I have the privilege of interviewing worship pastor Aaron Niequist from Willow Creek Community Church today.
I came across his most recent project “A New Liturgy” a few months ago and was immediately drawn in.
David: Aaron, very impressed with the vision of your new project, A New Liturgy. Where did the idea for this project originate? What inspired you?
Aaron: Thanks. The idea for A New Liturgy actually came out of my own, personal need. I was in a pretty dark season, looking for a way to connect with God, and I realized that I needed something more than worship songs on iPod shuffle.
I needed to be pastored. I needed to be lead on a spiritual journey to a place I couldn’t get on my own. And A New Liturgy was born.
David: Tell us a little bit about the musical direction of this project. I love how you combined music with singing and prayer.
Aaron: I was joking with my friend the other day that I want these liturgies to sound like “a piano-based Arcade Fire leading a catho-protestant mass”. I love the idea of letting music that is both dark and light weave the experience together.
Because, of course, real life is both dark and light! My hope is that the music can honestly tap into the deep ache that things are not alright (“all creation waits and groans…”) AND continually help us reach upward toward beauty and redemption.
David: Have you tried this type of music in a live context?
Aaron: Yes, we’ve experienced Liturgy No 1: “God is Love” in four different church communities. Each one was slightly adapted to the specific context, but the main journey remained. It’s been really exciting to take this journey with a room of brothers and sisters!
David: You are releasing a new album quarterly, correct? Tell us about the creative process of making this happen. How do you balance your job at Willow Creek, being a husband & father, and driving this project?
Aaron: Honestly, I need to figure out a better process in the future. My suspicion is it will be less about balance and more about rhythm. But I’ll let you know when I find something that works!
David: Who are your musical influences?
Aaron: The Beatles are my all-time favorite band. But these days, I also love Arcade Fire, Elbow, Florence + the Machine, Sigur Ros, and The Brilliance.
David: Any advice you would give to worship leaders seeking to pursue their own creative project?
Aaron: Don’t wait for the perfect situation, record label, or fool-proof plan. Just begin. Start making something. I’m not saying “don’t plan”, I’m just saying “don’t let the planning use up all your creativity”. Seth Godin has written a ton about this, and I’ve needed the kick in the pants many many times.
Winners
1. Carrie
2. Tim Hageland
3. Christopher Banks
4. Rachel
5. Michelle Surrena
Question: What stood out to you in the interview? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Ay David,
First visit to the blog and am glad to be here. Like others, I’m searching for the right scripture, lyric, explanation, guidance, hug/kick in the pants or other to help remove the “stuff” acting as bugs, littering my windshield, obstructing the view of a world that God has charged me with serving. I can still see through, but it’s easier to focus on the “bugs”. I have to strain to see past them. In a place I don’t like to be. Sortta uncomfortable like. I like to be “over myself” mostly. But sometimes it happens.
Found myself sitting in front of Psalm 46. I heard “come see!, behold!, come see, come see what I have done……” and “Be still, and know that I am God.”
I communicate, as a witness to the glory of God through song writing some times, which stems through my personal communications during prayer and praise. So, finding what I needed in Psalm 46 this A.M. I quickly grabbed my acoustic and began to write about it. After 15 minutes of drought, I put the guitar down and went back to searching. Came across your blog and found several topics that got my attention. Great topics! Better yet, Real topics.
So then, I ended up here on this topic. Checked out the New Liturgy web site and just finished listening to volumes 1 and 2. Yes Awesome! What drew me in was the explanation of the place that Aaron had found himself when the inspiration seed fell in rich soil. Not “songs on…shuffle”, not a jog in the fresh air or as in my case, not a song writing session. I read, “Be still” earlier, but missed it. Oh! Now I get it. So, I’m gonna go be still. Just before I go: thanks to you, and others on this blog for sharing, thanks to Aaron as well. Aaron, looking forward to vol 3. Goodnight.
Warren, I appreciate you stopping by and commenting! Thanks for your honesty and transparency. Glad to connect!
I would love a copy of liturgy for several reasons.
1. Because it’s always great as a worship leader to hear new music that is great to listen to, as well as just be encouraged to move forward in my own creative endeavors.
2. Because God brought me to South Korea during this season of my life, so situations like your blog David are the only ways that I really get drawn into new music. It’s much harder to “stay in the loop” when you live across the sea!
3. Lastly, for real, who doesn’t love free music, especially when it has so much promise!
I am excited to constantly see how God is changing the face of what we as Christians view as worship music. I love that in the face of a drought we can know that it’s God who supplies, and not our own intellect that moves us forward. I definitely think that the stillness is a very missed out on time for worshippers in general, and for song writers especially. Always glad to walk through these seasons together, even if “we” are not together, don’t even know each other, it’s amazing how a place like the Internet allows us to encourage and lift up one another for God’s glory!
Aaron, glad to connect! Where are you from and how long will you be in South Korea? Are you there for missions? Praying you find some “sacred space” today.
As a worship leader, albeit part time, it is difficult to find the time necessary to search for the right new music/etc to fit our congregation, so I am very interested in this new project, especially after reading the interview! Thanks for your blog and the other time you invest in encouraging fellow worship leaders!
Wow – was just listening to it and it’s good!
There is so much power in hearing the truth the of the Scripture…God-breathed words being spoken aloud. The music is good too 🙂
Well done Aaron for stepping out and doing this.
