Stochastic Worship

Category: playlists

  • Happy Ascension Day

    Happy Ascension Day

    Of course, there’s a playlist.

    It’s a day of mixed feelings. On the one hand, we’d love to have Jesus physically present in one geographical location for us to book an appointment to spend a few moments with Him, before we’re ushered out and the next party of awkward tourists gets their instagram-ready photo opportunity.

    No, scratch that. We really are better off with Him reigning in the Heavens, having sent the Holy Spirit to engage with each of us, whenever we want, wherever we are, however we feel.

    That’s why Ascension Day, instead of a time of sorrowful farewells, becomes an opportunity for joyful hope, looking forward to Pentecost and further beyond to His glorious return in the same way that He left us; visibly, physically and in great power.

    Of the songs I’ve curated on this theme, I particularly like Jesus Ascended because of its unashamed triumphalism and the way it weaves other aspects of the the gospel narrative into the song.

    [Verse]
    He is risen from the grave so high
    Shining bright in the endless sky
    The stone is rolled the veil is torn
    In His light new life is born

    [Chorus]
    Jesus ascended seated above
    Reigning in power ruling in love
    King of all glory Lamb who was slain
    Forever and ever He shall reign

    [Verse 2]
    The cross was heavy the pain was real
    Through His wounds our souls are healed
    Darkness trembled the earth it shook
    Victory written in His holy book

    [Chorus]
    Jesus ascended seated above
    Reigning in power ruling in love
    King of all glory Lamb who was slain
    Forever and ever He shall reign

    [Bridge]
    Holy holy is His name
    Forever and ever He’s the same
    Crowned with honor robed in light
    He is the way the truth the life

    [Chorus]
    Jesus ascended seated above
    Reigning in power ruling in love
    King of all glory Lamb who was slain
    Forever and ever He shall reign

  • While we’re on the subject of sheep…

    While we’re on the subject of sheep…

    The Fourth Sunday of the Easter Season is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Psalm 23 and Jesus’ identity as the Good Shepherd are fruitful themes for hymnwriters, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are popular in the AI world too. Here’s my playlist. Others are out there too.

  • Noah’s Ark

    Noah’s Ark

    I was tempted to do a re-telling of the story in a different context, just for fun. But instead, kept it to being inspired just by the narrative in Genesis. It fascinates me that all over the world, different cultures tell a story of how a universal cataclysm took place in the past. Some archaeologists speculate that Noah’s story goes back to the Younger Dryas event. It’s an interesting thought, but beyond the scope of someone like me just using the story devotionally to explore who God is through the medium of song.

    In the first song of the playlist I’ve curated, the focus is on the people of Noah’s age. They’re not bad. They just have no place for the divine. No sense of wonder. No connection to an authentic expression of spiritual reality.

    That’s why they miss the signs. That’s what makes Noah and his family stand out. By the time we get to the third song, we see God’s hand in two tangible ways. The animals arrive, and once they’re all safe inside. God seals the door. He takes responsibility for what happens next.

    If it had been me, hearing my neighbours banging on the ark’s door, pleading to be allowed in, I would have found it impossible to say no. Despite the idiocy of such a move, insufficient supplies being the most immediate obstacle. That’s why there’s a recurring echo of the enormity of what has taken place in the suite.

    It’s a story full of symbolism. The raven and the dove, the rainbow. All could be explored in more depth, but surely that’s the whole point of these little songs? To awaken that spark of curiosity, to get you digging and praying in order to deepen your relationship with your Creator.

  • Creeds

    Creeds

    A new project: how well can a randomly selected set of phrases and terms reflect the majestic craftsmanship which went into formulating the historic creeds of the Christian faith?

    Of course, there’s a playlist.

    I’m not entirely convinced that these buckets of words are helpful in producing a precise and concise confession of faith that covers all relevant doctrines. It’s good for sampling from them and finding things that fit together – it’s probably why I think the model did a far better job with setting scriptural proto-creedal statements to music than in paraphrasing actual creeds as songs.

  • Nehemiah

    Nehemiah

    To those of you who are unfamiliar with the story: Nehemiah is a Jewish exile serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. Upon hearing about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem’s walls, he is deeply distressed and prays for guidance. Granted permission by the king, he returns to Jerusalem and rallies the people to rebuild the city’s walls, despite facing strong opposition from neighboring enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah’s leadership, strategic planning, and reliance on prayer help complete the reconstruction in just 52 days.

    This is what my playlist focuses on.

