With over 250,000 subscribers, The Liturgists Podcast is the most known work of the group. By blending a topical format with interviews, poetry, music and compelling sound design, The Liturgists Podcast attracts a remarkably heterogeneous audience including not inly a broad swath of Christianity, but also the religiously unaffiliated–including agnostics and atheists. The show has been lauded for its commitment to scientific accuracy, its production values, and most of all its gracious tone when discussing controversial subjects.
The Liturgists have traveled the country facilitating two interactive liturgical experiences (Vapor and Lost + Found). Featuring a mix of music, interactive exercises, meditation, and storytelling, these events are centered around a science-based methodology for helping people experience God. The collective also hosts a two-day gathering called Belong designed to advance an egalitarian, skeptic-friendly approach to the Christian faith.
The Liturgists was founded by Michael Gungor (of the music collective Gungor) and Mike McHargue (better known as Science Mike). Both desired sacred art that was committed to beauty and scientific integrity. The Liturgists are therefore committed to producing thoughtful, evocative work.
Sunday
The Liturgists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the exhale
the inhale
this life force that gently and quietly and unassumingly surges through you
in
and out
Your breath enters and then leaves your body
which make up these cells
which make up these systems
You are this odd blend of soul and spirit, dust and bone
you have hair and eyelids and toes and elbows and knees and opinions
and you make assumptions and you have expectations
You are this potluck of emotions and feelings and physicality
You are part mountain and part ocean and part
spirit
You are a fascinating endless mystery and then you move about
this world
and there is cement and taxes
and there is your insurance agent and there is the person you buy bread from
and you have people that you love and you have people who are like human sandpaper
they annoy you to no end
There are people you embrace you embrace on a regular day
and there are people that you pass by one on a street in a large city on the other side of the world and you will never be close to them again as long as you live
You live in this body with this breath that comes
and goes
and then in this body you experience this world with wind and waves and trees and rocks and deserts
and mountains
It's all part of what you call your life
and in these experiences with this breath coming and going
and in this body, with these people that you know and this set of circumstances that is called
your life
you have these experiences and some of these experiences fill you with hope
and with life
Sometimes it's a beautiful song
Sometimes it's holding the hand of your young daughter
Sometimes it's sitting by the bed as your grandfather takes his last breath
Sometimes it's a holiday meal with relatives
Sometimes it's friends from school
Sometimes it's that moment at work where you get the sense that what you're doing
matters
We have these moments of meaning, these moments of substance
these moments when we think "yes, there is a point to this"
And then there are the other moments
The moments of despair
the moments when it doesn't go well
There are the long cold silences
There is that thing that happens when the alarm goes off in this morning and you think "another day"
There is that thing that happens when you are driving to work and you think "why? what's the point?"
There is that small habit that grew and grew until now it's like a destructive pattern
you don't know what to do with it
And so what happens ever so gradually
if we do not guard our hearts
is that we come to be gradually overtaken by this pervasive sense that there might not be a point to it
underneath it all it actually is random and pointless
And so what happens is those good, beautiful, true, moving, inspiring moments
the lump in the throat
the tear in the eye
that sense when you embrace somebody and it feels like you're holding the Universe in your hands
Those moments start to feel like they're just little detours
and escapes from how it really is
Which is cold, dark, lonely, and pointless
Resurrection is the opposite
Resurrection says oh, no, no, no, no, no. Those glimpses, those are actually the real thing
They're the thing that undergird the whole thing
Just that moment when that person said that kind word and it ignited a whole new world in your heart
That was just an aberration from how things are
That was a sign, a symbol, a glimpse, a glance of how it actually is
Resurrection says that this is our home and that our home is good
Resurrection says that not only is our home good
but everything about our home that is wrong, twisted, broken, destructive, flawed, and failed
everything about it
whether it may hurt and whether it may be something like cancer that is real
and however big the bruise is
and however much blood there is on the floor
whatever it is
however real it is
and however much it broke your heart
it is, in the end, in some really, really hard to describe way
temporary
That in fact, there is a new creation bursting forth
right here in the middle of this one
and there is a new heaven and a new earth coming together
and that this Jesus, in his resurrection insists that in the conquering of death
he has brought about something new
something you can trust
that whatever is holding you down
whatever feels like it's drowning you
whatever feels like it's a weight chained to your ankle
does not have the last word
That is resurrection
Now, a guy rising from the dead 2, 000 years ago
can I prove that happened?
