Music Ministry
From the Rector Rev, Dr. Amy Slaughter. " After three glorious years as Director of Music Ministries at St. Francis, I am sad and will miss Bonnie's joyful spirit, infectious enthusiasm for God's word and people. I am so grateful for the development of the Music Ministries here at St. Francis under Bonnie's leadership. he has encouraged and lifted singers and musicians into using their gifts for the glory of God. he has also been an incredible mentor for Will (Assistant Director of Music)."
Will writes, "If you've ever spoken to Bonnie about his work for an extended period of time, you've probably ascertained just how contagious his faith and his love for music can be. We have been so very blessed to worship with as much talent, and more importantly, a person with as much faith as Bonnie. A trusted colleague and friend now leaves behind, a wealth of knowledge and happy memories, are a blessing in and of themselves; and he has left us in a position to grow."
Bonnie has composed and arranged music for all kinds of ensembles in different genres.
“Seek the Lord” is a composition based on the text recorded in Isaiah 55:6-7. It is written for unaccompanied choir; its rich harmony serves as a wind for the text to glide and the ‘Amen’ at the end just calms the soul.
In Scotland, a "bonnie lad" is one who is beautiful and good, which fits how you'll experience his faith. Bonnie has a wonderful laugh, infectious smile, and a heart to see God's people pour their own heart into worship. He's been all over this world teaching and playing and leading in worship from Sierra Leone to Dubai and Qatar, to Glasgow and now Baltimore, he has served as a school teacher, storyteller, church music director, instrumentalist (keyboard/piano/organ, brass, woodwind, percussion, and guitar), youth minister, Bible study leader, and advocate for blended music in worship. Bonnie is not just capable of playing a variety of music, he wants to and believes it necessary to engage all people in worship of God. He is excited to fold contemporary and multi-cultural music into church services to make even the staunchest of worshippers' feet tap out a beat. Bonnie effortlessly integrates music technology in traditional settings and creates accompaniment tracks for all genres of music.
Bonnie’s passion for church music goes way back when he was a teenager in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was a chorister in his home church (The Ebenezer Methodist Church, Circular Road) where he later became a conductor and assistant choirmaster. Bonnie has a musical gift than none of his predecessors had – the ability to arrange music to suit any age level, cultural background and genre. He deeply believes in corporate worship, where everybody is involved and participates in worship. Bonnie was the first musician to play jazz music in his home church; his arrangements of popular hymns, gospel songs and spirituals for the trumpet gets every toe tapping. He has had the opportunity to travel the world and support the music ministries of various church denominations.
He is very passionate about equipping the younger generation with musical skills to support the music ministries in churches. Franklyn has pioneered jazz bands, praise bands, youth choirs, orchestras, Sunday school choirs, soloists (both vocal and instrumental) in churches from within members in the congregation. He also provides training and professional development for church musicians so that they can enhance their playing and performance skills to present a diversified repertoire for various church settings.As churches become diversified, Bonnie’s goal is to provide a spirit-filled worship experience through music for all. His ability to arrange music helps in so many ways to enhance the repertoire of church music ministries especially when so many different types of songs are only available in audio format. Bonnie’s background as a multi-instrumentalist and choir director makes a good blend for him to lead and coordinate different ensembles within the church.
"Be Still for the Presence of the Lord" is a contemporary hymn written by British songwriter David J. Evans in 1986. He was inspired by the phrase in the Old Testament – "then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said 'surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.'’
Bonnie has been very instrumental in blending traditional and contemporary music in different church denominations, working with traditional organists to introduce contemporary music on the organ. He then arranged “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord” as an organ prelude.
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Sheet Music - Be Still for the Presence of the Lord