Church Players?

[A.J.Fedor]

How many of you guys or gals play in church on a regular basis? Or am Am I the only one?  
(Actually it's my only regular gig)

age

[Grizzly]

How many of you guys or gals play in church on a regular basis? Or am Am I the only one?  
(Actually it's my only regular gig)

age

Me, too—although I mix it up with flute, dulcimer, penny whistle, chord harmonica, besides chromatic. But with flute and chrom, anyway, it's mostly classical music. Most genres are appreciated by our Unitarian Universalist congregation.

Tom

[Renault]

I play in the church band pretty much every Sunday. It's contemporary christian music so I don't have much opportunity to play the chromatic, but I do play diatonic on about half the songs. On the others I play various hand percussion instruments, of which I have an embarrassingly large collection.

"The Quaker With A Shaker"

[A.J.Fedor]

"The Quaker With A Shaker"
Ha ha! I love it!!

[chromaddict]

I play every Sunday as I am the choir/band director, although mostly on piano (I did manage to squeeze in some harmonica this morning though  ).

[grace]

I'm thinking of going back to the church where they welcome my harmonica playing every Sunday.  Maybe its the wrong reason to choose a church but playing music is a more important part of worship for me right now than the thought provoking sermons where I've been going the last few months. grace

[Grizzly]

I'm thinking of going back to the church where they welcome my harmonica playing every Sunday.  Maybe its the wrong reason to choose a church but playing music is a more important part of worship for me right now than the thought provoking sermons where I've been going the last few months. grace

Think about how much your music blesses the souls of the listeners. It's not only for your personal fulfillment, but for service to others. Is music your passion, your bliss? Go where you and your music are welcome. Both you and the congregation will benefit.

Tom

[A.J.Fedor]

Sounds like a good time to look around for a church that does both.

I guess I'm pretty much spoiled. I ministered once a year for six years in this church we attend now, and didn't feel right about leaving the one I attended for twenty years. Then while we were undergoing a pastoral change, I made the jump. Now, we're especially blessed, cuz not only is our pastor a dyno-mite preacher, he's an old rock'roller, and we have one of the best worship teams in N.E.Ohio. Two keyboards, bass, lead and rhythm guitar, (studio guy) drums, (A/G state champ -two years running) congas and other weird lookin' drums and various percussion giz-dongs, trumpet, recorder, occasional vibraharp, five regular vocalists, (six when I sing bass  ) and of course, that one stinkin' harmonica player.

We have a complete young people's band/group too that wins State competitions every year, extra everything like three bass guitar players, eight guitar players, five keyboard players, four drummers, extra vocalists and so on. All that and good preachin' too? How cool is that?

Spoiled rotten, braggin' or both!  ha ha !

age

[Grizzly]

Age! Cut it out! You're having too much fun!

Tom

[grace]

Both would be good.  There are still a few churches in town that I haven't tried whose theology is close enough to mine that it might work. or... Maybe I need to try addressing what I see as a policy of excluding women from leadership roles (other than childcare) in the church that has the thought provoking sermons.  (maybe point out that with a harmonica in my mouth I can't possibly preach or teach) 
    :'(Maybe I'm way off base. I often am.  Grace

[Renault]

As someone once explained to me, too many people think of church as a place where the people up front are the performers and the congregation is the audience. In truth, everyone in the building is "on-stage" and the audience is God. You need to play the part that He has selected for you - the thing that is in line with your spiritual gifts, whether it's preaching or teaching or music or running the overhead projector or silent worship or just being there, the thing that will bless the people gathered there and get them closer to God. No one that knew me 5 years ago would have ever thought that I would end up playing music, but here I am.

Grace - if you're off-base about allowing women full access to all roles in the church then the Friends Church (Quaker) has been off-base for about 300 years.

