Amanda is a fresh voice in progressive church circles. Combining gifts of musicianship, leadership and story-telling, Amanda brings songs and stories from her world travels into worship. She invites people to experience a deeper connection to themselves, to one another and to the Spirit through "full-bodied" singing and worship.
“Amanda is high energy, spiritually attuned and deeply committed to helping others experience the Divine through music.”
Amanda’s work in worship and song leadership began during a trip to South East Asia in 2001, sponsored by the Global Ministries Division of the United Methodist Church. During this music tour, she witnessed and became passionate about the power that music has to connect people from different cultures. Over the past decade, Amanda has directed, performed and presented workshops for a number of regional and national ecumenical events including at Princeton Theological Seminary, Union Presbyterian Seminary, for The United Methodist Women's Assembly, the American Guild of Organists and for the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Amanda has served as liturgist and worship leader at events with the World Council of Churches, The United Church of Christ Church House and the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Amanda has worked in a number of local churches including Christ United Methodist, Northampton, MA, Trinity Episcopal, Upperville VA and Federated U.C.C, Chagrin Falls, OH. Currently, Amanda is Director of Music and Worship at Disciples Christian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH. Beyond her local and national church leadership, Amanda also works as a consultant with church communities who are in transition and looking to find their authentic "voice" in music and worship expression.
Amanda led an entire online worship service for Old South Church, Boston, MA. Here is the sermon that she shared during worship.
“Amanda Powell is gifted with a rare balance of what we normally expect from two contrasting people: fresh creativity as well as dependable organization, vocal as well as keyboard strength, a command of contemporary as well as early music styles, appreciation for traditional as well as global music treasures, exhibiting humor or seriousness as required in situations, innovative and yet respectful of grounded ritual.”
“Amanda worked closely with our team to select music that enhanced and deepened the program writing. She spent countless hours researching music that resonated with the age and demographics of our event. Amanda follows where the spirit will lead. Her own joyful spirit fills the room both when working closely together and when leading your group. And she easily moves to change music to meet the flow of your event and the calling of our God living and breathing with us in each space.”