In Memoriam- The Days of the Crystal Cathedral [complete 2-hour compilation]

[Anderson69728]

Doubts: The Crystal Cathedral is evangelical? Because it will be sold to the Catholic church?

[r13680]

Roman Catholicism is a religion that teaches salvation by works and observation of rituals and traditions. It's very unfortunate that the Crystal Cathedral will go to the hands of those who preach a false gospel.

[dannyzad17]

What happened to the Crystal Cathedral congregation?? and Pastor Schuller?? I have always enjoyed the Hour of Power. I will miss it.

[oOoMaryoBieberoOo]

Many thanks for such a wonderful compilation. I pray for the congregation of the crystal cathedral. As a catholic from a very long way away I had the pleasure of once visiting the place and many hours watching Pastor Schuller. I encouraged the Archbishop to buy it and through prayer prayed for it. We have more in common than difference and I pray that the legacy will continue in the new guise which in my humble opinion is an answer to all of the prayers of both congregations.

[march131958]

@oOoMaryoBieberoOo I agree with you. I am catholic and will miss the televised "Hour of Power" However,the praise band is not my cup of tea. They got rid of choir,organ and the true beauty of a service like it should be.

[pfretz13]

When you change the lyrics, "this is my Father's house" into "this is my Father's world," you are inherently giving too much credit to the people on this earth whom God despises. Let's return it to a center around Jesus' church and what he has done for us.

[pegoeltd]

1:17:48 The most beautifull piece (althought all of them are very nice to hear and watch). Great music, fantastic organ, fantastic choir, fantastic musicians ! Best reagrds from Poland !

[Chesterbarnes1]

This is what happens to a church which does not teach the blood of Jesus Christ and the whole counsel of God, inerrancy, infalliblity of the Bible and has compromise the Bible...a liberal chruch where anything goes. On top of that all the members of the board were family members drawing a salary. Not good, smells, and now its all gone. Sad, but Satan has had his way. Lord have mercy!

[Chesterbarnes1]

At least the C.C. is still in the hands of a Chritian church that believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. At least it did not go into the hands of a 'cult'. I'm concerned about that Great ORGAN. The Catholic church will take good care of it I'm sure. Thanks

[GeigenDiapason4]

@Chesterbarnes1 Unfortunately- the problem is- the Catholic church is not 'Christian' as they profess- everything behind the scenes of the Catholic church (that which the catholic church manages to keep hidden from the congregation) is anything but Christian. Every theological problem had to be 'patched' with a made-up story. Money is paid to victims of priests so a scandal does not ensue. And going for confession is ridiculous- "confiding in another 'human' is not in the bible.

[Chesterbarnes1]

@GeigenDiapason4 Our disagreement is very, very small...however let me say this. In spirte of the numerous errors in doctrine, and practices...the Catholic church does reconize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. His deity without that large denomination is accepted. That's PRIMARY doctrine and they DO believe that...sad to say SECONDARY doctrine leaves a lot to be desired. Salvation comes through FAITH in Jesus Christ period!

[GeigenDiapason4]

@Chesterbarnes1 Indeed so- but although they might believe that- there is no excuse or reason for worshipping Mary. She had nothing to do with the creation. We worship the one who created us- and the one who redeemed us.

[episcojon]

@Chesterbarnes1 Catholics do not worship Mary. To do so would be to commit heresy and sacrilege.  Stop bearing false witness and get your facts right. I'd suggest looking up the words dulia, hyperdulia, and latria.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@episcojon But viewing the Pope as actually second to God is a sin- particularly when the Pope is hardly even Christian in any way. There's a whole lot of 'potholes' in the Catholic Diocese- and worse- everyone believes it.

Further- NOBODY on earth is to be called 'Father' except God Himself. This entirely excludes 'priests' who think they reserve this 'title' for themselves. Simply- Catholicism is more occult than even remotely Christian.

[pfretz13]

When you change the words of hymns as much as they did out there, it's bound to catch up to being fly by night. If you say what people want to hear, it won't last. 

[TheMadMusicMan]

Any change of getting the video of the choir singing "God is Our Refuge & Strength"? If I remember right, they were singing from the balcony with Sean Groombridge playing the organ.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@TheMadMusicMan I remember that one and had it initially....unfortunately lost that clip several months ago...am hoping someone else can contribute...