[A.J.Fedor]

Yeah, being an A/G evangelist I'd love to discuss it but "rules is rules," and we can't do that here. I don't wanna get in trouble with the owner. (he carries a gun, ya know? )

[George of the Jungle]

I had been playing in our local Catholic church for about three years. It was great, my wife who sings like an angel would strum her guitar and I would play the melody. Then, like Age, we had a change of leadership. This jerk, (Yeah? Well he was a jerk. Nearly ruined our parish.) wanted an organ player. Now we have an organ player we really can't afford to play but she is so broke no one will fire her. We keep getting calls to come back but I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the leadership. I do play requests, usually when some member passes and they ask for me and Lorraine at their services before they go or the family remembers that they liked our playing. It was the best time for me learning more and better ways to play. Now I sit in my office and pretend. I do wish the Catholic church would loosen the strings a little. The church Age goes to sounds like the one that my younger brother attends. Lots of worship when you feel so good from the music

[grace]

This Sunday I think that I'll reconnect with 2 of the harmonica friendly churches that I have been part of.  The 2 congregations set aside their differences and worship together on the 3rd Sunday of the month.  From there I  can try the bible study at the church of the challenging sermons and see if I can find my way into playing music for bible study sometimes.  I do love those people and they seem to be more than a social club with a religious theme. I just really miss playing my harmonica  (I do not sing well at all)

George- yeah-- I was part of an organ only Catholic church for a while too.  I like church organs but I had a hard time there too. fallen away?  pushed away? cafeteria Catholic? I do still like and play the music from my sojourn there (on harmonica) 

[A.J.Fedor]

Yeah George,
Believe it or not, I've played concerts in about a thousand churches since 1981 and that story's more common than you think. I wrote a book on church worship teams a few years back and I believe there's a section in there that covers that very subject.

It's really no different than the stink about pulling the plug on Bert Parks as the MC for Miss America Pageant years ago. Like there comes a time when Grampa has to hang up his car keys Trick is for the "artist"

And FWIW, music IS a ministry.

age

[Renault]

George - I'm not Catholic, but I do know that some Catholic churches have a separate contemporary and/or charismatic service. You might want to search for one.
Grace - I like your attitude. Sounds like a good plan. And two churches agreeing to set aside their differences ?!? Let's hope that idea catches on.
We had a really funny experience with an organist a few decades ago. A man who was an organ salesman started attending the church. He kept telling people "if only you'd buy an organ, I'd play it." So, the church broke down and bought an organ. The next Sunday he got up, played a song, and when he was finished walked out the side door without a word, never to be seen again. The organ sat there for about 15 years, never played. When someone that could play the organ finally showed up we discovered that the organ had gone bad and was beyond repair. I think it was stored under the stairs for about 2 years after that, until it finally disappeared quietly.

[A.J.Fedor]

That's what ya call a salesman! 

[grace]

And two churches agreeing to set aside their differences ?!? Let's hope that idea catches on.

There are actually 3 churches in this little community that do that. (that I know of) (there are at least 11 churches for the 900 people here and I haven't been to all of them)  I wonder about how to use music as a way of sharing what it is possible to share. I wonder about how to get from religion as a spectator sport with a half dead audience to something real. I'm not sure how to be a good steward of what I have been given.  It will be interesting to see what happens Sunday.

This is kind of an interesting community. At city council they were talking about putting a sign on the highway that said something other that just the name of the town and the population.  Someone suggested adding  "no doctor, no hospital, 2 undertakers"  I suppose "11 churches" could be added to that. grace

[henrymouni]

George - I'm not Catholic, but I do know that some Catholic churches have a separate contemporary and/or charismatic service. You might want to search for one.
Grace - I like your attitude. Sounds like a good plan. And two churches agreeing to set aside their differences ?!? Let's hope that idea catches on.
We had a really funny experience with an organist a few decades ago. A man who was an organ salesman started attending the church. He kept telling people "if only you'd buy an organ, I'd play it." So, the church broke down and bought an organ. The next Sunday he got up, played a song, and when he was finished walked out the side door without a word, never to be seen again. The organ sat there for about 15 years, never played. When someone that could play the organ finally showed up we discovered that the organ had gone bad and was beyond repair. I think it was stored under the stairs for about 2 years after that, until it finally disappeared quietly.

Wow! what a man!!
Was this the fellow?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_Oe-jtgdI


Henry.

[Renault]

"I wonder about how to get from religion as a spectator sport with a half dead audience to something real."

