East End UMC

What a great Sunday Morning!
Sometimes God steps up and says "This is why I've put you where you are." X-ALT! was truly blessed this week by bringing the music to the morning service at East End UMC.
We want to say a special thank you to Pastor Diane Luton Blum, Music Director Joe Lee and organist Lee Druce for inviting us into their beautiful church. East End is one of Nashville's most historic churches and has seen many changes to the area it serves in it's 150+ year history.
This was our second visit to East End and again we were blessed to be a part of God's service there. Also a special thanks to my Mother in Law. Peggy Howell who was instrumental in bringing us back to East End.
So many people came up to us and told us how the music we choose took them back to their childhood church experiences, we chose to do the old hymns, "I'll Fly Away" and "Old Rugged Cross" to open the service. We did two specials, Katy sang the Contemporary Christian hit "The Voice Of Truth" and in a last minute change of plan I got to sing the old country/gospel song "Why Me Lord" and we closed with "Oh Happy Day".
It is always a blessing to see what you do touching the hearts of those in the congregation, Brooke told me she saw tears in the eyes of some of the members while we were doing the two opening hymns. Sometime we forget just how powerful those songs are and how much of God's glory is packed into those lyrics. I don't give us any credit for those tears of joy, all the credit goes to God and his power to change peoples lives. We are just the ones that are lucky enough to be the tool he uses to bring these powerful songs into peoples lives.
Thank you again to the wonderful folks at East End for a beautiful Sunday Morning!

Well next up for X-ALT! is a two week break from appearances as we start to work up new material for the next X-ALT! CD and as we start getting the line up ready for what is starting to look like a very busy Summer of church services, coffee houses, prison services and an ever growing number of festival appearances.
God is Good and he is blessing us as never before, all we can do is follow the path he is placing before us and say thank you Lord for this incredible opportunity to do you work.
V

Here is some comments on the service for one of Tommy's blogging friends that attended. His blog can be found at http://salemslots.wordpress.com

Bouncing around the East End, or, Slarti plays for the mayor (and a few wonderful commoners)
Today we took Slartibartfast’s invitation to church seriously. His group (X-Alt) was one of the main events today at the Sunday morning service at East End United Methodist Church. I’m sure someday Slarti is going to look up from his keyboards and see my smiling face and regret his open invitation policy. Anyway, Slarti’s band shook it up and out for several songs (I’ve never actually considered ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ as a polka, but hey, if it works, it works) including a rousing ‘Oh Happy Days’ that easily rivaled the Edwin Hawkins Singers’ version.

The mayor was in attendence (I think he is a regular) and he made a beeline to the band after the service was over, presumably to compliment the performance (hey, he’s got taste). I was slightly tempted to ask the mayor as he walked by me and spoke to me (with a leery eye, I might add, not that I blame him) - ‘uh, Mr. Mayor, would you PLEASE veto that stupid English bill’, but, (a) I’m really kind of a nervous around big-wigs, (b) I’m scared he might call his security guards, and (c) it really wasn’t the place.

I’m a lucky guy sometimes. I got to sit between two wonderful beautiful women during the service and despite all the pulchritude surrounding me, I ‘got into’ the service, the sermon, and especially the music. We all got to meet another really cool blogger - Linda Creekmore, of Fixin’ Supper fame.

The sanctuary worked better for the band than the Ashland City coffee shop where we last heard them. Slarti gets into his music…he’s got a delightfully geeky style (I say that with the highest of complimentary thoughts). I love watching him play because he has his passion and he is living that passion. There’s not much better than that (and I have to add, the guy CAN sing).


We rolled down to Cafe Marche’ after the service and had one of the greatest brunches of our Nashville life. Holy camembert , this place rocks the brunch party. The coffee alone is worth the trip. I strongly recommend Marche’ for brunch or any other meal it happens to serve (I’ve been there for lunch twice, supper once and now for brunch..it’s all good).

Thumbs up for East End United Methodist, for X-Alt (esp. Slarti) and Cafe Marche’. Thumbs WAY up to my two delightful pew mates: my wife and the wonderful Jag. Great company, and they nicely and patiently put up with me pretty much the entire time.