Quite simply, it is IMHO the most proper tribute to the music of Rich Mullins that I have heard. Honestly, it is probably one of the best albums released this year in the Christian music genre. Go listen to it. It is worthy of five stars.
A Liturgy, A Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins was recorded at the Ryman in Nashville on September 24, 2017. The live album was just released on October 21, 2025. Oct 21 would have been Rich Mullin’s 70th birthday. Andrew Peterson and Co deliver an album which is a masterpiece founded upon another masterpiece.
I grew up in a church where Rich Mullins frequented. He played music for our youth group quite often. He led retreats. Later in my life, I can remember walking into young adult Sunday School one morning, and learning of his passing. By this time our high school youth group had graduated from college. I can remember exactly where I was sitting that morning. His music and words had been instrumental in making the Gospel genuine and not neatly packaged in our denominational wrappers. The voice of one of the 20th century’s greatest singer-song writers was not to write another line.
Buenas Noches from Nacogdoches. One of my favorite Rich Mullins’ albums is one which doesn’t get a lot of fanfare, Canticle of the Plains. Buenas Noches from Nacogdoches is a beautiful ballad from that collection of songs about what life would have been like for St Francis of Assissi had he come home disillusioned after the Civil War.
Elijah. Performed by Matt Giraud. This is another beautiful rendition of what really is my favorite Mullin’s song. I actually first heard this at First Broad Street UMC on just a piano as Mullins banged out its beautiful melody. “When I look back on the stars, it will be like a candelight in central park, and it won’t break my hear to say goodbye.”
Rich Mullins often noted that his songs were just pop music which would pass away quickly. I don’t think so. I think this album is proof that some works of art are just timeless. Like a Picasso, they just get better with age.
The Good Confession. It is written and performed by Andrew Peterson, is a nice addition to this Mullins tribute. He talks about having to learn a song by RIch Mullins and Steve Cudworth, If I stand. “And if I weep let be as a man who is longing for his home.”
Here in America. Just beautiful. Sung as it should be sung. “And if I were a painter I do not know which I’d paint…The calling of the ancient stars or assembling of the saints….I am home anywhere if you are where I am…The Holy King of Israel loves me here in America.”
The Color Green. This song is full of Irish influence – I think! I remember Rich telling a story about sweaters of Irish fishermen. They were all knit with a unique pattern. Why? Well, if they died and their body washed ashore, they could identify them by the unique stitching in their wool sweaters. I think Mullins always got a bit of a kick in telling this story. It was morbid. It cut deep. Death was part of this life, and we best be prepared. “And the moon is a sliver of silver
Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter’s shop.”
Peace. Right there with Elijah and the Love of God for me. Beautifully written and the piano intro is masterful. It brings tears to my eyes. It is both poetry and a hymn. No better, modern day communion song has been written in my mind. When I die, play this one.
And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach
Behind these prison bars to set us free
So may peace rain down from Heaven
Like little pieces of the sky
Little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls the drought has dried
In His Blood and in His Body
In this Bread and in this Wine
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you
Calling Out Your Name. Maybe, just maybe Andrew and Skye Peterson did this better than Rich Mullins. I think Rich would be thrilled with that. “Sometimes the night was beautiful. Sometimes the sky was so far away. Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close. You could touch it but your heart would break.”
I See You. Simply rhythm. Again, beautiful lyrics. “Well, the grass will die. And the flowers fall. But Your Word’s alive. And it will be after all. Everywhere I go I see you.” And most appropriately, it is followed by “Oh God You Are God.”
Doxology. I have been to many Rich Mullins’ concerts. He ended with this one so often. “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
On so many levels, this concert/album gets it right. It feels right. I think in many ways Mullins was the Beethoven of our time. He wrote christian contemporary symphonies. Like Martin Luther, he spoke our language. He spoke from a place of anguish. He spoke from a place of suffering. And you know what? So, so few artists can connect on that level.
The only song I would have added would have been The Love of God. To me, it contains the single greatest(and sometimes a bit controversial) lyric that Rich ever wrote.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
I cannot find in my own
And it keeps this fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with the yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless, raging fury
That they call the love of God
I remember Rich Mullins talking about Brennan Manning. He was riding along in a van while listen to Brennan spoke about God’s love. Rich had to stop the van, and get out – it moved him that much. I know for me, that is how it was when I plugged my first Mullins cassette into the car radio. A couple of Brennan Manning quotes seem like a good way to close this out.
Our hearts of stone become hearts of flesh when we learn where the outcast weeps ~ Brennan Manning. Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child
For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Jesus Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change. When Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened,” He assumed we would grow weary, discouraged, and disheartened along the way. These words are a touching testimony to the genuine humanness of Jesus. He had no romantic notion of the cost of discipleship. He knew that following Him was as unsentimental as duty, as demanding as love. ~ Brennan Manning, A Ragamuffin Gospel
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