sanctuary songs retreat at Keats Island, October 2023

SANCTUARY SONGS


ABOUT THE ALBUM


Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate have created an album of songs about mental health and faith. Why create a worship album focused on the theme of mental health challenges? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found in yet more questions. How do the songs we sing on a Sunday morning impact people with lived experience? Are we inadvertently excluding or stigmatizing members of our congregations by only singing certain types of songs, or only singing about certain experiences in the life of faith? How can we encourage worship leaders to think through their sets from new and different perspectives? And most importantly, how can we help people hold on to God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances—including experiences of mental health challenges.
 
By creating an album that centers around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and by modeling life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges, we have the opportunity to unite liturgy and advocacy. We hope this collaboration will offer new ways of experiencing belonging in church communities around the world.
 
 
Want to learn more about each song? You can find the lyrics, music videos, and credits for each single by clicking the button below.
LEARN MORE

LISTEN NOW


LISTEN NOW



ABOUT THE ALBUM


Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate have created an album of songs about mental health and faith. Why create a worship album focused on the theme of mental health challenges? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found in yet more questions. How do the songs we sing on a Sunday morning impact people with lived experience? Are we inadvertently excluding or stigmatizing members of our congregations by only singing certain types of songs, or only singing about certain experiences in the life of faith? How can we encourage worship leaders to think through their sets from new and different perspectives? And most importantly, how can we help people hold on to God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances—including experiences of mental health challenges?
 
By creating an album that centers around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and by modeling life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges, we have the opportunity to unite liturgy and advocacy. We hope this collaboration will offer new ways of experiencing belonging in church communities around the world.
 
Want to learn more about each song? You can find the lyrics, music videos, and credits for each single by clicking the button below.
LEARN MORE
Sanctuary Songs artists group photo at Barnabas Landing, Keats Island, October 2023

Photo Credit: Jeremy Stanley and Greg Gillespie

CONTRIBUTORS

The Sanctuary Songs album was written and produced in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges—all from different countries, diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and many Christian denominations and traditions. In October 2022, we gathered for a songwriting retreat at Barnabas Landing on Keats Island in beautiful British Columbia. Album contributors include Emoni Wilkins, Matt Maher, DOE, Leslie Jordan, and Guvna B.

Pictured (from left to right), back row: Marika Siewert, Kate Bluett, John Swinton, Daniel Whitehead, Isaac Wardell, Nick Brewer, Emma Holland, Stuart Townend, Brian Doerksen, Orlando Palmer, Isaac (Guvna B) Borquaye, Matt Maher, Nick Chambers, Valerie Guerra, Jane Born, Kristin Maher, Jon Guerra. Front row: Jeremy Stanley, Leslie Roberts, Leslie Jordan, Niki Paige, Paul Zach, Lizzy Ojo Martens, Jina Lee, Hillary McBride, Paul Lee, Brian Eichelberger, Michelle Furumori


CONTRIBUTORS


Sanctuary Songs artists group photo at Barnabas Landing, Keats Island, October 2023

Photo Credit: Jeremy Stanley and Greg Gillespie

Pictured (from left to right), back row: Marika Siewert, Kate Bluett, John Swinton, Daniel Whitehead, Isaac Wardell, Nick Brewer, Emma Holland, Stuart Townend, Brian Doerksen, Orlando Palmer, Isaac (Guvna B) Borquaye, Matt Maher, Nick Chambers, Valerie Guerra, Jane Born, Kristin Maher, Jon Guerra. Front row: Jeremy Stanley, Leslie Roberts, Leslie Jordan, Niki Paige, Paul Zach, Lizzy Ojo Martens, Jina Lee, Hillary McBride, Paul Lee, Brian Eichelberger, Michelle Furumori

The Sanctuary Songs album was written and produced in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges—all from different countries, diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and many Christian denominations and traditions.

In October 2022, we gathered for a songwriting retreat at Barnabas Landing on Keats Island in beautiful British Columbia. Album contributors include grammy-nominated artists Matt Maher, DOE, and Leslie Jordan, as well as three-time MOBO (Music of Black Origin) winner Guvna B.


RECEIVE THE SHEET MUSIC AND LINER NOTES


LISTEN TO CHRIST IS LOWER STILL

 “Christ is Lower Still” featuring Matt Maher and DOE is available to stream on all platforms. 

Writers: Matt Maher, DOE, Kate Bluett, and John Swinton

Performed by: Matt Maher, DOE, Juan Solorzano, Kai Welch, IAMSON, Terrence Clark, Michael Libramento, Latifah Alattas, Emoni Wilkins, and Leslie Jordan; Strings: John Arndt 

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW



CHRIST IS LOWER STILL

“Christ is Lower Still” featuring Matt Maher and DOE is available to stream on all platforms. 

