But of all the events, none was quite as satisfying as the Sunday morning service at the Abbott Methodist Church in Abbott, the church where Willie and Bobbie Nelson were raised, and the church that they saved when they bought it in 2006, after the congregation merged with the Methodist church in nearby Hillsboro. The church is now run by a group of volunteers headed by Donald Reed, his wife Joyce Clements Reed, Faye Dell Brown Clements, and Jackie Clements, with services currently scheduled twice a month.The church was rededicated two years ago with a gospel service featuring Willie and Bobbie and band along with Leon Russell that was broadcast on the RFD cable network. This Sunday was a much lower-key affair, a typical Sunday service with guest singers, most of whom sang along with pre-recorded instrumental tracks, two patriotic songs ("Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Proud to Be An American") in keeping with the Fourth of July weekend, some good preaching, and a special singing with Willie and Bobbie, who came to the service and sat in the side pew with Willie's wife Annie, his daughter Lana and her son.
Brother stood beside Sister seated at the piano to sing "Family Bible" the spiritual song he wrote that he sold to Paul Buskirk and Claude Gray, whose cover version was a top ten country record in 1960 and punched Willie's ticket to Nashville. "Family Bible" is a gospel classic and Willie sung the song with inspiration, power, and with the soaring range of an Irish tenor. It's the best singing I've heard from him over the past three years. Maybe it was because he only sang two songs - "Family Bible" and another original "In God's Eyes." Maybe it was because the only instrumentation backing him was Sister Bobbie on piano. Maybe it was because he was singing in front of people he grew up with. But this was special. I'm glad I was there, and glad my friend Kirby Warnock and his wife Diann were there too. Kirby used to write about Willie in Buddy Magazine in Dallas back in the wild ass 1970s and he directed the film documentary "Border Bandits" which offers the hidden history of the Texas Rangers and Texas-Mexicans in the Rio Grande Valley. Kirby's a solid Baptist down to his degree from Baylor University and about as passionate a Texan as you'll ever meet. It was Kirby who noted that "In God's Eyes" has quite a message: Watch what you think because your thoughts turn into words, and words into actions.
Kirby posted a little snippet of "Family Bible" on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-NO9dbPQ60
3 comments:
He also sang "Amazing Grace."
It was indeed a privilege to be there. Please note that it was a full-blown church service, with preaching and an offertory, not a Willie show in a church. He and sister Bobbie were there for the entire service. They didn't pull a drive by. I don't think I've ever been a part of a more moving Sunday morning. It was an honest-to-goodness country church with a sincere, straight ahead service that just happened to have Willie Nelson singing at the close. I've seen Willie in concert many times, but this is the first time I've seen him in church.
Amen!!!
It was one of the most satisfying church services I have ever attended. Sincere, and heartfelt. I consider it a privilege and a blessing to have been a part of it.
I was fortunate enough to be there and be a part of the service. I blogged about that day also. Here's an excerpt:
I've been fortunate to have many "Magic Times." The latest occurred last Sunday in Abbott, Texas. Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie bought the Methodist Church building after the church had been disbanded and when there was a very real chance that the building would be sold and moved out of town. In the two years since, a dedicated group of volunteers have held services there twice a month, and what probably started out as a novelty for me has evolved into a sense of belonging.
Anyway, Willie and Bobbie joined us for services last Sunday. They slipped in quietly during the opening hymn. At the end of the regular service, he stood by the piano as Bobbie played, and sang "Family Bible" and another hymn, then led us all in "Amazing Grace." No huge crowds, no entourage, just a guy singing in his home church before many of the folks he'd grown up with. I sat in one of the pews later and watched him patiently greet all who wished to meet him, then watched him leave the church alone to walk the four or so blocks to his homeplace. I was stuck that strolling alone on a public street with nobody demanding his time is a luxury he is rarely given. It was a special time, a Magic Time, and I'm glad I was there.
Post a Comment