    But the backstory is even more bizarre! Ninety years earlier, the Temple was rebuilt. Ninety years! For nine decades the walls lay in ruins, leaving God’s people vulnerable, open to attack; limiting their ability to live as a community by harming their ability to look after those who most needed assistance.

    There’s a message here for the modern church. Nehemiah teaches us that when God stirs your heart, it’s for a purpose bigger than you. Through prayer, boldness, teamwork, and trust, broken things can be made whole — and God’s name is glorified.


    In a world full of brokenness (inside and outside the church), Nehemiah’s story is a call to rebuild what matters most: faith, community, and hope. But it starts with prayer.

  • Jonah

    Jonah

    My latest playlist.

    Too many people write this off as a simple story, fit only for children. They forget the fact that Jonah was a historical figure, mentioned in 2 Kings 14 – a patriotic prophet who foresaw victory and restoration of Israel’s fortunes.

    You would have thought he would have been eager to predict doom and destruction on Israel’s enemies – but instead he did something totally illogical. He tried to run away from God. A situation he explains in chapter 1, verse 9 of his story. Jumping into a boat to evade the One who created both land and sea is insane. But Jonah did it.

    It’s as if he’s declared to the Almighty, “I refuse to fulfill my destiny! What are You going to do, kill me?” This is why we see Jesus referring to the sign of Jonah. After three days of contemplating his fate, Jonah resolves that God is God, and that he must do His will – whatever the cost to his dignity.

    And What a cost! Imagine this haggard and bleached specimen, dried out and dusty from his travel inland to Nineveh, calling out that this huge sprawling metropolis will be swept away in God’s judgement.

    And then all heaven broke loose! As Jonah waited for destruction to fall; the city turned in repentance, God stayed his hand and Jonah, the great prophet was made to look like a presumptuous fool. The man who got it wrong.

    And here’s the kicker. Jonah had seen God’s mercy from that first instant when he was called to speak truth to power in Nineveh. He knew that if he spoke out, and the people turned from evil, God would spare them – spare the mortal enemies of Israel; so that when Israel turned from God, there would be an alien nation ready to deliver God’s judgement to them.

    You can appreciate his flawed thinking. “If I don’t preach, they will be swept away without warning, and my own sinful people will be safe for another generation.”

    Jonah must have realised the futility of trying to run away from his fate. After all, no-one is indispensable. God could have raised up any number of successors to Jonah and sent them to Nineveh. But He wanted Jonah. Looking back through the lens of the Gospel story we glimpse why.

  • Happy Easter!

    Happy Easter!

    Here’s a playlist.

    For those of you who want to shout out, “Hallelujah, Jesus is Risen!” Here’s a few different ways of singing those words…

    And most important of all, have a great day. Meet with others and enjoy the reality of having a fresh start, thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

  • The Lent Cross Challenge

    The Lent Cross Challenge

    Earlier I mentioned the Lent Cross Challenge promoted by the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Each day, throughout the Lent season I have shared a new song generated by the prompt given for scriptural mediation.

    It has been an interesting experience. Some of the songs have certainly helped me express my thoughts as I’ve considered the meanings of the Bible verses and their direct relevance to my own life. Here’s a link to the playlist.

    As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not the only person who has been using AI-generated music as an aid to focus my thoughts on the meaning of Lent. There are even people on Suno who have been faithfully posting a daily song to accompany the Bible reading plan they’ve been following.

  • A Suite for Good Friday

    A Suite for Good Friday

    Good Friday? If you don’t know how the story ends, it’s the most horrific time. The one person who you thought could change the world has been arrested, tried in a kangaroo court and executed in the cruelest way imaginable.

    But let’s spare a thought for the real victims of the story – or so they would portray themselves. A religious and political establishment who correctly identified the Author of Righteousness as an existential threat to their comfortable status quo.

    What if you looked at the events of Holy Week from their eyes? After their attempts to discredit Jesus have resulted in further exposing themselves as corrupt and foolish; they find a suitable patsy who will betray Him. They feel that their problem is dead and buried…

    Then, all heaven breaks loose!

    Here’s a short playlist of four songs telling the story of the Passion from their viewpoint. Because, truth be told, if we were in their position, we would have done the same.

  • The Playlists

    The Playlists

    One of the reasons why I began working on this site was to help organise the curated playlists of AI-generated worship music I’ve been working on.

    Here’s a link to an ever-expanding set of my playlists on Suno.

    I’ve tried to categorise them as:

    • Books of the Bible
    • Chants
    • The Church Year
    • People
    • Stories
    • Books
    • Themes

    Feel free to explore them: remix, experiment with your own ideas and comment on or like any individual songs or playlists while you are there.