Better Get It in Your Soul

What Liturgists Can Learn from Jazz

This book offers hope to parishes searching for a way to make their liturgies more meaningful in the local context. Written by a priest and a musician who have worked together for many years in the Canterbury House ministry at the University of Michigan, Better Get It In Your Soul describes methods that demonstrate a respect for others’ gifts and skills, discernment of spiritual needs, and welcoming the creative force of the Holy Spirit into the planning process. Though thoroughly based in the Book of Common Prayer liturgy, the experience and ideas presented here are described in ways that will be useful to all liturgical denominations. Congregants at these liturgies have commented: “I only know that I believe in God – I’m not sure of much else. But I can worship here.” “[It] is a perfect combination of music of the people and the mystical sense of Christ.”