Page 24 - MLD Book

surfaced at Neuraths, however, as they were decidedly non liturgical. The one flower arrangement that was totally popular was the one with a plastic telephone – off the hook –
with a sign that said Jesus Called!
1987
For me, the highlight of 1987 had to be the establishment of the Lenten Recital and Lunch Series. It was to be free to the public, but donations for outreach would gladly be accepted. I was in charge of not only the recital schedule but also the luncheons and the recruiting of both. I personally over the years have donated all of the food that was not otherwise donated, so the food never was an expense. Most of the recitalists until 2012 donated their services as well, so that the free will offerings could go to one outreach project or another, but NEVER to ourselves. The offerings have supported Calvary outreach, Habitat for Humanity, Engelhard Elementary, New Orleans Cathedral after Katrina, food bags, and other worthy ventures helping the poor. 2012 saw a temporary cessation. Recitals and lunches with artist fees were established when Eugene Lavery descended upon the scene, and one bust year he decided to do it as an Easter series just so he could remove my brand on it, I guess, which attracted nobody. It got back on track a couple of years ago and I am back doingfreefoodagainandevenallowedtoplayrecitals. Allinall,todatewehavehad31of
these, plus the strange Easter debacle.
Two very important staff people came to us in 1987 in the persons of Callie Hausman and Leroy Malone. Callie as DRE lasted until well into the Erdman era, while Leroy retired on July1,2020andisterriblymissed. InFebruaryof1987,LouHemmersinvitedmetocome to Redlands to play as guest organist for the wedding of the century! They paid my way so from Feb 6-9, I experienced the most lavish wedding I have ever been a part of. The whole church was turned into a Hawaiian garden, plants everywhere. Although it was good to touch base again with Lou and Joan, it was not a very comfortable time as I didn’t know anyone else. I also played for all the Sunday services so it was a stressful time in a new situation.
Then, in a decidedly other stressful – in a good way- wedding situation, on August 1, Maria and Joe were married at Calvary. To describe all of that would take another book, so I will stick to my Calvary role in it, which only includes the Calvary part of involvement. Maria knew I would definitely not behave if somebody else played, and Melvin also wanted to be more that a bride giver, so we ended up having zillions of singers doing Bach Cantata 196 as service prelude. I played organ continuo for that, so instead of escorting the mother of the bride to the first pew on the left, I was ushered to the organ bench. I had a long aqua colored dress that was split with a short skirt inside, so I could toss the big stuff behind the bench so as to avoid stepping on it while playing the pedals. I remained on the bench after the cantata, to play the pro and re and parts in between, but Melvin hustled to the back so he could walk Maria down the aisle. I don’t remember much else about the wedding, and at the Water Tower reception it was sort of a blur trying to keep the relatives happy, quite a challenge with two warring GRANDMOTHERS trying to outdo each other as to who was the more important. Annie Cain catered the reception and she ran out of food, but not drink! I do know that I had too much to drink out of self defense, and threw up while trying to play for the early service the next morning at Calvary!
The next week, I played for the wedding of David duPlantier and Karen, and David insisted that I play the Widor Toccata in its entirety as the recessional. But instead of leaving as I started the piece, he further insisted that they remain at the altar until the big stuff comes