Proposal Summary
Listening for Selah: An Exploration of Instrumental Music as a Form of Prayer
William Carter
First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, PA
Summary
My proposal is to explore how instrumental music may be an emerging resource for Biblically-based prayer. It is my intent to draw upon the fruits of my 2006 Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders, to develop my work from that sabbatical in a form that is useful for church and synagogue, and to reflect theologically on what we might discover about the potential and power of instrumental music for renewing the people of faith. Specifically this project will convene four collaborative gatherings of musicians who regularly play liturgical jazz. We will interpret and record a large selection of the psalms without words that I composed during my sabbatical. Throughout this process, we will reflect together theologically on instrumental music as a form of prayer. I will conclude the project with a writing retreat, when I plan to compose a series of essays that discuss the discoveries and insights that have continued to emerge through this process.
Related Publications
| Publishers | Title | Year | Type | Contributor | Contribution | Other Info |
| Presbybop Music | "Listening for Selah: Psalms Without Words Live" | 2009 | DVD | William Carter | Contributor | Filmed at the Scranton Jazz Festival |
| Presbybop Music | Psalms Without Words | 2009 | Compact Disc | William Carter | Author | |