Submitted by First Presbyterian Church-Salisbury

JAZZ in Church?!? This Sunday at 11 a.m., there will be a unique worship experience at First Presbyterian. Foremost, it is Pentecost Sunday — the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And it is that gift that we will honor with a unique sound. Jazz music has, for many, been directly associated with the seedy side of the secular world. And its relationship with those aspects of life cannot be denied. However, many of the roots of jazz music can be directly attributed back to the church — as can much of all of our music.

William Skidmore, or Father Skid as many locally knew him, in his reflection Bordello, Barrelhouse, and Basilica: a Personal Reflection on Jazz and Christian Spirituality, said this:

Christian Theology…notes that a prime attribute of God is that He is the Creator of all that exists. It would therefore follow, it seems to me, that one of the most obvious ways in which we would reflect the image of our Creator is to be, ourselves, creative. And the creativity involved in jazz, with its spontaneity and improvisation, is undeniable.

I, for one, find a deeply spiritual experience in the act of creating my musical line within a jazz performance, an experience which makes me keenly aware of my relationship with God, the Master Creator and giver of the gifts which are my own creativity.

Skidmore, William. Bordello, Barrelhouse, and Basilica: a Personal Reflection on Jazz and Christian Spirituality. Salisbury: Center for Faith and the Arts, 1996. 8-9. Print.

So it is with that recognition of the sacred gift that is the ability to create spiritual music that we will enter God’s house on Sunday. The Sanctuary Choir will sing music by one of the legendary jazz musicians of North Carolina, and the world, Loonis McGlohon. Our own John Stafford worked with Loonis in the later years of his life and will be bringing some of his music to us. Parker Foley (bass) and Doug Blomstrom (drums) will complete the trio that will lead our worship as led by our creative Spirit.

First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury, 308 W. Fisher St. Attendees are invited to wear something red.