Pastor Matt Staniz brings greetings from the Caribbean during the opening days of sabbatical leave. As he intentionally steps away, he also steps into reflection on the theme “We are What God Has Made Us”. Be sure to check out our introduction to Pastor Matt’s sabbatical to learn more about what will occur over the coming months & this exciting theme.
Join Pastor Matt in the Listening Room
Throughout sabbatical leave, Pastor Matt will be pursuing music as a source of sabbath, spiritual practices, and identity-building. “I am uniquely excited about the time and space sabbatical will provide me to appreciate and benefit from music. I knew as a young child that music is important to me, to my happiness, and especially to my spiritual life.” From the day he received his first 45rpm single or Walkman to the day he stepped in front of people with a guitar to lead worship music, Pastor Matt has found music to be formative to his God-given identity.Here are some playlists that Pastor Matt has curated for listening during sabbatical leave, both for himself and for anyone else who wishes to join him in the listening room.
“These are songs that I return to regularly: while praying, while reading scripture, and when preparing sermons and other teaching materials. Each one of them points to artists whose music has provided me with a space that invites me into a sense of the sacred.”
“During my teen years in the 1980s, I found my place in the world at Christian camps, youth rallies, and in a church youth group. I also discovered “Christian rock music” that drew me into a Jesus-loving subculture where I felt comfortable, safe, and (most importantly to me at the time) COOL. I withdrew into songs that crafted my young faith by artists who were often too religious to gain a wider audience while also being too “rock and roll” to be trusted by many churches. When I listen to these songs today, I appreciate how far my faith journey has come since I was 16. I also can’t help but be thankful for how my youth (including these songs and artists) is apart of who I am.”
Summer Songs
”Just what the title says. Best listened to outdoors; perhaps near water.”
“These are songs that look beyond the surface of what faith looks like and dig deep into the struggle and tension that comes with waiting for promises to come true. They mirror the prayers of lament that make up many of the Psalms.”
Songs of Revolution and Resurrection
“These are songs that cry out for change ‘on earth as it is in heaven’, including a Christianity that looks more like Jesus. Like the biblical prophets, they also shine light on what needs to be transformed.”
Email Updates
Don’t want to miss a sabbatical update? While you can always read here on our blog, you also can sign up for our email reminders and we will alert you when Pastor Matt shares a sabbatical update.