The roots of contemporary praise music at Manchaca United Methodist Church stretch back 30 years. Around that time there began a trend towards contemporary worship services. In 1994, senior pastor Larry Howard recruited John and Karen Boston to be part of the 9 o’clock service. John strumming away on acoustic guitar, Karen singing with gusto. Over the next two years joining the Bostons were David & Gayle Norris, Dave & Nancy Bourell, and Betty Engleking. David brought the sizzle on electric guitar while Dave laid down the bass line. Over that, the angelic voices of Karen, Gayle, Nancy and Betty (soup from a stone, imagine that?).
“So, uh, what do you guys call yourselves anyway?” They were Soulmates, and nothing could have been more true. From that point, ca. 1996, and many years to follow, Soulmates were a regular fixture at the 9 AM service leading the congregation in praise and song. In 2003 they contributed several songs to a MUMC music CD. These recordings included Anna Landry (vocals) and the magnificent Grace Cha (keyboard). Other members of this inaugural group included Andy Bridwell and Taryn Deaton on guitar, John Speed, keyboard, and Kevin Fowler, drums. Soulmates defined what a praise team could be. Their talent and passion laid the foundation for praise music at Manchaca UMC.
But time chips away at all things – rivers, mountains and praise bands. By 2006, only a few Soulmates remained. As life called some folks away, new faces filled the void. Dale Lininger, Gary Carpenter, and Jen Romero joined along the way. During this transitional time the team affectionately referred to itself as “The Band Formerly Known As Soulmates.” With the addition of Gary’s wife, Ellen and Jen’s son, Tucker, it seemed the time had come for the band to have its own identity. So, on a sunny Saturday morning, a conclave convened at the home of Anna Landry to choose a name for this merry band of troubadours. Not unlike the spirited debates of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, potential sobriquets were offered up and rejected by one delegate or another. Passions were running high and the coffee cake and sweet tea was running low when Anna put forth this scripture from Luke 18:16, “But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ” And smoke rose from the chimney.
There could not have been a more fitting name for us. We were children in the sense that most of us had no experience leading worship, putting songs together or performing in front of people. Soulmates had made it look easy. Now we had to bring our lamps out from under baskets. It was a scary thing. But we were growing together in our music and our appreciation for each other.
Such As These (SAT) took up its place at the 9 o’clock service. Hustling out of the bell room to get set up in the short time after the early service had ended. Plug in and go! This was the routine until 2012 when the church re-structured the worship schedule. Life On The Road debuted in September of that year in the Family Life Center (FLC), and it’s been the home for SAT ever since.
The light from these lamps has managed to escape the confines of the FLC from time to time. SAT has played for Walk To Emmaus weekends, the annual Fall Festival and church picnics at the pavilion. In 2010 the band recorded a CD of original songs called Never Left Behind.
Under a bushel indeed!
Like any group, SAT has seen many iterations and permutations over the years. Kids grow up, people move on, leave, come back, but the band endures. Largely due to the rock-solid devotion of the heart of this group: Dave Bourell, Gary and Ellen Carpenter, Jen Romero, Dale Lininger, and our tireless sound man, Russell Ehrlich.
Such As These continues to be a labor of love – a family like no other. If you were ever a member of SAT, you will forever be a member of SAT. The joys (many), the struggles (few), the history (Jen, you should write new lyrics to Rocky Raccoon), the fun (Ellen sings here..., We’ll just start it...). The song goes on. How can we keep from singing?
~MUMC Sesquicentennial Committee
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