What an insightful, concise way to state the central problem with the American church. When it come to being lukewarm, we set the standard. Too many of us seem to think that all we need to do is perpetually learn, without ever putting any of it into practice or letting the truth we have learned change us. Being a good steward? Give God your best and he'll take care of the rest.

Henry - professor Harold Hill - now there was a salesman! I've always wondered what the difference is between pool and billiards, but I'm afraid if I ask I'll start another new thread.

[Jimmy Halfnote]

That's yer man Henry, kinda recognise him, he went on to open a music store in the old arcade in Kirkcaldy, went to buy a Harmonium from him , came away with a CX .

 Note;
           Billiards is played on a full size snooker style table, with three balls only, two white , one red, you score from in off,s as well as pots, plus cannons white to red, red to white, it was considered more of a gentleman's game than the other two. Did not stop me playing it.
                                                                                                              jh

[pmelissakis]

George - I'm not Catholic, but I do know that some Catholic churches have a separate contemporary and/or charismatic service. You might want to search for one.
Grace - I like your attitude. Sounds like a good plan. And two churches agreeing to set aside their differences ?!? Let's hope that idea catches on.
We had a really funny experience with an organist a few decades ago. A man who was an organ salesman started attending the church. He kept telling people "if only you'd buy an organ, I'd play it." So, the church broke down and bought an organ. The next Sunday he got up, played a song, and when he was finished walked out the side door without a word, never to be seen again. The organ sat there for about 15 years, never played. When someone that could play the organ finally showed up we discovered that the organ had gone bad and was beyond repair. I think it was stored under the stairs for about 2 years after that, until it finally disappeared quietly.

Wow! what a man!!
Was this the fellow?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_Oe-jtgdI


Henry.

I expected a clip of the guy that sold the monorail to the town of Springfield.

Pete

[HallelujahAL]

Hi - as a Salvation Army Officer and minister of the Gospel I get to play and lead worship a LOT (at least 2/3 times a week)! I'm taking my diatonic accordion this afternoon to a small church service that I'm running - hopefully one day soon I'll just be putting the harmonica in my pocket and taking that to church with me!
AL

[A.J.Fedor]

We had a very good worship service this morning too. Actually we did a couple of cool numbers in minor keys (I got to groove )




 

[HallelujahAL]

(I got to groove )

Cool! I'm starting out on old time gospel choruses etc at the moment - you know, the simple stuff that sticks 

[A.J.Fedor]

With bad windsavers, they ALL stick, unless you blow real hard! 

[HallelujahAL]

Played the chrome out for the first time in the church service yesterday - had a great time and was really able to open up my lungs and let it go! Played 'Be Still for the Presence of the Lord' by David Evans. Lots of folk responded well to it. Also discovered a few other folk in my congregation who also play harmonica - so that was really great, and we'll be doing more.
 
BLESSED!
AL

[A.J.Fedor]

New players? Kewl! Tell'em to sign up with SlideMeister!

I love playing jazz gospel because it's almost like virgin territory, and while it raises eyebrows, it also exposes folks to the fact that you can play some things differently without loosing one's sanctification. 

@ge

 

[HallelujahAL]

Guess what I'm playing is fairly straight worship material at the moment. But would love to add some wow-factor 
AL

[m.marino]

Both me and my wife play at Church. We are Catholic (Latin rite "Roman"). I play harmonica and concertina (Anglo), she plays violin, Euphonium, and on occasion concertina (English). We have no real choir set aside (that is the congregations job). We have a good range of instruments. Guitars, Clarinet(s)(a second shows up once month or on holidays), Saxophone(s)(the main clarinet also plays Sax'), Flute, Violin(s), Accordion (Piano), Euphonium, concertina(s), and pesky chromatic harmonica. Though once I finish tuning the Harmonetta that wife wants to be playing that at the Church, which is fine by me (as it was meant to be played).

As far as my views on theology and living the faith. Well, me and the wife are working on a web page about that and I will keep that there as my views tend to follow scripture and Cannon (with Scripture taking front seat).

To all that play and give glory for the gifts given. God Bless