"Jesus, won't you come 'round here? Now is the needed time," cried Blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins over 60 years ago.
For the fourth consecutive year, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, at Sixth Avenue East and Third Street in Duluth, will worship with the Blues on Sunday, August 14, at 10:00 a.m. during the Bayfront Blues Festival. All are welcome to attend.
Sometimes raucous, other times mournful and sweet, the Blues can touch our hearts, hands, and feet in surprising ways.
And just like Jake and Elwood, GDL is getting the Band back together, though as usual there will be both new and familiar faces. This year's One Bread Blues Band (OBBB) includes: Doug "Blue
Fingers" Maguire on
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Keyboard, Neil "Barefoot" Weberg on Drums, Kyle "Junk Man" Boisjoli on Bass, Ken "Strat Man" Willms on Guitar, Steve "Blind Dog" Dalager on Guitar and Vocal, Ellie "Bubba" Boisjoli on Alto Sax, Maia "Sista Bubba" Dalager on Tenor Sax, and vocalists Nancy "Neitha" Norr and Bob "Mac Hine Ghun" Kelley (not to be confused with "Machine Gun").
"God don't never change," sang Blind Willie Johnson nearly 80 years ago, even when the music changes. Double negatives included, worshippers will hear songs from Johnson and Hopkins, Blues renderings of traditional Lutheran hymns, and original songs by Doug Maguire and Steve Dalager.
Of course, Padre David "Brotha" Carlson will be bringin' it from the pulpit with his usual straight talkin' message. Oh, and the heat will only make it better. Mmm hmm. Experience a fresh and earthy Gospel with us!
"We started doing this service after I chatted with Pastor Dan Holm from Kenwood Lutheran Church," says Doug Maguire, who instituted the Blues service four years ago. "We felt that one church or another ought to have a Blues service during the Blues Fest so that folks would have an option to worship with the Blues.
"Church can be fun, and music can be a big factor in that," Doug adds. "To praise God, we don't need to be all doom and gloom. We can be upbeat."
Gloria Dei is a convenient location for visitors who want to attend the service, since it's close to downtown Duluth and to Bayfront Park. Everyone is welcome to join in the Blues Sunday service and in refreshments following.
Steve Dalager is a writing instructor at Lake Superior College, and Alison Stucke is a writing instructor at Duluth Business University. Both are members of Gloria Dei.
