Kicking at the Darkness – Bruce Cockburn Weekend

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“A Bruce Cockburn weekend,” you ask, “what on earth is that?”

Well so here’s the thing. May 23-24, Brian Walsh will be leading a workshop celebrating the significant artistic contribution of Canadian singer/songwriter, Bruce Cockburn. On Saturday from 9.30-3.30, he’ll be exploring the rich spiritual images and Christian themes in Bruce’s repertoire. On Sunday, Brian will be preaching at 10:30am. Unsurprisingly, service music will be from Cockburn’s catalogue.

From the organisers:

Cockburn has always had a loyal fan base, however, there has been a re-surgence of interest in his music because of references to his songs in William P. Young’s popular novel, The Shack. The workshop is being held at Christ Church [Anglican] in Burritts’ Rapids (now part of the city of Ottawa). When Bruce Cockburn lived in Burritt’s Rapids, he wrote some of his most popular songs. This one-day workshop will be an opportunity to explore with others the connections between faith, music, beauty and brokenness in the place where Cockburn’s musical and spiritual journey all began.

There are lots of B&B’s in the area and local organizers can assist with finding accommodation if needed. If you’re interested in coming, please contact Lisa Chisholm-Smith at (613) 233-6271 ext 231 or lchisholm-smith@ottawa.anglican.ca by Tues. May 19, 2009.

Cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

More info including driving directions is at http://www.merrickvilleanglicans.org/Cockburn.htm

Brian Walsh
Brian is an activist theologian, a retired CRC campus minister, the founder of the Wine Before Breakfast community, and farms with Sylvia Keesmaat at Russet House Farm.He engages issues of theology and culture, and has written a couple of books you might want to check out. His most recent offering is cowritten with Sylvia Keesmaat and entitled Romans Disarmed: Resisting Empire, Demanding Justice.

3 Responses to “Kicking at the Darkness – Bruce Cockburn Weekend”

  1. Peter Scholtens

    Sounds fascinating.

    Will Walsh be discussing the evolution of Cockburn’s Christianity over time, and whether Cockburn has kept the Faith?

    Reply

  2. Brian Walsh

    Yes and no. My concern is not primarily biographical, but aesthetic and theological. I’m interested in engaging Cockburn’s work as an example of a Christian imagination and as a deep resource for the reawakening of the Christian imagination. So yes, Cockburn’s emerging and changing Christian faith is in focus, but no I’m not interested in asking whether Cockburn has “kept the Faith” per se. Actually Peter, I kind of get worried when Faith is capitalized like this.

    Reply

  3. Sherri

    A recently published book of photos (2009) of Bruce at work can be found here:

    http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/759764

    More info here: http://brucecockburn.org/a_view_from_the_woodpile.htm

    Reply

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