Had a great return visit to Calvary United Methodist Church in Circleville yesterday! I had sung there a year ago last August, and to come back was a real joy. I got to sing a longer set this time, and the folks were just so enthusiastic and kind! A big thank you to Pastor Greg Swann and assistant Carolyn Cupp for making my morning a smooth one!
Last Sunday, I headed across highway 23 and sang for all my wonderful friends and mail family at the South Bloomfield United Methodist Church. This is truly one of my favorite places to sing, since I know nearly everyone by name! The church is growing though, so I have to keep up! LOL I was honored to sing 3 songs from my latest CD "The Blood Bought Church", including a favorite of some of the folks there, "Up In Chicago", a song about the homeless in America. My thanks to Rev. Floyd Hubbell for his usual warmth and wit, and to Pam Moody who took some amazing pics of me with my own camera no less!! God bless SBUMC!
Today was my first visit ever to Emmett Chapel United Methodist Church in Circleville. This beautiful church located on Tarlton Road in the south end of Circleville, is so friendly and inviting and made my appearance there so gratifying! Singing songs from my newest albums, "The Blood Bought Church" and "Change the World", the folks were so receptive to the message of Jesus' unconditional love. Afterwards I got to meet many of the members, and just enjoyed the warmth and fellowship of these people. Some of the ladies from Louise Terrace made the trip, as well as my parents were able to visit as well. Super day, and I was very honored to serve God's people at Emmett Chapel. Thanks be to God!!
This morning I kicked off the first leg of the "Blood Bought Church" tour at Zion UMC in Ashville, followed by a 45 minute time of ministry at their sister church, Emmaneul UMC in Circleville. I love the people and the acoustics at Zion...the cathedral ceilings and stained glass windows make for a wonderful visual and audial experience. Follow that with the enthusiasm of the congregation at Emmanuel UMC, it was both a humbling and uplifting time for me!
Had a great time last Sunday morning attending and singing at the community service held during the Ashville Fourth of July Celebration. A couple hundred people from the surrounding churches come together to worship God under the trees and sun on the Sunday morning of the festival. Pastor Floyd Hubbell of South Bloomfield UM delivered the homily. Pastors Ty Myers and Kevin Pees also participated in the service. The Community Choir sang a great medley of patriotic songs. I opened with the hand-clapper, "One Less Stone" and closed the service with the congregation singing "This Is the Day" with Carolyn Lutz on keys. The highlight of the service for me was introducing friend and mentor Kevin Mabry to the stage to sing a beautiful acapella song.
"Ten Thousand Doors" at the Lithopolis United Methodist Church
I really had a great Father's Day, 2013 but it was a busy one! Started out singing at the 9 AM service at the Lithopolis United Methodist Church. This is an amazing church in a small town that has managed to thrive. LUMC has two worship services, the first, a traditional service, and the second, a more contemporary service. Both are packed out in a beautiful sanctuary. Running across town to the Bloom Presbyterian Church for their 10:30 AM service, I got to sing and enjoy hearing my father preach, and spend time with my mother. Following that, headed to Easton in Columbus for a service at GoodLife Church of Columbus, at 1:30 PM. In literally 5 hours time, I got to see first hand, the depth and breath of the kingdom of God in this area. An energetic Methodist tradition, the laid-back Calvinists known as Presbyterians, and a black Pentecostal all-inclusive church. I saw Jesus at all three!!
Just got back from a return engagement to Primrose of Lancaster. This retirement community nestled on the outskirts of the eastside of Lancaster is a beautiful complex with wonderful people abiding as well! I spent almost 60 minutes in concert there and enjoyed singing to them every moment of the way. A special treat, my mom and dad went with me and my dad played his trumpet for the folks! They loved him! Below are some of the folks who came.
It's been a long time since I've sung at a full-fledged ladies banquet...now I know what I've been missing. These gals came ready to sing, clap, shout and laugh! They made my night so much fun!! Singing to nearly 75 ladies of all ages it gave me the chance to literally kick up my heels and praise God! Returning "One Less Stone" to the songlist set the tempo, and added in the old Ray Charles hit, "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" along with some of the songs from the "Change the World" CD. My thanks to everyone who attended, and I hope I was as much a blessing to you, as you were to me!
Last Sunday night I had the honor of singing for the "Couples Club" at Trinity Lutheran Church in Circleville. Everyone seemed to have a good time as I mixed in some old pop standards with the country and gospel numbers that I do. Enjoyed talking with the folks, both before and after the concert. Great to know that their morning worship services both traditional and contemporary are well attended!
Just got back from Canal Winchester and had a great time at the David's Way Senior's Center. As you can see from the photo, I was hamming it up! Not really my fault, they made me do it! These folks were so much fun to sing to...many sang along with some of the numbers I chose. Most of the songs currently that I do are from two of my CD's...my latest "Change the World" and one from 2000 "Growin' Up Gospel", plus for this show, I added some new things that are really quite old. I've been working on some of the old classic pop numbers that you just don't hear much of anymore. Today I sang, "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong and "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" a hit from Nat King Cole. In addition to doing the old gospel favorite "Peace In the Valley" which I had never sung live before. Got to see my good friend Diana Mills whom I've known since the early 90s. All in all, a wonderful day for "The Singing Mailman!"