'm running, you're standing still. It's been so long since I've been here.

I've looked away from your grace. You've been waiting at the gates. I've looked away from your grace. You've been waiting at the gates, Waiting at the gates, Waiting at the gates. Waiting at the gates!!!

Heavy Metal Theology...

For my main thesis for my Masters degree in Applied Theology, I developed a heavy metal theology, looking in-depth at the subculture surrounding the music; the community, the music, the gigs, the values espoused, the feelings experienced, etc etc. ....more on this at another time!