“Our love is all of God’s money. Everyone is a burning sun.”
—”Jesus, Etc.” by Jeff Tweedy

Songs have souls. Songs are vessels which contain the raw ingredients of human life. Their shape has enough depth and breadth to hold the vastness of human experience. As artist pours life into each song, the listener keeps the mixture stirring as words and music move the head and the heart. Songs thus become a reservoir of meaning and seeking which contains a whole spectrum of human emotions.

“It’s not a cry that you hear at night. It’s not somebody who’s seen the light. It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah.”
—”Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

It’s the power and soulfulness of songs that inspires St. Columb’s to host its Lenten Singer-Songwriter series, “Songs have Souls.” The inaugural series began last year, hosted 5 talented artists whose music gave listeners a deeper connection to Lent and raised funds for eight scholarships to help special needs campers get to Camp Bratton-Green. Listeners were treated to food from Strawberry Café in Madison and served by members of the vestry of St. Columb’s. We were truly grateful for the artist’s contributions and the people who turned out in support.

“We built a box together, filled it full of songs, and placed it on the mountain, beneath a pile of bones.”
—”Mountain Song” by Cary Hudson

This Lent, the series returns with new artists and renewed purpose. Featured artists include Owen Beverly (2/21), a native Mississippian with an indie folk-rock sound; Cary Hudson (2/28), a founding member of the alt-country group Blue Mountain; Daniel Makin (3/6), a West Texas songwriter with jazz and classical training; and Tim Avalon and Brigid Ferguson (3/20), a local duo with folk and Celtic influences.

“I feel her in the wind sometimes, blowing up the sheets on my clothesline, headed out of Jackson, looking for a new life.”
—“Legs and Scars” by Owen Beverly

All ticket sales for the series will benefit special session at Camp Bratton-Green. Special session is a week-long camp program for special needs campers. This long-standing ministry of the diocese has offered a place of fun and refuge for campers and transformative servant leadership for volunteer staff members. This year, the funds from our songwriter series will go toward installing a wheelchair lift at the camp pool.

“Lord my path has darkened, help me light my way. I’ll never ask for another favor if you’ll get me through today.”
—”Here and Here to Stay” by Rev. Patrick Sanders

All shows are open to the public and begin with dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15. Find out more information at stcolumbs.org.
Thanks be to God for our songs, into which we pour our souls.