NOTE: I've been asked to leave the EDDIE COCHRAN ROCK & ROLL SERVICE PICTURES ONLINE FOR LONGER THAN USUAL SO AS LONG AS THE LINK IS HERE, THE PICTURES WILL BE HERE--Larry
AROUND CHURCH THE WEEK OF JUNE 17, 2007....
YOUR MOUSE WILL GET A WORKOUT TODAY AS ABOUT 50 PICTURES BELOW..HAPPY VIEWING!
Just arriving in the parking lot and seeing some "CLASSIC CARS" like this red MUSTANG convertible and 2-DOOR BLACK THUNDERBIRD, you knew things were going to be just a little out of the ordinary today!
Just outside the WEST DOOR we were welcomed by a PINK FLAMINGO. Whoever made it did a GREAT JOB and sure was an eye catcher!
Greeting us OUTSIDE at the west door was Marcelle Ernston welcoming the GREIBROK FAMILY.
Greeting us INSIDE at the west door was Beulah Wiegand and Charlotte Sevaldson**here greeting Denny & Lorene Olson and Tracy Vandegrift..they shook a lot of hands and WELCOMED MANY TODAY!
When you came in, the greeters directed everyone to the REGISTRATION TABLES for all former confirmands of our church hosted by John and Perian Buringa. Here they were talking with Layle Fischer and Helen Davis.
At the other REGISTRATION table hosted by Kate and Richard Buringa, Mary Ferleman showed off her new SKIRT...she CAN CAN show us if she wants to!
Here Kate stood up and modeled a dress worn by her GRANDMOTHER back in the 50s....HOW FUN IS THAT?
It was fun to just catch a few in their 50's outfits! Here Bruce and Ardith were BACK TO THE 50's for sure!
Here I caught Eldon and Marie talking and sporting some 50's clothes too!
Marge Thompson with her 50's hat, sunglasses and outfit she wore in Bolivia when they were there in the 50's--AWESOME!
Don and Norieta Rippentrop were really excited as Norieta is showing us all DON'S CLASS RING she is NOW WEARING around her neck..it's official, they are GOING STEADY! In fact, as of June 14th, they have been going steady NOW for 50 years! CONGRATULATIONS KIDS!
Visiting from Ascension Lutheran Church is Marilyn Danielsen here talking with Claire Vermedahl--dressed in the 50s with collar up and everything--COOL!
WOW, 12 pictures and I haven't even got to the sanctuary yet! So better get in there as the service is about to start and the 50'S MUSIC TEAM is HOPPIN and A BOPPIN!
They entertained us from about 9:30 am on singing songs like "I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU", "DREAM, DREAM, DREAM", "ONLY YOU" and "PRAISE THE LORD AT THE HOP!"
Craig McCormick ran the overheads today that Shelby Battleson put together including many with the EDDIE COCHRAN background. Thanks Shelby and Craig as a lot of extra work for today!
Looking out over the congregation WAS INSPIRATIONAL as the sanctuary was FULL and sure a lot of energy in there today as people were CLAPPING TO THE MUSIC!
Not only were things happening in front of the church but also COMING DOWN THE CENTER AISLE as here Todd Peterson was playing his guitar with the Team on Stage.
And yes, THERE WAS DANCING IN THE AISLES TOO and here Judy Anderson proved it in her pink POODLE SKIRT and PINK PIG TALES...JUST TOO CUTE JUDY!
Pastor John WELCOMED EVERYONE to our 50's ROCK & ROLL SERVICE today with the Music Team behind him AND the CROSS behind them to remind us all that our FOCUS TODAY is still on SONday and CHRIST. Pastor John said today we are practicing the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE of having FUN based on Ecclesiastes 8:15--...so I recommend having fun!--all with a little extra TWISTING AND SINGING GOIN ON!
Today Pastor John talked about our 50 years in our church building, how we doubled our music team this morning and even doubled our church attendance today! So to CELEBRATE THAT, Tammy Willis, Mary Ferleman and others came up and passed out double your pleasure DOUBLEMINT GUM that Pastor John had put into baskets..everyone in the congregation got a pack. One difference was in the 50s they were 5 cents...today they are 30 cents so they MORE THAN DOUBLED in price!
Pastor John had a number of annoucements and introduced many who were here today and invited everyone to REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE and greet them with...
GOD BE WITH YOU and a HANDSHAKE!
Pastor John then asked which former confirmand traveled the longest distance to get here. One lady yelled out Ames, Iowa but then way in the back, Mary Richards called out CANADA! She was presented a CHURCH PLATE and is visiting from HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA! Now that's really something, eh? We're sure glad you could be with us today Mary!
