Monthly Archives: September 2010

Rediscovering the Latin Mass: Helen Sanderson-White introduces The Sanctus Project

Posted on September 4, 2010 by | Leave a comment
Helen Sanderson-White

Helen Sanderson-White

WHAT HAPPENS when you combine creativity, a passion for music and a theological education? Helen Sanderson-White tells us a little of her story and introduces her latest offering, The Sanctus Project:

I often get asked “what do you do?” which always fills me with dread as I try to explain the many things that my work entails! I trained as both a musician and theologian although my work veers more closely to music than theology. I teach singing, piano and music theory to both children and adults in the Buckinghamshire area. I compose and perform a variety of music including secular songs, church worship songs and instrumental music.

I spent a few years working as a Musical Director for both Anglican and Baptist churches; have taught pop singing and keyboards in various colleges in London; have had performance residencies in restaurants and have led one day vocal courses around the country. Every week is different and I have always been very thankful for that. I’m married to the inimitable Graham White, a Theology and Youthwork lecturer for Oasis College and former youth minister with interdenominational experience.

The Sanctus Project

The Sanctus Project

My latest publication is The Sanctus Project music book which is available directly from me (full details below). An accompanying CD with demonstration tracks and backing tracks of each song will be released later in 2010.

Back in the summer of 2007 I began to work on the idea of creating a contemporary musical version of part of the Latin Mass. Having previously used some of the current musical versions with my youth group it became apparent that there was a need for a fresh, modern approach to the liturgy that young people found engaging and exciting. This was also an opportunity to make the liturgy more accessible, fun and to encourage young people to embrace the Latin heritage though the dance and pop music genre. The Sanctus Project was born…

Building on the heritage of Taize, The Sanctus Project has a contemporary setting and can be used in a variety of different gatherings and services. Each song has been designed with an easy and memorable melody line with full dance track behind it. The CD and music book come as separates but can be used together during a church service or youth group meeting. The demonstration tracks have also been played in the background during a service as part of a meditation. The music book contains simple voice and piano arrangements (including guitar chords).

My love is creativity: creativity to explore the life that God has given us. I’m grateful for the varied avenues that God has given us to express the world we see around us and thus understand it more. My goal is always to create music that is different to the current styles we have in church at the moment and to reach out to those outside or on the fringes of the church. I hope in some small way that this project may be helpful to others, not just for teenagers but for adults too.

The Sanctus Project The Sanctus Project
A Contemporary Latin Mass

Product Code: 5800046637681
Little Eliza Music, 2010
Paperback, 14pp
£7.50

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Day of Prayer #3

Posted on September 3, 2010 by | 11 Comments

Praying HandsTODAY, Friday 3rd September 2010, is our third Day of Prayer for the Christian book and retail trade, and there’s lots to be thankful for as well as to pray for. For details of meetings at various venues around the country, please see the facebook event page; but regardless of where you are — whether on your own or with others — please take some time out today to remember Christian authors, agents, booksellers and publishers in your prayers.

  • May each of us, from our different vantage points, come to understand that we are all in this ministry together, serving the same Lord and working for God’s Kingdom. May we never seek to gain unfair competitive advantage over one another but may we instead seek opportunities to support one another in love.

Please continue to pray especially for Mike Norbury as he comes to terms with the recent loss of his wife, Jackie. Mike writes:

Will you please thank all the (literally) hundreds of people in this great trade of ours who sent messages of prayer and condolence by card, letter, Facebook and e-mail. It was like being carried on a wonderful bed of feathers lifting me above what could have easily been a bed of nails.

My request for prayer now is that:

  1. I will be able, eventually, be able to come to terms with her leaving me at such a young age – just 48. Even though I know she’s in the loving arms of our Saviour and rejoicing with Him for eternity It is so hard.
  2. That God will continue to put His loving arms around us all as we get used to life without Jackie, especially her family in Bolton (and a sister in the USA) who are heartbroken.
  3. That the good work He started through Jackie will continue – already her testimony is changing lives.

