Celebrating
the centennial with food and music
CANADA — The Canadian
Bible Society (CBS) is celebrating its 2006 Centennial with some
unusual publications – a CD of contemporary music inspired by the
Bible and a recipe book.
The CD, Good News Celebration, offers a range of Canadian contemporary
singer-songwriters, some well established, others whose names are new,
from various musical styles and traditions. According to the executive
producer Peter Fleck, the 15 songs, some in French, some in English,
include everything from pop, folk and rock to classically-oriented and
country tunes. The common thread connecting them is that all were inspired
by Scripture.
Possibly the best-known artist on the CD is Brian Doerksen, a writer
of worship songs associated with the Vineyard church movement.
Cheryl Bear, on the other hand, has a direct connection with the Canadian
Bible Society.
“I am from the Carrier Nation in British Columbia,” she
explains, “and once I found a Bible written in my language at the
CBS I was so excited! I gave copies to my elders and they were very
pleased.” Her song on Good News Celebration is the Lord’s
Prayer sung to a backing of indigenous drumming.
Since for many people music provides an accessible way in to Scripture,
CBS considers encouraging the use of Scripture through music to be a
key part of its mission.
The idea behind the Celebration Cookbook was to celebrate the CBS
family. The 903 recipes included came from people in each of Canada’s
16 districts. “I like to see the recipes that come in from a small
place in Nova Scotia and a big place in British Columbia,” says Ruth
Wright, one of the book’s co-ordinators. “You begin to see that
the Canadian Bible Society really is all across Canada.” (WR 400/7
- 03.06)