Special Music Services

Andrew's original songs are often used in spiritual and worship services by various progressive communities of faith. He has performed at services for Unitarian Universalist, Unity, and Congregational churches as well as Ethical Societies (see list). Andrew's "Special Music Service" is a 20-25 minute thematic program in place of a sermon, weaving 3 or 4 of his expertly crafted songs together with anecdotes, prose and humor to create a powerful and uplifting experience and message.

Available Special Music Service Themes

• "Beyond Borders" - the mysteries of the human experience and the challenge of being forced out of our "comfort zone"
• "Earth Day Every Day" - inspirations and ruminations on leaving lighter footprints
• "Embracing Our Whole Story" - celebrating with humor and compassion the essential value to our whole person of the skeletons we keep sequestered out of sight
• "The Inward Winter Dares to Bloom" - a special service for the season of long nights and seasonal affective disorder
• "Tilling Our Common Ground" - in these polarized times, an opportunity to peel away the layers of “spin industry” obscuring the commonality of our needs and desires
• "What Moves Us to Move?" - will we the people ever again rise up and march a million strong for justice, liberty, or the right to free checking for all time? A 21st-century look at acting on our passions.

If you are a UU congregation that has already scheduled with us, you'll find this Planning a UU Service page full of helpful information.

We are always glad to include a Sunday morning service onto the tour itinerary. Andrew's Special Music Services are perfect to fill open pulpit Sundays due to ministerial vacations as well as for lay led congregations. Music has an unique way of reaching head and heart, and a fringe benefit is that attendance at well-publicized music services is often 20-30% higher than average.

"We were absolutely delighted with your choice of material, your presentation and your relaxed and friendly manner. The songs not only entertained, but they also evoked a sense of spirit and community perfectly suited to a UU worship service. You are a delight to work with, as well."
- Pat Trimbell, Worship Committee
UU Fellowship, Chico CA

"one of the most gracious, conscientious, and giving people we have ever welcomed to our Fellowship! ...the thought-provoking and uplifting messages centered on how events in people's lives shape their reality ... and one couldn't help come away with a renewed spiritual energy ... as well as a peal of laughter or two"
- UU Fellowship of Mobile AL Website

In addition to this selection of appropriate songs from his CDs below, we invite you to read some of Andrew's essays, lyrics and poetry. Andrew and his family are members of the UU Church of Loudoun near Leesburg VA. If desired, he can also add his music to a scheduled speaker's planned theme in appropriate places, like prelude, offertory and postlude.

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Were you there? Wasn’t it great!

Shirley Kinney - Newsletter, UU Fellowship of the Rappahannock, White Stone VA

I’m talking about the Andrew McKnight concert UUFR-VA hosted on December 18. It was a bitter cold winter night, with slippery roads and snow falling—yet thirty-six brave souls gathered in our Fellowship Hall, hands clapping, feet keeping time with a marvelous performer.

Andrew sang, played an amazing guitar, and told stories of his life and creative process. He sings beautifully, and that alone would have been great. He plays amazingly, and that alone would have been great. He told funny touching stories, and that alone would have been great. But, all together, it was an evening to be remembered.

Your Program Committee sponsored this evening as a treat for our Fellowship, and also as a means of reaching out to the community. Both goals were well met—a third of those attending that evening were visitors to our Fellowship. And, more visitors came to Sunday service on the 19th because Andrew McKnight was performing—a service that drew fifty-five in attendance.

So, in every way, the evening was a smashing success. Consequently, the Program Committee is already planning future musical evenings in the coming year, perhaps one in the spring, one in the summer, and one around Thanksgiving. Thanks to all who helped in making this event the success it was.

"He was a hit in our congregation, which ranged in age that Sunday from 12 to 92. No sooner had he finished, I was asked to invite him back. Our minister said it was just the way a musical service should be done. Andrew is easy to work with, easy to listen to, and easy to recommend as an entertainer with a meaningful message."
- Katie Womack, Worship Committee Chair
UU Fellowship of Brazos Valley, College Station TX

See Andrew perform his song "These Shoes", about an illegal immigrant's journey