[mattsplace85]

And once again, the Catholic Church steps in (and steps on) something it has no business being in. Typical. At least it will be (hopefully) not destroyed architecturally, and will (hopefully) have dignified worship services that make good use of the organ.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@mattsplace85 Certainly. Catholic church has all the money. Someone's gotta have the money to pay sexually abused victims to keep their mouths shut so a scandal doesn't occur. Not to mention the Catholic aspect of literally having to 'pay money to the church to have your sins forgiven.' What a load of crap if ever there was one...

[shipsbells]

There was this guy in the choir in the back row. Dark hair and beard, the size of a refrigerator. What happened to him?

[TrishaLongo6163]

I have so many VCR tapes of the HOP from the 80's & 90's --- I just don't know how to get them to DVD or, MP4 video to upload here. Tons of organ solo's, choir anthems, Roger Williams etc.... I gotta figure out how & where to get them all transferred. As far as the Catholic mass.... I doubt the choir anthems will be anything like the past -- mostly liturgical responses (prob from Book of Common prayer) and the missal that may be selected.

[TheMadMusicMan]

@TrishaLongo6163 You can purchase a VHS to DVD card coupled with software to record them to a video format. It's rather cheap.

[r13680]

Thank you so much for posting this video. What a blessing.

I hope someone would also post a video compilation of the music from the services of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis TN being broadcast through their Love Worth Finding program in TBN. Like Crystal Cathedral, Bellevue also lost it's great traditional congregational singing and majestic choir and orchestra performances under it's new pastor who succeeded the late great Pastor Adrian Rogers.

[cnmmnc8852]

I stopped watching after Fred Swann left. Never cared for Don Neuen. Well I gave guy a chance but after a month it was "much ado about nothing". The cymbal crashes after every other phrase. The little sermonettes before the anthem. The clumsy extended interludes before the last verse that just didn't make sense musically. The screaming occurring at the Amen. An orchestra, huge organ, packed house,large choir and live room, why scream? So, that was the end of the "glass house in Garden Grove".

[GeigenDiapason4]

@cnmmnc8852 I do agree- Less is indeed better and yes- there was a little too much there. Whereas the orchestra did add an extremely fabulous dimension to the music there- if the money wasn't there, it's time to liquidate and revise.

[cnmmnc8852]

@GeigenDiapason4 I can remember Fred (or one of his assistants when he was away) playing, directing, improvising with logic and taste, timing everything spot-on schedule, running the music like a seasoned airline pilot you could set your watch by. All the while with a calm, steady, supportive, always friendly, non combative temperament. I wish more church musicians could learn from him. My opinion on orchestras is for festival days, sure. A little goes a long way. Champagne every day gets old.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@cnmmnc8852 Are you meaning Mark Thallander, or someone else? I know he used to play sometimes when Fred would conduct...

Regards, Nigel

[cnmmnc8852]

@GeigenDiapason4 I remember a guy named Peter(?) who was excellent. Don't remember much except he looked like a movie star. Mark, gee, hasn't been there is a long, long time.

[GeigenDiapason4]

Welll, Well...Kudos to the Catholic Diocese- who will now demand the substantial expense of the ENTIRE outside of the Crystal Cathedral and Bell Tower washed once a year. (requiring a crane 14 stories high and plenty of cleaning solution. Though we all know the Catholics can afford it. around $90,000 a year just for that job. Something tells me that Cathedral will not last long with the Catholics at all.

[dpouzts]

THANK YOU for posting these clips. I have watched these televised services since age 8, and it's so very sad that it's all now gone.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@dpouzts It is indeed a pity, though as others have said- when a church turns into a corporation, it ends like one...

Blessings, Nigel

[mused66]

How did a clip of the Mormon Tabernacle organ get in here at the 1:10:00 mark?

[GeigenDiapason4]

@mused66 What's extremely odd- is in all the people I've ever given this DVD to- you're the only person up to know that's ever realized that organ at 1:10:00 is indeed that of the MTC- although only one clip, it's also to the tune of "Let All Things Now Living".

Short of it is at the same time I recorded Crystal Cathedral, I also used to record Music and the Spoken Word (only for the pipe organ) at around 5 a.m. here Sunday Morning. That's the only clip that I still have.