Writers: Matt Maher, DOE, Kate Bluett, and John Swinton

Performed by: Matt Maher, DOE, Juan Solorzano, Kai Welch, IAMSON, Terrence Clark, Michael Libramento, Latifah Alattas, Emoni Wilkins, and Leslie Jordan; Strings: John Arndt 

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN TO SING OVER ME

"Sing Over Me," the third single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now. 

Writers: Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Matt Maher, and Isaac Wardell

Performed by: Taylor Leonhardt, Molly Parden, Matt Maher, Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Isaac Wardell, Michael Libramento, Terence Clark, Juan Solorzano, Kai Welch, James McAlister, John Arndt

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW



SING OVER ME

"Sing Over Me," the third single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now. 

Writers: Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Matt Maher, and Isaac Wardell

Performed by: Taylor Leonhardt, Molly Parden, Matt Maher, Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Isaac Wardell, Michael Libramento, Terence Clark, Juan Solorzano, Kai Welch, James McAlister, John Arndt

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN TO TAKE IT EASY

"Take it Easy," the second single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now. The song is available to stream on all platforms. 

Writers: Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Matt Maher, and Isaac Wardell

Performed by: Matt Maher, Paul Zach, Michael Libramento, Terence Clark, Juan Solorzano, Orlando Palmer, Emoni Wilkins, Kai Welch, and Latifah Alattas

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW



TAKE IT EASY

"Take it Easy," the second single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now. The song is available to stream on all platforms. 

Writers: Paul Zach, Kate Bluett, Matt Maher, and Isaac Wardell

Performed by: Matt Maher, Paul Zach, Michael Libramento, Terence Clark, Juan Solorzano, Orlando Palmer, Emoni Wilkins, Kai Welch, and Latifah Alattas

Engineer: Buckley Miller; Mixing: Jonathan Class; Mastered: Dave Wilton

Artwork: Adam Mountstevens and Bryana Russell

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN TO ALWAYS WITH ME

"Always with Me," the first single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now.

The song features DOE and Paul Zach and was written by Orlando Palmer (IAMSON), Jessica Fox, Paul Zach, and Kate Bluett.

"Always with Me" is available to stream on all platforms. You can listen on your platform of choice by clicking below.

The Sanctuary Songs album and single covers were designed by Adam Mountstevens, featuring art by Bryana Russell.

LISTEN NOW


ALWAYS WITH ME


"Always with Me," the first single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now.

The song features DOE and Paul Zach and was written by Orlando Palmer (IAMSON), Jessica Fox, Paul Zach, and Kate Bluett.

"Always with Me" is available to stream on all platforms. You can listen on your platform of choice by clicking below.

The Sanctuary Songs album and single covers were designed by Adam Mountstevens, featuring art by Bryana Russell.

LISTEN NOW

ABOUT THE PORTER'S GATE

The Porter's Gate is a sacred ecumenical arts collective reimagining and recreating worship that welcomes, reflects, and impacts both the community and the Church. 

The group was founded in 2017 by Isaac and Megan Wardell with a mission to be a "porter" for the Christian Church—one who looks beyond church doors for guests to welcome. It started as a group of fifty-plus songwriters, musicians, scholars, pastors, and music industry professionals from a variety of worship traditions and cultural backgrounds who gathered to discuss challenges in the Church and write songs in response.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT SANCTUARY

Sanctuary equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

We provide resources that meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health. Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing. Learn more about Sanctuary on our Mission and Vision page.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT THE PORTER'S GATE

The Porter's Gate is a sacred ecumenical arts collective reimagining and recreating worship that welcomes, reflects, and impacts both the community and the Church. 

The group was founded in 2017 by Isaac and Megan Wardell with a mission to be a "porter" for the Christian Church—one who looks beyond church doors for guests to welcome. It started as a group of fifty-plus songwriters, musicians, scholars, pastors, and music industry professionals from a variety of worship traditions and cultural backgrounds who gathered to discuss challenges in the Church and write songs in response.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT SANCTUARY

Sanctuary equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

We provide resources that meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health. Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing. Learn more about Sanctuary on our Mission and Vision page.

LEARN MORE

SUPPORT SANCTUARY

If you are moved by Sanctuary’s mission to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing and would like to support Sanctuary financially, you can make a one-time or recurring donation online using the button below.

SUPPORT SANCTUARY

If you are moved by Sanctuary’s mission to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing and would like to support Sanctuary financially, you can make a one-time or recurring donation online using the button below.