Submitted photo

The Marco Strummers.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

RELATED STORIES

• Art & Craft Show will feature silent auction
• Two nights of symphony music

More Latest Stories

• You Review Food: Reg Valentinuzzi
• You Review Movie: John Augustine
• Rod Mackenzie, taking music by storm

Share and Enjoy [?]

Some people like to go to church not only to worship God but also to hear and sing contemporary worship music. Others enjoy traditional hymns. Wesley United Church gives everyone a chance to enjoy both and then some. They will be holding their Second Annual Jazz Worship Service on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.

The service will feature the Marco Strummers, Wesley Sanctuary Choir, Tony and Debbie Santucci from Orlando, organist LuWayne Arnold, and Rev. James Lake who will give a short sermon that will be connected to music.

LuWayne Arnold, director of music, prepared the entire program. Coming from a musical family, she started out on national radio with The Children’s Bible Hour in Grand Rapids, Michigan. By the time she was 16, she had her own radio show in New Orleans featuring pop and gospel organ music.

Earning a degree in classical organ from Florida Southern College, Arnold has traveled all over the United States and 20 foreign countries performing in concerts. She taught piano and organ and was the organist and/or director of music for churches in Illinois, Missouri and California. She has been director of music and organ at Wesley for 12 years.

The Marco Strummers have entertained the residents of Paradise on Sunday afternoons in Mackle Park for years. Wes English, the director of Marco Strummers has a unique style of conducting using signs. When he wants a solo from the wind section, he holds up a “Wind” sign. The other cue signs to follow include “Banjo,” “Clarinet,” “Guitar,” “Saxophone,” and “Sing.”

The members of the Strummers come from all walks of life and feature an eclectic mixture of musicians and instruments. They were founded about eight years ago and played their first gig in 1998. The Strummers participated in Wesley’s first Jazz Worship Concert and wanted to be part of the second concert this year.

The Sanctuary Choir consists of approximately 30 singers. Josh Powell from Atlanta attends Wesley in season and will be the soloist at the Jazz Worship Service.

Tony and Debbie Santucci, Orlando residents, will also perform. Tony is a pianist and has charmed audiences including Jerry Lewis, Al Pacino, Jackie Cooper, The Smother’s Brothers, Suzanne Somers, Bill Murray, John Glenn, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Jack Palance and the list goes on.

For the past 25 years, Tony has continued to diligently fine tune his gift at the Black Swan, the Grand Cypress Golf Resorts acclaimed restaurant. He has recorded numerous CDs. After encountering God through prayer, meditation and Bible reading, Tony found Jesus who breathed supernatural life into his music, he said.

“I sat at the piano and began to play notes I had never played before with inspiration I had never felt before,” said Tony. The result is a CD dedicated to his father. Tony’s prayer is that through his music, you will also encounter God.

Tony’s wife, Debbi, was born to be a preacher and began singing and playing the piano in church at the age of four. She preached to birds when she was too young to read. Her older sister volunteered to be Debbi’s Bible reader.

Debbi has traveled internationally in evangelism, singing at high schools, colleges, churches, hotels, theme parks and convention centers for 25 years in the Orlando area.

After the worship service is over, the Marco Strummers will do a 20-to-30 minute jam session of secular music for those who wish to stay. They will be leading the congregation in song, but it will be in New Orleans jazz style.

If you’re a music enthusiast, this is one worship service you won’t want to miss regardless of your denomination.

Wesley United Methodist Church is located at 350 S. Barfield Drive. The public is invited and tickets are free. Call the church at 394-3734 for more information.