This article was written in THE LAKE TODAY newspaper. I thought it was worth sharing. Once again, good press for Faithbridge.
Church, music ‘Come Together’
Beatitudes use Beatles’ songs to minister to wider audience
By Deborah Wolfe
The Lake Today
“A lot of people put up the manger scene after Christmas and write the message of Jesus’ birth off as a cute story,” Faithbridge church Pastor Buck Cueni-Smith said, “but the birth of Jesus started a revolution and the Beatitudes are not only the way Christ lived his life but also the way he expected us to follow him."
Cueni-Smith was referring to the fact that many people don’t realize the Christmas season continues long after the giftwrap and garland are put away. In the coming weeks, Faithbridge church will recognize this process by incorporating Christ’s teachings in the Beatitudes with the music of the Beatles.
This may seem like an odd combination to some, but Cueni-Smith believes popular music can help people grasp the meaning of sometimes difficult Biblical teachings.
“The 12 days of Christmas are actually the 12 days after Christmas with Jan. 6 marking the epiphany, which is the beginning of Lent,” Cueni-Smith explained. “Epiphany literally means ‘to make known’ or ‘to reveal’ and our goal is to make Christ teachings known through the music of our culture.”
Common thread
The idea of combining the message of the Beatitudes with the music of the Beatles came to Cueni-Smith after attending a performance of “Let it Be Christmas” at a fellow church. Taking a deeper look at the lyrics of other classic Beatles tunes, he found a common thread in the messages he felt could help him reach a broader audience.
“There is a Christian calendar that is established to go through the process of awakening,” Cueni-Smith said. “By incorporating Christ’s message with popular music, it magnifies our ability to enlighten a larger and more diverse group of people.”
This past Sunday’s introduction to the Beatitudes was supplemented by the tunes “Let it Be,” “Help” and “Revolution.” Cueni-Smith believes the story of Christ birth was the beginning of a revolutionary life that modern-day people should model their own lives after.
“People at that time were praying for a warrior king, but what God did in sending this little baby was revolutionary,” Cueni-Smith said. “God built a bridge through an infant in the complete opposite way that took everyone by surprise.”
Just as the song “Help” recognizes that you can’t do it by yourself, Cueni-Smith stressed the church should play a central role in assisting members of the community regardless of their religious beliefs. Through Faithbridge, he hopes to take the church back to being a center for community activities and he recently offered the use of the church as a shelter to families in need of refuge from the bitter winter weather.
“I like to wear out buildings,” Cueni-Smith said. “We have showers here and plenty of space for people in need. The church should be the hub of a community.”
Entertainment Meets Ministry
Services and activities that combine ministry with entertainment play an important part in releasing people from the fear of entering a church full of foreboding and forbidding. While Faithbridge stays true to its Christian mission, Cueni-Smith said they try to keep the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming.
“Because church has gotten complicated some people are intimidated to go to a church building,” he explained. “We’re trying to produce events for the community that people won’t feel threatened that they are going to be preached at or judged.”
The church’s initial outreach attempt began in 2009 with a blues jam held on the Longest Night also known as Blue Christmas to recognize people who have lost loved ones through death, divorce or separation, those who are lonely and those who incurred a job loss or suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
Other activities have helped the young church rapidly build its open-door reputation throughout the Lake Area.
“We had an overwhelming turn out for our hog roast that included entertainment by a blue grass band,” Cueni-Smith recalled with a laugh. “And even though it rained during our drivein movie night, we had about 20 cars in the parking lot with people watching ‘Herbie the Love Bug.’”
Whether it takes Beatles tunes to teach the Beatitudes or
employing the creative talents of tattoo artists to render chalk drawings of Christian tattoos they have etched in their customer’s skin, Cueni-Smith vows to continue to find innovative ways to reach out to the Lake community.
“It’s about being culturally relevant as a church,” Cueni-Smith said. “But we are committed to producing programs that will bring the outside world in.”
He stressed that music will always play a pivotal role in bringing seekers to Faithbridge.
“If you have an excellent music ministry, the preaching can be simply adequate and you will still get the message across,” Cueni-Smith said downplaying his abilities as a preacher.
Concept Context
The Beatitudes series began Sunday and will continue through the first Sunday in February. Though the concept has been well-received by most congregants, Cueni-Smith admits to a bit of consternation about a long-ago comment made by former Beatle John Lennon claiming the Beatles were more popular than Christ. Although later reports agreed Lennon’s remark was taken out of context, Cueni-Smith’s time spent as a circuit minister with the British Methodist Church outside of Birmingham, England, impressed upon him the enormous effect the group had on the English culture and left him wondering how the world would change if the church could have the same impact.
“My biggest controversy with the Beatitudes series is from Christians because of Lennon’s remark but that was taken out of context and in a way he was right,” Cueni-Smith said. “If the church could gain the popularity that the Beatles had in England at the height of their fame, we could rival that comment.”
More information about the Beatitudes through the songs of the Beatles and other Faithbridge sponsored events can be found online at www.faithbridgelakechurch.com or by calling the church office at 573-348-9454.
FAITHBRIDGE CHURCH
For more information about the Beatitudes or Faitbridge events:
• www.faithbridgelakechurch.com
• Church office: 573-348-9454
COURTESY OF BUCK CUENI-SMITH
Beatitudes band members Mark McPheeters on guitar (left) and Larry Cox on bass (center) provide rhythmic background to Urban Poet Jeremy Shields as he raps to the congregation during the Beatitudes sermon series at Faithbridge Church in Osage Beach on Sunday.
Married 15 years, Pastor Buck Cueni-Smith moved to the Lake Area in 2009 to develop programs at the new Faithbridge church. The couple has 11-year-old twin daughters and a 6-year-old son.