Let’s also pray for:

  • Living Oasis Croydon seeking suitable premises after losing the lease on the former Wesley Owen store to another company.
  • Shops and other businesses struggling to make ends meet. In particular, please pray for LST Books & Resources and my colleague Nick Aston as he prepares to take on responsibility for the shop after my departure on 16th Sept; and for me as I focus on developing UKCBD and this blog post-LST; and the poor unfortunates at Sainsbury’s, Biggleswade, who will be contending with my presence on a part-time basis as I seek financial stability.
  • Durham Cathedral Shop: the story is far from over as staff adjust to new working relationships. Please pray for the Cathedral authorities as they struggle to come to terms with their complicity in staff mistreatment; the tribunal process seeking justice and compensation; and the Brewer brothers as they continue to evade justice: may there be a fair outcome for all.
  • STL UK as they continue to rebuild trust with their trading partners at both ends of the supply chain: publishers, other suppliers and retailers alike; the former STL staff whose roles were made redundant, and the staff now working under a new regime.
  • All other businesses and individuals still struggling in the aftermath of Biblica’s withdrawal from the UK Christian trade last year; for Biblica themselves as they have yet to acknowledge or show signs of repentance for the damage done.
  • Eden.co.uk as their business continues to grow and they explore ideas for working creatively alongside the rest of us.
  • Hymns Ancient & Modern and St Andrew Press seeking a way forward for Church of Scotland publishing.

For more prayer points and a good overview of the current state of play in the Christian book trade, please see GLO Bookshop’s note, Day of Prayer for UK Christian Bookshops Friday 3rd September 2010

Let’s be thankful for:

There’s much more we could be offering prayer and praise for, of course: these are just a few things off the top of my head as I write this post: thank you for reading and thank you for praying.

Looking back:

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Posted in Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Bookshops, People News

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In the Beginning: Soul Survivor ‘Bible in One Year’ starts today

Posted on September 1, 2010 by | 17 Comments
Bible in One Year

Soul Survivor Bible in One Year

Have you done it? Read the entire Bible within the space of one year?

If not then perhaps now is the time to start, joining in with the thousands of young people across the country who have committed themselves to the Soul Survivor Bible in One Year project.

Even if you don’t plan to join in yourself, at the very least you should think about stocking this Bible, available from STL UK (hardback | paperback) or, of course, direct from HodderFaith; and if you’re not sure what it’s all about, here’s Soul Survivor’s Andy Croft on a mission to persuade:

I confess that I have my reservations about the project, and I tweeted as much from the LST Bookshop:

Finding it difficult to get enthusiastic about the Soul Survivor ‘Bible in One Year’ scheme when it’s based on the NIV *sigh*

But back came a reply in very short order, from @bexp66:

be enthusiastic, my kids are talking bout readin the bible!! Tho they wanted The Message version! What wud you suggest?

Said I:

I just wish Soul Survivor had got together with a range of Bible publishers instead of going for something as flawed as the NIV

and

This could have been such a wonderful opportunity for Bible publishers to work together!

Said she:

agreed, esp. with the flawed comment. Inclusive should have been essential as well.

There’s no doubt about it: the NIV is, to quote Tom Wright, “a visibly and demonstrably flawed translation”, biased in its translation “to make sure that Paul should say what the broadly Protestant and evangelical tradition said he said” — not only on justification, the particular topic Bishop Tom is referring to here, but also in terms of reinforcing misogyny rather than encouraging equality and inclusivity. If it had to be NIV-based, why not at least get into the early 21st Century with the TNIV??

But setting those reservations aside momentarily, it can surely only be a good thing for these youngsters to get to grips with the whole Bible rather than the decontextualised snippets most daily devotionals tend to offer. One can only hope that rather than spoon-feed them pre-packaged evangelical perspectives, the organisers will encourage their young (and not-so-young) conversation partners to read Scripture critically and intelligently, with their eyes wide open to its human origins and foibles: to not blindly affirm, “This is the Word of God” but to ask, “Is this the Word of God?” — and if it is, to ask, “What does it mean for us today?”

Andy Croft’s comments on today’s readings have even got Emma Jane going, and that’s definitely no bad thing. Nice one Emma!

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