A church even I would get up on Sundays for

[skepticscott]

Paying homage to music at the Church of Beethoven

It is a church without preaching, and without prayer.

At its Sunday morning services there is something spiritual, all right, but it doesn't have to do with Allah, or Buddha, or God.

Instead, it comes from music, from passionate renditions of works composed by Brahms and Bach and, of course, Beethoven -- for whom the church is named.

Each week the Church of Beethoven's musical performances draw a committed group of art-loving locals.

The service, which also features poetry, visual art and other types of music, is at home in Albuquerque, a city known for its eccentricities (its nickname: Albu-quirky) as well as for being a crossroads of culture.

Most regulars at the Church of Beethoven are not religious, said founder Felix Wurman, but are simply "people looking to be uplifted on a Sunday morning."

More at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-hometown-albuquerque27-2009dec27,0,4757783,full.story
http://www.churchofbeethoven.org/

[Warpy]

1. This is a very odd city in a very odd state

There is a reason this state is surrounded on all sides by areas hospitable to Warren Jeffs and his brand of FLDS, while we have remained free of them.

There's also a reason this "battleground" state that was supposed to be within 2 percentage points in the last election went for Obama by 15%.

I feel right at home here.

[skepticscott]

2. Still, it's not such an odd idea

that it couldn't take hold in a lot of other places.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Very cool.

I am a lifelong musician. I think the distinction between "sacred" and "secular" music is artificial.

If it makes you feel good and it's positive, it's sacred.

All the good church music is in Latin. Please spare me from all Protestant dirges by the Wesley Brothers, Martin Luther, and other assorted hacks. And especially do NOT subject me to Amazing Grace. Yuck. Or "How Great Thou Art".

I would never call myself or any other human being a "wretch". :puke:

This is why I have always enjoyed performing in Unitarian churches. You can pick whatever music you like that is appropriate, to perform.

[progressoid]

4. Wow, very cool.

Yeah, I think I would do that church too.

[Synnical]

5. I would definitely attend

That is, if it's not TOO early in the AM. Noon would be good. Sunday is my sleep day. :-)

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale