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Plymouth Clergy Update  2/13/2018
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Be. Deepen. Evolve. 
An Update from Mark Heiskanen
When I first came to Plymouth, I was immediately taken by the welcoming spirit of diversity and free thinking openly supported here. My worldview and personal faith can be freely expressed without, shall we say, ‘repercussions’. I don’t take this privilege lightly and it is a prominent way that I can easily identify with Plymouth’s mission and people. This aspect of the church naturally translates into the music culture, which includes a traditional base in the morning services yet with permission to explore other styles and traditions if desired. And then there’s the third service, or “3.0”, as it was called. Having experienced this service early on, I immediately grafted onto its creative possibilities and hoped to further this end by encouraging intentional service planning and musical development. I see this service as a unique expression of worship at Plymouth and look forward to its continuing renewal.
 
My first impression of the 6pm service was that it was a kind of ‘liturgical laboratory’ where alternative ways of worship and music could be experimented with and experienced at the very least. The phrase, Be. Deepen. Evolve. is very evocative of what a modern church can be like. By involving congregants in creative liturgical actions, one can actively infuse worship with meaning beyond words: engaging the mind and body. The invitation to see our faith through various lenses, be they culturally or philosophically, is a useful approach to the Truthseeker. I enjoy this approach very much and feel fortunate to have a church that embraces this weekly.
 
The 6pm music follows suit in a diversity of styles from jazz, gospel, world, bluegrass, rock to classical and traditional. Eclectic, to be sure. Having the inimitable Bobby Brannock at the helm as service coordinator and versatile pianist extraordinaire is a real blessing to Plymouth. We’ve been working closely for months now expanding the creative possibilities for this service’s music and making our service planning process more efficient. You may have noticed a preview of the 6pm music, along with the morning services, has begun appearing in my weekly Overview articles. This will continue and also include a spot in the monthly Placard soon.
 
In my previous life (i.e. 20’s & 30’s), some of you may know I was pursuing the ‘brass ring’ of a record deal in various rock bands, primarily as a bass player. David Bowie, Genesis, Rush, and Yes were my muses then (and still are!). I understand deeply that there often is no such thing as a sacred vs. secular music divide. The spiritual character of any meaningful music has a place in sacred worship in my view. And the 6pm service is the perfect context for these experiments, both musical and liturgical, at Plymouth.
 
I would encourage everyone to attend the evening service from time to time. I do and benefit from the experience. In the coming months the Chancel Choir will visit, along with the Plymouth Ringers, to offer a sublime work by composer William Albright. In the future, we’ll see a Taizé service and even a bona fide Choral Evensong ‘straight outta Cambridge’. The diversity of music and worship styles is a wonderful element of worship life at Plymouth. Please support the most unique expression of this sensibility at the 6pm service. It is good to be here.
 
Mark Heiskanen
Director of Music
 

Additional Information

Mark Heiskanen

Director of Music

Mark came to serve Plymouth's music ministry in September 2017. Originally from Northeast Ohio, he is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ (cognate in Choral Conducting) remotely via the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mark also has experience and great interest in a diverse range of musical styles, such as jazz, rock, contemporary Christian, musical theatre, and gospel. He is thrilled to serve a congregation and pastoral staff that values diversity and inclusion in all facets of life.
 

Mark's academic background:

DMA (in progress), Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

MM, Cleveland State University

BM, Cleveland State University
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