Evensong Rising
Listen to songs from Evensong Rising's new album.
Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad, has entered into a unique partnership with the Christian band Evensong Rising. This is the first such partnership for Bread for the World with a Christian band; and for Evensong Rising with an advocacy organization.
Participants in Bread for the World's Gathering 2007 will remember Evensong Rising as our worship leaders at that event. The band was established in 2001 to lead worship at the 275-year old Stanwich Congregational Church, in Greenwich, CT. They blend historic Christian hymns and Psalms with contemporary music and use many ancient elements in their worship services including incense, candles, the procession of the Cross, and iconography. Since their inception, attendance at the church has grown exponentially.
"I believe that modern worship needs an influx of depth," said Rev. Chris Sorenson, the band's frontman and a senior associate pastor at the church. "The old hymns have a richness that many modern worship songs lack."
Diversity is intrinsic to Evensong Rising and it is perhaps their most defining characteristic. "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," said Rev. Sorenson. Virtually every genre of music is found on Evensong Rising, the band's new self-titled CD, which will be released in September 2008. He explained "You see, when you have three Jamaicans, a Celtic violinist, a rock drummer, a pop guitarist, and a lead singer from the south, together playing the music they love, Evensong Rising is what you get."
Evensong Rising's Mission
Despite their passion for music, the band would be the first to tell you that music has very little to do with their mission. Several years ago, when presented with the opportunity to tour, instead of jumping at the chance, they took the time to ask "Why?"
"We considered it, but why tour…to satisfy our own egos?," said Rev. Sorenson. "No. If we were going to tour, it had to be about something more. So, we founded our own non-profit with the goal of bringing about spiritual awakening and humanitarian activism." Since then, the band had been doing "Rising Events" all over the northeast.
"We are doing something completely different than any other worship band out there," said Rev. Sorenson. "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."
Current Tour
Armed with a purpose and a cause the eclipses musical aspiration, the band embarked on a nationwide tour of churches and campuses in September 2008. One of the ways they are encouraging their audiences to become involved in humanitarian activism is by becoming advocates for hungry and poor people in this country and abroad. They are introducing Bread for the World to their audiences as an effective way to channel that advocacy.
Watch their tour Web site for information about upcoming tour dates .
If you are interested in hosting Evensong Rising at your church or on your campus, contact Jennifer Stapleton.
Read the press release.
