Came across something you might
finding interesting, or at least entertaining, and hopefully both.
You may be aware that there
are a few WELS Lutheran (not Synod endorsed or affiliated, of course) minstrel
vagabonds that will travel to your congregation to provide cool non-organ music
and/or entertainment for your worship (praise?) services or other "church
events". They range from the bizarre and eclectic Spark and Echo band (http://www.sparkandecho.org) to faux Jim
Croce singer Stephen Bautista, who has traveled for five years in a trailer and
a truck with what is presently a family of 11 -- and a cat.
(https://www.facebook.com/StephenBautistaMusic). There are a couple others as
well. No hard rockers yet. Free will donations accepted.
We all know the CGM demands
more modern, relevant, and entertaining music than those dusty Lutheran hymns.
If our music is cooler, they will flock to our services. Yeah -- that's the
ticket! (Remember the pathological liar character, played by John Lovitz on the
old Saturday Night Live?).
I would like to share two
photographs that illustrate the brilliant insights of the CGM. Note the
attendance and enthusiasm of the worshipers. Photos were taken at Gethsemane
Lutheran, Raleigh, NC.
At the end of these performances, they all hawk their CDs, T-shirts, etc. with
their big, sad eyes. Another group of vagabonds actually expects some
member to put them up while they're in town. They do this for a living! This
isn't the WELS Men's Chorus or a visiting prep school. Where is the discernment
of my pastors?