I am the worship pastor at our church and we have been looking for a fresh way to use scripture; this is just what we need. The Lord has been strongly encouraging me and our band to “keep it simple”. I just went to the site and listened to the first song- “God is Love” and am refreshed by the non-hype, gentleness and truth that pours through this. It allows breathing room, peace – indeed, a sacred space. We would love to have a copy.
I have reciently gotten back into practice of personal bible study, prayer time,and worship trying to build a better foundation in my faith. I have been searching the internet for devotionals, bible studies, and music; what ever I can get ahold of for free. I am on social security disability, trying to take care of a family of five, and just can’t afford what the “christian” book stores are charging these days. I am craving anything Christ for my family and myself. We may be poor, but I feel like the richest man alive, since I rededicated my life to Him. Pray for my wife. She needs to find her way back to.
Getting ready to start this day and pondering this article as my mind wakes up. Excited to check out the site and hear what this project is about. Loved the reminder of continually encouraging others to reach upward even in the midst of hard/dark times in life. God is there, too. Thanks for the interview.
Awesome interview! I really want to do something like this on my site! Keep up the great ministry work!
I believe it would help in my ministry to create holy space.
I’m so excited to hear this project. I’m a worship leader/songwriter myself and am going to start my next album project next year 2012. I’m looking forward to the creative process, an it being stripped back, not just a studio album, but worship moments captured during studio time with the Word and music. I’m really looking forward to this because i believe that not only as I’m being challenged as a writer and musician by Hillsong’s Tanya Riches and Joyce Meyer Ministries Worship Leaer Jacque DeShetler this project will speak life into me to know my God and have a deeper relationship with Him. Thank you for having the same heart.
Ive honestly never heard of Aaron nor his project. I recently found this site and it has truly helped me to draw clarity, strength and hope in pursuing my calling. Last tuesday night, after a long struggle with some spiritual problems, and after spending a day or two reading these posts, i felt a desire to draw nearer to God that i hadnt felt in some time. God met me there in that room and ive rediscovered the excitement for pressing forward in my worship leading. Friday night was the first time that i had agreed to come lead worship at another church. God blessed me so much in the fact that they all were touched and i was blessed by that. For so long ive let people steal the identity that God gave me from before my new birth. I am who God says i am, not who church people try to make me. The Word says: great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them!” Worship Leaders remember that verse and remember God ordained you who you are before you were ever born, and its our call to walk in it and not be deterred and broken down by church people who strive to have it their way. Our way is not Worship! Worship comes with a price. Dying daily! David, i am honored to have an outlet such as this to pour out and to receive in. Your heart is awesome. As far as the cd giveaway, if a cd ministers to me, i wear it out. If not, i give it away to someone in hopes that it will their life. Im not really concerned about winning anything, i just woke up today, opened my email and was thankful for what you do, and all those who post here.
Hey Christopher, you rock! Thanks for the encouragement. Glad to have you as part of this worship leading community.
What a great testimony Christopher.
I can relate so much to needing to find that way to connect with God in the midst of a dark season. Thanks for sharing this!
I love getting to hear new and inventive worship but looking for it is not on the top of my to-do list. So when giveaways like this come along they are a great chance to possibly hear something new. I still constantly listen to You Are//I Am by River Valley Church. I listen while I work, and I listen while I run.
This is honestly the first time I am hearing about Aaron’s new project and it sounds awesome. I read Shauna Niequist books and they helped so much, just to get me thinking about life and where to go and that I can do whatever things I put my mind to; yes they may be hard at times but keep going. I’m in a season of transition in my life and it makes me nervous not knowing where I am going with my life or what career path I am to take. I need something in my life that will help create a balance, something calming and uplifting. I have been searching for a church where I fit and I am just not having luck. I look forward to reading more of your blog and finding new ways of connecting myself with others looking for the perfect fit or who have some advice on finding it!
I would love a copy of the new Liturgy, I have been listening to #1 from Aaron’s website.
I really enjoy this new project Aaron has and would LOVE to win! I really loved having Aaron lead worship for us at Mars Hill and would love to have the lituragies to listen to at home! 🙂
The background to his project sounds a lot like where I am right now. The battle of darkness and light can sometimes halt me in my work as a worship leader and Christian singer/songwriter. The journey through this sounds like it led Aaron to profound connection with God, and that’s exactly what I’m hungering for, and not quite sure how to grab hold of. I believe this work could help me in my own spiritual walk and then on to those I minister to in worship.
Great to see some of the new creative stuff coming out that’s meant for more than just consumption. I had come across this online, and would be interested to receive a copy and use both personally and corporately. Thanks for making this available!
I love the Idea of Dark & Light within the music. I’m headed over to the website now to check it out!
I’m just commenting today to support David’s blog. Great interview. Can’t wait to check out this project. David has great taste in finding fresh music.
So cool to see so many new people here!
I would love a copy of A New Liturgy! Great interview.
sounds interesting, i’d love to hear it!
Sounds interesting, I would love to hear it 🙂
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT NEW LITURGY IS, HOW IT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR CHURCH IF IT IS GOOD FOR US IN OUR WORSHIP.
WOW! I’m in awe. Would love a copy. I ‘discovered’ you through your wife – love her writing…. You two are a fantastic couple and are doing GREAT things for God.
I love this. I love the approach. I love the idea of Catho-Protestant worship.
Wonderful! I’ll be chewing/ruminating/meditating on these themes for awhile.
Awesome. Thanks Charles!
Is there any info out there about why Aaron left Mars Hill?