No, no one can
and be very suspicious of anybody who says they can prove that
and be especially suspicious of sermons where people spend 45 minutes proving to you that a man actually rose from the dead
Nobody knows
What we know is there has been a community of people for several thousand years
who insist that something happened
that a tomb is empty
and that when you trust this story something will be unleashed
and unlocked in your heart
and in your life
So yes, it's history
but it's a bigger, better, wider, more expansive understanding of history
So for those who think "What? Come on. How far fetched is that?"
Try it
Try living in this story
Try trusting that all those little glimpses and glances of hope and beauty and truth and light
That they weren't aberrations
They weren't mistakes
They weren't some blip in the system
They were actually showing you what it's really like
That this new life is as close as the breath you just took
and the breath you're about to take
The Liturgists' "Sunday" is a reflective meditation on human existence and the meaning found in the fleeting moments of beauty and hope that punctuate our daily lives. The song begins by acknowledging the simple yet profound fact of our breathing - the "life force that gently and quietly and unassumingly surges through you in and out." The lyrics then delve into the complexity of human beings, recognizing that we are made up of a mixture of emotions, physicality, and spirituality. We are part of the world around us, experiencing it through our bodies while interacting with other people and the various circumstances that make up our lives.
The song then shifts to consider the monotony and despair that can creep into our lives, the sense that everything is random and pointless. If we allow ourselves to be overtaken by this perception, the beautiful and inspiring moments lose their meaning and become nothing more than "detours and escapes from how it really is." Resurrection, the song suggests, offers an alternative to this despair. Although the idea of a man rising from the dead may seem far-fetched, the song argues that there is a bigger story at play, one that offers hope and the promise of new creation. By embracing this story and trusting that the moments of beauty and hope are glimpses of a reality that is more true than the bleakness around us, we can find meaning and purpose in our lives.
The lyrics of "Sunday" are open to interpretation and can be applied to multiple spiritual and philosophical perspectives. The song was intended to be a meditation on the Easter story, but the themes it explores are universal and offer a reflection on life and the search for meaning. "Sunday" is a powerful reminder to be present in the moment and to hold onto hope even in the face of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
You have your breath
You possess the ability to inhale and exhale air
the exhale
The action of breathing out
the inhale
The action of breathing in
this life force that gently and quietly and unassumingly surges through you
The essence of vitality that flows steadily through your body
in
Representing the action of breathing in
and out
Representing the action of breathing out
Your breath enters and then leaves your body
Your inhalation and exhalation happen sequentially
and your body is made up of all these molecules
Your physical being is composed of various molecules
which make up these cells
These molecules merge to create cells
which make up these systems
These cells become interconnected systems
You are this odd blend of soul and spirit, dust and bone
You have a complex identity, both worldly and spiritual
you have hair and eyelids and toes and elbows and knees and opinions
You have physical features, along with various beliefs and ideas
and you make assumptions and you have expectations
You hold prejudgments and prospects
You are this potluck of emotions and feelings and physicality
Your emotional, physical, and mental states form a unique combination
You are part mountain and part ocean and part spirit
You embody aspects of nature and spirituality
You are a fascinating endless mystery and then you move about
You are an enigma that continually moves and changes
this world
The world you exist in
and there is cement and taxes
There are the mundane aspects of everyday life
and there is your insurance agent and there is the person you buy bread from
There are people you encounter in your daily routine
and you have people that you love and you have people who are like human sandpaper they annoy you to no end
You have people that bring you joy and people who stress you out
There are people you embrace on a regular day
Individuals who you feel an affinity towards and care about
and there are people that you pass by one on a street in a large city on the other side of the world and you will never be close to them again as long as you live
There are those who you will only cross paths with incidentally and briefly
You live in this body with this breath that comes and goes
Your existence is dependent on the inhaling and exhaling of air by your physical body
and then in this body, with these people that you know and this set of circumstances that is called your life
You live your life in the company of the people you know, in circumstances that you are familiar with
you have these experiences and some of these experiences fill you with hope and with life
In your life, you encounter experiences that inspire optimism and vitality
Sometimes it's a beautiful song
An experience or action that brings you joy or elation, such as hearing a beautiful song
Sometimes it's holding the hand of your young daughter
A moment that brings you emotional connection and warmth, such as holding your daughter's hand
Sometimes it's sitting by the bed as your grandfather takes his last breath
A moment of sadness and passing, such as being present as your grandfather passes away
Sometimes it's a holiday meal with relatives
A moment of shared celebration and familial tradition, such as a holiday meal with family
Sometimes it's friends from school
An experience of reconnecting or staying connected with peers from school
Sometimes it's that moment at work where you get the sense that what you're doing matters
An experience of your work feeling like it's important and meaningful
We have these moments of meaning, these moments of substance
Life is made up of significant experiences that imbue it with deeper meaning
these moments when we think "yes, there is a point to this"
Experiences that make you feel that life has a purpose
And then there are the other moments
Contrasting with meaningful experiences are other, less significant ones
The moments of despair the moments when it doesn't go well
Experiences that bring disappointment and discomfort
There are the long cold silences
Times of emptiness and loneliness
There is that thing that happens when the alarm goes off in this morning and you think "another day"
Days that begin with tedious routine and a sense of monotony
There is that thing that happens when you are driving to work and you think "why? what's the point?"