Regards, Nigel

[GeigenDiapason4]

@GeigenDiapason4 Not even several people (most of them musicians) in the Reformed church I attend realized that clip wasn't of the CC... ;-) ;-)

[steelersfanhawaii]

GeigenDiapason4, again thanks a bunch for the post, but one request of you: Would you mind posting if you have any footage of the music when Fred Swann was at the helm?

[GeigenDiapason4]

@steelersfanhawaii I wish I did, though ended up recording the Hour of Power almost every Sunday morning in 2007 to around 2009. Lost several of the clips since then. Have most, but not all that I initially did (including several of the specials from Roger Williams...

Regards, Nigel

[SuperVideodave]

@GeigenDiapason4 - Hey thanks for posting this man! Awesome! Could you then post the clips of Fred and the choir that you do have?

[GeigenDiapason4]

@SuperVideodave Hello, unfortunately I have none of them when Fred or Mark was there... :-(

[clwalkermn]

Is there any way to get this on DVD?

[azariah1969]

Just to let the people know we do have a classic traditional service at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. We now have a 50 voice choir, led by one of the Worlds finest conductors, Dr. Jonathon Talberg, A great organist of the 21st century, Stuart Wayne Foster on the mighty Great Organs of First Church 22,000+ pipes. We also have one of the greatest pastors Dr Scott Colglazier who gives a dynamic sermon just like Schuller.

[GeigenDiapason4]

@azariah1969 Just curious, on the church's website, particularly a point of interest, it says that FCC does not take the bible literally- but communicates it in such a way that it can be understood in today's world..."

A church has no choice but to take the bible literally- or not at all. If the scripture were bluntly communicated as it should be in today's church- there were be very few people (if any at all) left in today's churches...

Just curious, is all.

Blessings, Nigel

[Joshwwhite]

I have to admit I am sad for the congregation of this church. I am happy though, that the space will still be used to glorify God. I imagine the organ will be used more than it has been used in YEARS. And the Catholic church has the funds to keep the building and the organ in the condition it needs to be, in order to continue serving God, for many, many years to come.

[TrishaLongo6163]

Wonderful stuff -- of days gone by. It's doubtful we'll here "this type" of music when the Diocese takes over, but I do pray that they have a bona fide choir, and at least use that glorious pipe organ to it's fullest resources

[steelersfanhawaii]

@TrishaLongo6163 My friend, better times are ahead for that great pipe organ. Under Canon Law, the pipe organ in the Roman Catholic Church is to be held in high esteem and shall be used as the principal musical instrument for the mass. The organ will be used three-fold over what it has been used during CC "better times" even when Fred Swann was there, the reason is because the large number of hymns and acclamations in the RC mass. Just try come to the first mass at the CC.

[oldbear52]

Sorry to see this great place of ministry had to change ownership. If you cannot maintain your buildings, the best is to liquidate and move on. I've noticed the demise of the Schuller's ministries over the past few years and am sad to see it go. One can only give so much.....

Thank you Nigel, for doing this grand tribute!!!

[GeigenDiapason4]

It is indeed unfortunate, another milestone gone.

Although there was a substantial number of other pieces done by the CC, I only recorded those where the organ was being used, one of the focal points which never was (or is) given much credit today.

FAR too many people strumming the guitars in churches today. A precise and clear sign that musical ability has seriously declined today- as has most church music education. Most institutes now enjoy 'preliminary', for some reason.

[GeigenDiapason4]

Short of it is this- it is not right for us to judge which instruments are fit for worship. The pipe organ is just as relevant as the guitar. So what if it appeals more to youth and the younger generation? Nobody cares. Let's start educating them! We can look at it this way as well- do we have only young people in our churches- or the elderly folk as well? We have both. We need both. In the same way, the elderly folk are steeped in more wisdom than today's younger generation.

[GeigenDiapason4]

Now, worship in 70% of modern, ecumenical churches today is the same plate of leftovers from over two months ago. Warmed and out of the freezer. Yum. Tastes like crap and I know what to expect every Sunday. The same old monotonous.

Worship is to our Creator- it is to be like fine cuisine, a unique dish, FIT FOR OUR KING. We need to start making worship a fresh experience EVERY WEEK, not the same old stuff dug out of the bottom of the freezer, warmed up and just thrown together.