Faith Journey' Faith Journey' marks 10 years
Williamsville, North Buffalo churches celebrate successful par tnership
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

The Faith Journey Band as it exists today. From left are Steve Paradowski and Marilynn Horwood, and back row, guest bassist Paul Arata, Leigh Beenau, David Simpson and Nancy Beenau.

Ten years ago, the worship services at the North Park Lutheran Church on Starin Avenue in North Buffalo were pretty traditional.

But when Pastor Susan Strouse arrived, she saw an opportunity in an unused space - a band.

After attending a conference on contemporary worship, Strouse and North Park parish musician Marilynn Horwood put together musicians for a band that would play for services.

Horwood named the band "Faith Journey Band," which wasn't exactly embraced at first by her fellow band members.

"They thought it was kind of corny," she said. "But wherever we go, we inspire people to take on their own faith journey."

The band consists of Horwood on keyboards and vocals, Steve Paradowski on vocals and percussion, Leigh Beenau on guitar and lead vocals, Dave Simpson on drums, and Nancy Beenau on vocals, percussion and sign language. Currently the band is without a bass player since their original bass player, Chris Keller, moved out of the area.

"Several of us have professional entertainment experience," said Horwood. "But nothing has been as rewarding as this."

Originally, the church held two services - an earlier one, with traditional organ music, and a later one with the band that was geared toward younger people and young families.

"It just evolved from there," Horwood said. "Eventually we went back to just one service and alternated between traditional and contemporary."

Through the efforts with the band, the church successfully brought six or seven area families into the congregation, which fulfilled the goal of bringing people back to the church, Horwood said.

In the 10 years the band has been together, its members have spread the word of the benefits of contemporary worship through concerts and seminars.

"We offer a workshop for anyone interested in starting a contemporary worship service," Horwood said.

Various engagements and weekly services keep the band busy, but all of its work is voluntary.

The Faith Journey Band when it was first created 10 years ago. From left are band members Marilynn Horwood, Nancy Beenau, David Simpson, Leigh Beenau and Chris Keller.

As successful as North Park is in its North Buffalo neighborhood, city churches of every denomination are struggling to stay open.

Because of this, North Park has struck up a partnership with St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Williamsville.

"We're developing the idea of partnership," said Pastor Tim Madsen. "We link a larger, financially secure suburban church with a smaller church in the city."

Madsen and his wife, Pastor Wendy Buckley, serve both churches, so it was easy to link the two parishes.

"There are many people who migrate to the suburbs who still have a warm spot in their hearts for churches in the city," Madsen continued.

Both congregations have worked for two years to become familiar with each other's events and practices. Madsen noted that the North Park congregation often helps with functions at St. Paul's and vice versa.

"North Park runs a food collection for the food pantry every year," Madsen said. "So now the children are not only canvassing the North Buffalo neighborhood but they have the neighborhood around St. Paul's, too."

While partnering with area churches is a new idea throughout the area, the concept itself is quite old, Madsen said.

"St. Paul's has been very generous in supporting ministries far away," he said. "This is the same thing; it's just seven miles away."

The two-year trial for the partnership is coming up for renewal, with successful results, according to Madsen.

"Other congregations are sort of watching us and seeing what happens," he said. "But we've been pleased with the level of support and interest in the two congregations."

In the spirit of celebrating the ministry partnership and the 10th birthday of the band, which is also shared by the two congregations, a gala buffet and dinner will be held as a fundraiser for the band at St. Paul's, 68 Eagle St., at the corner of Ellicott Street, Williamsville.

A buffet dinner of pecan-crusted pork loin, three-mustard chicken, penne pasta, garlic-horseradish mashed potatoes, julienne vegetables and homemade desserts will be served from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"It's buffet, so you can eat all you want," Horwood said. "One of our members is a chef at East End Grill and Taproom in East Aurora."

The band will perform at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and $9 for children younger than 12 years old. Tickets are available by calling North Park at 836-2785 or St. Paul's at 634-2330. Tickets will also be available at the door.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com