For Winnipeg worship leader Katherine Skibitzky, songwriting is a way to keep God’s Word in her heart and help others do the same.
Skibitzky has been involved in music for most of her life and began serving on worship teams in high school. Today, she leads worship at her church about once a month with a small team that includes her 12-year-old son on drums.
“It’s an incredible privilege and also a very weighty responsibility,” Skibitzky said.
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For her, that responsibility means approaching worship authentically and grounding the songs, prayers, and words shared during a service in Scripture.
“I think the songs that we sing really matter, and that we base them on God’s Word,” she said.
That desire to centre worship on Scripture eventually led to an eight-song album, with each track based on a passage from the Bible.
Writing songs from Scripture
The project began several years ago when Skibitzky’s church took part in Sing Global, an initiative that encourages churches to sing Scripture.
At the time, the congregation had begun working through the book of Deuteronomy. Skibitzky sat down at the piano and began writing a song inspired by Deuteronomy 6, which calls God’s people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.
“I just sent it to the pastors to see that it was okay,” she said. “And they said that they loved it and we should sing it at church.”
More songs followed as Skibitzky continued studying Scripture on her own and alongside her church community.
Eventually, people began asking for recordings so they could listen to the songs and use them beyond Sunday services. Her husband helped make that possible by setting up recording equipment in their basement and working with talented friends to produce the project.
For Skibitzky, the process has been about more than creating music. She said putting Scripture to music can help people remember it long after they have heard it.
“It’s been really meaningful to me to work through Scripture in that way,” she said. “And then now it’s just stuck forever.”
Songs for her family and church
The impact has extended to Skibitzky’s own family. Her three sons have heard the songs repeatedly at home, and two of them appear on the project.
Her children join her on “Deuteronomy Song,” singing the final bridge and chorus. The song focuses on the hope that children will sing God’s praises and that each generation will declare His greatness.
“That’s like my favourite — to hear them on there,” Skibitzky said.
The songs have also become part of congregational worship. One of the tracks, “Lord of the Harvest,” was released separately as a single and features members of her church joining her in the chorus.
Hearing a congregation sing words drawn from Scripture has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience, she said.
“It’s so amazing,” Skibitzky said. “And to also just have my kids learn Scripture this way … those words are in their hearts and their heads too.”
She said her church community has been encouraging and has embraced the opportunity to sing the songs together.
A foundation for more music
Writing from Scripture has also shaped Skibitzky’s personal faith.
She said some of her earlier songwriting focused primarily on her own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Building songs around the Bible has given her a different foundation.
“Because God’s Word never changes and it’s always true, to then base so much of what I’m doing on His Word … it really builds up in a very healthy way,” she said.
The process has encouraged her to spend more time studying Scripture and allowing it to shape what she writes.
Skibitzky does not consider the project finished. As she continues working through different passages, she expects more songs to come.
“There’s more coming,” she said. “As we work through different Scripture passages and as God lays stuff on my heart … there are more coming.”
She also hopes the songs will reach beyond her own congregation. People who have heard them have asked whether they can sing them in their own churches.
Skibitzky welcomes that possibility.
“If anybody’s interested in singing these songs in their churches, they’re more than welcome to do so,” she said. “These songs are for use. If they can be used for God’s kingdom, go for it.”