Miracle on 44th Street: Hollywood Church belts Show Tunes
Rev. John Griffin had only 4 worshipers at his first service at his Crescent Heights church. Now songs from "Mame" and "Oklahoma" help deliver messages on hope, faith and hunger, and the local Bishop has requested "La Cage aux Folles" for Mother's Day.

Rev. Griffin enlisted the help of his music director, 73-year-old Broadway veteran Laurie Franks, to bring life back into his West Hollywood parish. Starting with "Mame," and subsequently moving through "Les Mis," "Oliver," "Man of LaMancha" and others, Franks' sing-alongs have indeed filled the church with, yes, "The Sound of Music."

In a Feb. 16 New York Times article, Griffin lays out his philosophy of music. "The music people love, in my mind, is sacred. I don't see music divided into sacred or secular. If it touches people, or lifts people, that's sacred."

Griffin's mother church, the United Methodists, are perplexed but apparently tolerant of Griffin's unique approach. Recognizing that such an approach might not play in Peoria, church officials nonetheless recognize that his Hollywood congregation is culturally unique. His regional Bishop Mary Ann Swenson strongly endorses the approach.

Nonetheless, some culture conflict is inevitable. Griffin does regularly receive critical letter from outside his congregation.

The same New York Times article recounts an unexpected clash of a different sort. One day their wireless microphones were accidentally set to operate on the same frequency as those of neighboring St. Ambrose Catholic Church. That day, the opening lines of "Cabaret" were heard welcoming (and "willkommen"-ing and "bienvenue-ing") parishioners arriving for a special Mass honoring a Pope-blessed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.


Link to an interview with Rev. John Griffin


Link to Feb. 16, 2003  New York Times article