Works
Published Articles & Devotions
In Hope of Resurrection:
the Easter Story of Limestone University
Baptist News Global | Spring 2025
Twenty years ago, I was sitting in my dorm room at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., skipping classes so I could watch the funeral of Pope John Paul II. As an aspiring church musician from the rural South, I was captivated by the ancient liturgy, the solemn ritual and the grand, sacred pageantry. But more than that, I was struck by the weight of tradition — watching an institution carry out a rite that had remained virtually unchanged for more than a thousand years.
Institutions anchor us. Whether they are religious, educational or civic, these structures shape our lives and help form the society we aspire to build.
Bread of the World - really, the WORLD!
Baptist News Global | Fall 2024
Most liturgical churches have been living into the bread imagery of the Gospel of John for the past several weeks. One of the worship planning resources I use has nicknamed this portion of the Lectionary “high-carb season,” which I thought was most apropos. At first, this bread theme (which comes around every three years) was viewed as a fun and creative challenge. However, as the Sundays have dragged on, my preaching colleagues tell me they are struggling to find new things to say, and I will fully admit I have used most of the familiar “bread songs” in my repertoire.
A Pilgrim in a Strange Land: How One United Methodist Found a Home in Moderate Baptist Life
Baptist News Global | Summer 2023
It is no secret that The United Methodist Church is in chaos. Churches are voting to leave the denomination left and right, once healthy congregations are now divided, longtime relationships are being damaged, and good people are being hurt. Several of my UMC friends are looking for new places to worship, and I have invited them to give my church a try. However, some of them are reluctant to do so because they do not want to give up the things they feel are so important to their identity as Methodists.
Let's Reclaim the Real Baptist Identity
Baptist News Global | Summer 2023
I have the honor of serving a progressive congregation in one of the most beautiful cities of the Southeast. Our church is steeped in history with strong liturgical worship, and we pride ourselves on being welcoming and affirming, while also being active in both local and global missions. We have loving people and quality programming, but we struggle to get people through our doors. Why? Because the word “Baptist” is emblazoned on the facade of our 200-year-old edifice, and people have preconceived notions about who we are and what we believe.
Creation and Liturgy on Earth Day
Good Faith Media | Spring 2022
Churches around the world are planning to celebrate God’s creation in worship as we approach the observance of Earth Day 2022. Hymns like “All Creatures of Our God and King,” “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “This Is My Father’s World” will resound in sanctuaries both large and small.
Scriptures from the psalms will be read as a way of calling to mind the breadth and depth of the world around us. Litanies will be used to challenge us to be good stewards of the planet in our charge.
However, as we celebrate the wonder of creation in worship, we have to ask ourselves if we are truly honoring all aspects of God’s handiwork.
The Role of Liturgy in the Journey
Toward Justice
Good Faith Media | Winter, 2022
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the worship of the Christian church.
Some changes have been good, with livestream options bringing people together for worship and virtual choirs singing forth a message that now reaches beyond the doors of the church.
However, the pandemic also brought to light the weaknesses of worship, including the need to reevaluate how we introduce, deal with and process the difficult issues of social and racial justice.
In the Land of Beginning Again:
An Old Song for a New Day
Incarnations Magazine | Fall, 2021
There is a wonderful hymn included in several recently published hymnals entitled “This Is a Day of New Beginnings.” The first stanza states, “This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember, and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone.” The music minister in me feels the need to make parallels between such a hymn and the great “restart” we are all experiencing as we come out of this season of pandemic. However, when Katie asked me to write about new beginnings, I must admit that another (not so churchy) song popped into my mind.
Precious Memories: A Rumanitive Retrospect
on Pandemic, Consistency, and Time
Incarnations Magazine | Spring, 2021
The last time I played the organ for a regular Sunday morning worship service...one with actual people in the pews and congregational singing...was over a year ago. The date was March 8, 2020, the day after my 35th birthday, and I was doing a short-term interim at the First Baptist Church of Savannah, GA, while my friend, Rev. James Richardson, recovered from a hip replacement surgery. Little did we know at the time how much life would change in the course of the coming year.
You Can "Handel" the 'Messiah'
Worship Arts Magazine | October, 2020
In the early days of the pandemic, musicians lamented the programs that were canceled as a result of the virus. While COVID-19 rages on, choral directors are now starting to dream about the music they will create when life returns to normal. Some conductors are even exploring repertoire that is stylistically different and more challenging than anything their ensembles would have attempted before. This includes rediscovering major works like Handel’s Messiah.
Click here to view a recent concert inspired by Justin's article.
A New Normal: Rebirth in the Midst of COVID-19
Blog Entry | Eastertide, 2020
Co-Pastor friends of mine have adopted “Easter People” as the theme for their sermons during Eastertide. Likewise, their organist has incorporated the hymn, “Easter People, Raise Your Voices,” as a constant musical element during their virtual worship services of the season. This hymn was penned by an African-American Methodist minister, and calls for the themes of resurrection to permeate all aspects of our lives. It seems to me that the Great Fifty Days of 2020 offer a perfect opportunity for us to examine what rebirth and resurrection can mean, not only for our lives, but for our churches and our world, as well.
O Rest in the Lord
The Fellowship Weekly Reflections | February 24, 2019
Each time I read this week's lectionary psalm, I cannot help but think of the beautiful mezzo aria "O Rest in the Lord" from Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah. The aria quotes Psalm 37 in the following way: "O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for him, and he shall give thee thy heart's desires. Commit thy way unto him, and trust in him, and fret not thyself because of evil doers."
Blest Are They
The Fellowship Weekly Reflections | February 17, 2019
This Sunday's Gospel text contains a shortened version of the Beatitudes, some of the most beloved and oft-quoted verses of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Generally associated with funerals and memorial services, these statements put forth an example of faithful living, and grant assurance to Christ's followers.
Sanctus
The Fellowship Weekly Reflections | February 10, 2019
The third verse of this week's Old Testament lesson is the source of one of the oldest hymns in the Christian church. Often paired with Matthew 21:9, these verses together comprise the Sanctus portion of the Roman Catholic Mass. The Sanctus proclaims, "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." Many beautiful settings of this text have been composed over the centuries, including those by Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, Charles Gounod, and my personal favorite, Lindsay Norden.
The Gift of Love
The Fellowship Weekly Reflections | February 3, 2019
After reading this week's Epistle text, I would imagine that choirs in many of our churches will be singing Hal Hopson's "The Gift of Love" on Sunday morning. The music library of every single church that I have served over the years included well-loved (and barely held together) copies of Mr. Hopson's simple yet beautiful setting of the love chapter from I Corinthians.