The Wood and the Stone

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• Audio (2)

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Loss comes to us in many forms—a loved one's passing, divorce, a neglected friendship, getting laid off—whatever it is, the way we process the feelings of grief associated with that loss can be as varied as the individuals who are experiencing it. This new collection from Gerard and Mary Chiusano seeks to help people work through those wide-ranging emotions and ultimately discover the comfort and hope that is only found in Christ.

Designed to help us find life beyond grief, The Wood and the Stone is multi-faceted, consisting of the recorded audio component and a retreat experience led by Gerard and Mary. These songs—especially when experienced through the retreat setting—serve as reminders that, despite what happens in the world around us, we can trust that God holds our futures in his loving hands.

More for meditation than liturgy, the overall musical style leans toward contemporary with a few ballad-like songs. While the pair worked in tandem, with Mary writing most of the lyrics and Gerard composing the music, the collection also features vocals by experienced Broadway, film and television actress Allison Trujillo Strong. Her captivating voice can be heard on a number of songs, adding lush harmonies and an overall refreshing quality to the collection.

Along with the eight songs, the three guided meditations on The Wood and the Stone take listeners on a journey of discovery and letting go, using adaptations of different Scripture passages as a foundation. These help to remind us that, in spite of whatever difficulties we may face, our Lord and Savior is no stranger to grief and loss, and he will never leave or forsake us. We can always find hope in the wood of the cross, upon which Jesus suffered, and in the stone that was rolled away when he conquered death once and for all.

Track listing

The Place Where I Belong | Meditation I: Father, If It Be Possible | A Silent Prayer | At the Cross | Meditation II: Father, into Your Hands | I Commend | May the Angels | Meditation III: Our Hearts Burning | With God at My Side | An Unexpected Love | Wood and Stone