Riddim of Creation is a musical expression of thanking God, in the form of a liturgy (leitonrgia), for the magnificence and splendour of all of creation, its growing pains, its struggles, its evolution, its ongoing birth.  This musical piece uses a classical framework of worship in offering gratitude for the end of a millennium and the beginning of a new one.  It invites all creeds, all cultures, all colours, all rhythms to a spirit of gratitude as one listens to how the world beats to the Riddim of Creation.

The Concept: A Liturgy (or Mass) can be a great celebration of song and dance with the right type of music. When one walks the streets of Kingston, one sees how many Churches are filled with people singing and dancing.  The traditional Roman and Anglican Mass can likewise be a celebration of song and dance when it has the right riddim.  As such, in a non-traditional, all-denominational way, “Riddim of Creation: A Liturgy” was given birth so as to bring about a renaissance of spirituality using the riddim of Jamaica.

The Theology : Besides thanksgiving (Eucharist), there is another theology underlying this whole work, a theology of creation and incarnation.  As the first track begins there is chaos, creation and “In the beginning was the?Riddim,” which reflects the Prologue of  John’s Gospel which states  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God?Through God all things were made, without God nothing was made that was made.  In God was life, and that life was the light of all people. ? The Word became flesh and made God’s dwelling among us” (John 1:1-5, 14).  This scripture passage, and the theology behind it, is stating that all of creation “all things that were made,” have received the dwelling of the Word (Riddim), that all of creation is graced with God.  This is why the book of Genesis states that, “God saw all that God had made, and it was very good.” The Riddim of Creation is expressing musically that God, who is incarnate in the world, is the unity within all diversity of creation. The Millennium Mass 2000 will be the performance, in the form of a Liturgy, of a celebration of thanksgiving for the diversity of the world found in creation and all religions.   Therefore, the Riddim of Creation is inviting all people, all creeds, at all times to give God thanks through a Liturgy, working together for peace among religions.  As theologian Hans Kung states, “Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world.” 

In spirituality, it is important to have eyes and ears to “find God in all things.” Music is clearly a way to find God.  However, the theology behind this music goes further saying that God is expressing God’s self in the Riddim of Creation.  This is the spirituality this music wants to reveal.  As such, even though it emerges from a traditional Roman and Anglican liturgical style, it moves to be truly catholic, meaning universal.  It becomes the catholic music of no one religion so it can then be the music for all religions.  The unifying dwelling of God incarnate within the full diversity of the world, is the God-Christ who is the Alpha and the Omega. Therefore, we must have eyes that can see, and hearts that can love, so as to recognize the revelation of God in the evolution of the world, in its cosmology, in its people, in its culture and music, and in its expression of consciousness and faith which are found in the diversity of religions.

 The Liturgical Format: With the “Prologue” there is the beginning of creation and the beginning of the liturgy with the entrance song, Original Grace. The priest as  presider, greets the people and calls the community into prayer.  He invites the people to reflect on their “sins” and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness.  This is the song, You were there, which serves as the Penitential Rite.  When the Mass was in Latin, the congregation would sing Kyrie Eleison, Christi Eleison (Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy).

After the members of the community have prepared themselves by reflecting on the need for God’s mercy and forgiveness they enter into the “liturgy of the Word.” The congregation listens to several scripture passages.  After the first reading, there is a response from the congregation which is either a psalm or alleluia. Riddim uses Alleluia, praising God for all of creation.  After the sermon, the congregation offers particular prayers or petitions to God. The “liturgy of the Word” ends and the community moves to the “liturgy of the Eucharist,” but, one must remember, that the entirety is one liturgy with beginning and end.

Human Hands is the Offertory Song and is the beginning of the “liturgy of the Eucharist” where the bread and wine are offered.  It is also a symbol of the community offering themselves to the altar of God. This song is an offering to God the gifts of bread, wine and ourselves.

As the priest leads the community in prayer the congregation sings a statement coming from the prophet Isaiah (6:3):  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory.” 

The “liturgy of the Eucharist” continues and the community recites or sings the “Our Father” prayer and expresses peace with each other. After the “sign of peace” the congregation sings the Lamb of God. In Latin this is known as the Agnus Dei.  The community recognizes that God became flesh and offered himself as the “lamb” for the sins of the world.  The community prays for God’s mercy and peace as they prepare to receive the Body and Blood of God in Jesus. During the time of receiving holy communion the community sings, and we have the song If Walls could talk.  Afterwards, the community sits and reflects on a Meditation Song, I know now.  The priest then brings the liturgy to an end with a final prayer and asks for God’s blessing.  The congregation sings, Go in peace, as the Recessional Song. 
Amen!!!