Pastor John then invited all the CONFIRMANDS to come to the front of sanctuary and what an IMPRESSIVE GROUP came forward! What a wonderful day today! The next 3 pictures are a little closer and hopefully you recongize someone OR YOURSELF in one of them!
Also recognized were former Pastor's who joined us today. Barb Lindgren (1991-1997) was the only one who was able to be here! Welcome back Barb!
Through all of this, the MUSIC TEAM and the CONGREGATION were singing songs of the 50s and there was even more dancing in the aisles...
and a lot of SWAYING WITH DAD to the beat of the music... SURE A LOT OF FUN!
Pastor John acknowledged the receipt of a poster that ELOISE ADAMS from our community made for the EDDIE COCHRAN WEEKEND. We got the 14th hand painted copy she did (Eddie was confirmed at age 14) and it included a picture of the 1952 CONFIRMATION CLASS that Eddie was part of. It is on display in our church Narthex and filled with lots of things that came to light today. Thanks Eloise--what a talent!
PASTOR JOHN also based his sermon on Eddie Cochran's last song he wrote just before his death--3 STEPS TO HEAVEN--
As life goes on and troubles travel along just recall steps 1, 2 and 3!
And if that wasn't enough, ELVIS WAS IN THE HOUSE TOO! Yes, wearing his BLUE SWADE SHOES, Elvis, aka Glen Parsons, sang for us his hit, "DON'T BE CRUEL" After all these years I don't know how he's avoided a hip replacement as they sure can TWIST!
And today is also FATHER'S DAY and Pastor John asked all fathers to stand while he said a prayer honoring each and every one of them today.
As the service ended about 11 am, it was GREAT to see so many in church as they now headed out to the many other activities today in our church and in our community! Thanks for coming everyone--your presence was a GIFT of LOVE that we'll all be talking about for weeks to come at UMCAL!
After the service, everyone started putting their NAME TAGS away again. Pastor John asked that we all wear them especially today with all our guests and visitors and WE DID!
Everyone was invited down to the SOCIAL HALL for a SLOPPY JOE lunch. Don and Judy Anderson were there in their 50s outfits and WAVING US DOWN to enjoy a delicious lunch!
Millie Gurwell was there with her 50's hat and dress and enjoying the 50s SODA--as a PROP, not as a REFRESHMENT!
If you noticed in the picture behind Millie, as people came downstairs to eat, they could view the many pictures and letters that the church received for this weekend..it was a regular MUSEUM EXHIBIT and here Doug Vandegrift and family is checking it all out!
Marie was back keeping the FOOD TABLE full of cookies and bars for dessert....such a cute 50s outfit too!
Marvel Anderson and Marcia Moyer enjoyed looking over all that was there to choose from and enjoying the day!
I caught past Sue Rechtzigel Sandy Olson serving up some SLOPPY JOES from the kitchen.
We had potato chips, cole slaw, dill pickles, bars and cookies and ROOT BEER, coffee or water for the meal...it was an AWESOME 50s LUNCH and the committee that made and served it DID A WONDERFUL JOB!
Also eating with us was Mary Richards from Halifax and her daughter who lives in Albert Lea, Tanya Blair. What a GREAT REUNION WEEKEND, eh!
Enjoying the service and lunch were Judy and Allen Menssen from Albert Lea, good friends with so many in our church and community...glad you could be with us today!
If we had a winner of the FAMILY 50s DRESS UP CONTEST, it would have to be Ruth, Claire and Martha Vermedahl! Just wish you weren't SO SHY for the camera! Great outfits and what GREAT AMBASSADORS of UMCAL today they were as they greeted everyone!
Winding down in the kitchen and offering SECONDS on the sloppy joes was Terry and Loyal Leas and Sandy Olson...IT WAS DELICIOUS**THANK YOU!
The SOCK HOP got going during lunch and here I caught these three 50 cuties out there kicking up their SADDLE SHOES to the 50s tunes.
Our dancers are Ruth Vermedahl, Judy Anderson and Crystal Simpson. Crystal and her husband Mark were responside for all the sound systems today in the sanctuary including the music here at the SOCK HOP. Thanks for all your technical help--it looks like all three of you are ELECTRIFIED and HAVING A LOT OF FUN!
Outside, some ate under the tent and here Doug Vandegrift is coming in for seconds I'm thinking! The weather turned out wonderful as was bright, sunny, warm and a nice breeze--THANK YOU LORD!
In the jumping machine, two boys were relaxing after a lot of JUMPING AROUND. Something everyone involved will probably do when they get home after a WONDERFUL 50s CELEBRATION AT UMCAL!
It truly was a congregational effort and so many were involved in making it all happen and HAPPEN IT DID! It is a tribute of what everyone can do when focused on the real message of the day--SONday**Eddie Cochran style!