The pastor at Therfield Chapel is starting up a series of bible readings with a musical twist.
American pastor Joshua Jones arrived in Therfield two years ago and has made lots of changes during his time at the chapel in The Causeway.
He told the Crow: “The good chapel has been just fantastic in giving me space, to make a ton of changes. Sometimes these old village chapels can be quite comfortable how they are, but we have been open to change.
“So we have built a coffee bar in the back and then all of a sudden all these band members came in, so we have a band on Sunday mornings who play great music, the place has really been coming alive these past two years and I’m really grateful for the people of Therfield Chapel for being willing to make these changes.”
Rev Joshua previously got a tattoo to coincide with a sermon, and this time, he has organised a schedule of eight readings from Psalms paired with eight modern songs – eight of which he will conduct himself.
He said: “Psalms is a book in the middle of the bible that are poems or songs and what I’ll be taking is modern songs, like ones that deal with anxiety, pain, rejection and loneliness and pair them with one of the 3,000 year old psalms that deal with the same thing – and that will be the basis for the discussion.”
Songs include Sign of the Times by Harry Styles, Believer from Imagine Dragons and Ed Sheeran’s Perfect.
Regarding why it’s important to him to keep his readings fresh, Rev Joshua said: “As Christians and as the church we walk this tightrope, we have this balance, it’s about faithulness to God and about being to connect in an effective way.”
And about his time in Therfield, Joshua said: “My house is right across from the Fox and Duck, it’s a fantastic pub and the village is lovely.
“Most of our people aren’t from Therfield, most commute from Royston or the villages, some come from 30 mins away its very much a commuter church, we’re unique in our style, it’s a real mixed group.”
The first in the God’s Playlist reading starts on Sunday, led by Andrew Proudfoot. Rev Joshua will then lead all but one of the remaining talks, on August 5 Paul Zanreps will take the reins.
For more information go to therfieldchapel.org
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