Keyboardist [url=https://www.sweetruthproductions.com/]Guy Plecash[/url] has been playing around town since the 1980's - primarily (but not exclusively) in gospel bands. We were thrown a bit by this gospel blues tape he put out at some point in the 90's - only partly because the cover bills it as "By God via Guy Plecash." We think there's a bit of a tongue-in-cheek attitude throughout this - and it's pretty nicely done, thanks to the production hand of Dave Hamilton. Below is an article about one of the many gospel bands Plecash was part of in the early 90's. [center][img width=250px]//7ca49eb9f67ba1319ef136f9d52cd8b8.cdn.bubble.io/f1743296508596x451282373809719800/richtext_content.jpeg[/img][/center] [b]Musical services salve for suffering[/b] [b]Reaching out to the lost is a key part of ministry in downtown area[/b] By Frank King (Herald writer) Some nights it's an alternative church service, on others it approaches a full-blown concert. Either way, Dennis Grady and his country rock group, Rodeo City Band, have brought a whole new musical flavor to Sunday evening services at Central United Church. "We're trying to reach unchurched people, maybe those who've drifted away," says Wayne Lewry, the church's associate minister and man who helped create the musical services. The Rodeo City Band Widdowson, Mike Dunlop, Bill Lane and Guy Plecash acts as the house group, backing up a variety of performers singing material dominated by - but not limited to Christian country rock songs. "This has a real upbeat flavor," says Lewry. "The music is great, and I do a practical, positive, short message." The upbeat flavor is chiefly the work of Plecash, the keyboard player. "He has a combination of R&B and gospel influences, reports Grady. "What he'll do is take some of the traditional church pieces and loosen them up. That's encouraged people to clap and be spontaneous -and that's a new experience which is drawing people back." Such an approach to worship is rare in a mainstream church. Yet Grady says he hasn't heard any backlash from traditional church-goers. "Central United's location means it daily encounters the lost, and what I've seen in the leader- ship here is they understand reaching out to the lost as a key part of the ministry." In the end, Grady says the Sunday concert services "are like having a house concert in God's living room. And my intuitive sense says God is enjoying these moments. "That element we have no control over. It shows the power of the music; this isn't about a band or about Central United, it's about a relationship with God." The idea emerged last November, shaped around a one-hour service at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 131 7th Ave. S.W., followed by coffee. After a few large turnouts, attendance has settled around 50. "Numbers are not important," stresses Grady. "It's who shows up that's important. To be honest with you, I'm not sure we could handle many more because huge congregations lose intimacy." At this size, he says, "it's a very sincere, comfortable experience. There's a lot of hurting people who drift in and just want to have a coffee and talk to people."