Wondering about the meaning and purpose of work and the direction of life
There is that small habit that grew and grew until now it's like a destructive pattern you don't know what to do with it
Habits that became harmful or difficult to break
And so what happens ever so gradually if we do not guard our hearts is that we come to be gradually overtaken by this pervasive sense that there might not be a point to it
If you're not careful to maintain your optimism and hope, you can start to feel like life lacks purpose
underneath it all it actually is random and pointless
Life feels meaningless and at the mercy of chance
And so what happens is those good, beautiful, true, moving, inspiring moments the lump in the throat the tear in the eye that sense when you embrace somebody and it feels like you're holding the Universe in your hands
Amidst the sense of pointlessness, moving experiences occur that evoke emotions and inspire beauty
Those moments start to feel like they're just little detours and escapes from how it really is
Experiences of beauty are regarded as fleeting breaks from reality
Which is cold, dark, lonely, and pointless
Reality feels harsh, bleak, solitary, and meaningless
Resurrection is the opposite
Resurrection represents the opposite of bleakness and meaninglessness
Resurrection says oh, no, no, no, no, no. Those glimpses, those are actually the real thing
Resurrection challenges the notion that beauty is an illusion and meaningless
They're the thing that undergird the whole thing
Beauty is the foundation on which existence is built
Just that moment when that person said that kind word and it ignited a whole new world in your heart
Small acts of kindness create significant, lasting effects
That was just an aberration from how things are
Beautiful moments are not flukes, they represent reality
That was a sign, a symbol, a glimpse, a glance of how it actually is
Beauty reveals the true nature of existence
Resurrection says that this is our home and that our home is good
The message of resurrection is that existence is where you belong and it is good
Resurrection says that not only is our home good but everything about our home that is wrong, twisted, broken, destructive, flawed, and failed everything about it whether it may hurt and whether it may be something like cancer that is real and however big the bruise is and however much blood there is on the floor whatever it is however real it is and however much it broke your heart it is, in the end, in some really, really hard to describe way temporary
Despite the flaws and pains of existence, these aspects are temporary
That in fact, there is a new creation bursting forth right here in the middle of this one and there is a new heaven and a new earth coming together and that this Jesus, in his resurrection insists that in the conquering of death he has brought about something new something you can trust that whatever is holding you down whatever feels like it's drowning you whatever feels like it's a weight chained to your ankle does not have the last word
Resurrection represents a new creation within the existing one, and gives hope that what weighs you down will not be the end
That is resurrection
The above set of beliefs embodies resurrection
Now, a guy rising from the dead 2, 000 years ago can I prove that happened? No, no one can and be very suspicious of anybody who says they can prove that and be especially suspicious of sermons where people spend 45 minutes proving to you that a man actually rose from the dead Nobody knows
The concept of resurrection, though difficult to prove, is worth considering
What we know is there has been a community of people for several thousand years who insist that something happened that a tomb is empty and that when you trust this story something will be unleashed and unlocked in your heart and in your life
Believers in resurrection recognize the importance of trusting the story, inspiring inner transformations
So yes, it's history but it's a bigger, better, wider, more expansive understanding of history
Resurrection is a historical event with far-reaching implications for understanding reality
So for those who think "What? Come on. How far fetched is that?" Try it Try living in this story Try trusting that all those little glimpses and glances of hope and beauty and truth and light That they weren't aberrations They weren't mistakes They weren't some blip in the system They were actually showing you what it's really like That this new life is as close as the breath you just took and the breath you're about to take
Believers encourage the skeptical to embrace the story of resurrection and trust the moments of beauty and hope as glimpses of actual reality
Contributed by Julian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.