What a pleasant surprise it was to
have such talented people come and entertain us with song, music and story. I
only wish there had been more here to enjoy the evening, but those who were had
a wonderful time. Pastor Ida Iverson,
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Fernandina Beach, Florida, December 5, 2011
Jonathan, Thank you and Janet for a wonderful evening of new and refreshing entertainment to prepare us for Christmas, a “good Christmas” at that. I found that we not only were entertained, but we left Faith UMC that evening being renewed with great worship! You and Janet are a “classy” act and everyone was filled with hope, peace, joy, and love for the Advent season. We felt the spirit that night, and we are “Spirited” for the entire season. God Bless, Pastor Joey Hatchell , Faith United Methodist, Smyrna GA, November 29th, 2011
Cheraw, South Carolina was
immensely blessed to have SpiriTed to lead us in worship at the First United
Methodist Church. Jonathan and Janet were excellent worship leaders. Their
talent, experience and passion for spreading God's love were unstoppable.
I
thank God for them. Paul Wood, Senior Pastor 1st UMC Cheraw, SC
October 30, 2011
The gathered community
at Mt. Olive and I appreciated SpiriTed - the music, the laughter, the
thought-provoking gospel stories told in a new way. It was a nice evening,
a retreat from the business and ordinariness of life. Blessings to you as you
continue your travels and reflections of God's love in Christ in ordinary places
in extraordinary ways.
Peace, Dave Keck Mt. Olive UMC, Hickory, NC October 27, 2011
Dear Jonathan,
Delighted. For sure. Delighted that you all
took the time to pass this way and share with us. Delighted to have the short
opportunity to be in ministry together. Delighted to see the Spirit of God do
His work in us and with us and through us. Delighted to see hope come to
fruition. You were very true in saying the other night that we were scouting one
another out. I wasn't sure what God was going to do with us or with you all on
the front end of our time together. Will it be a good match? If it's not a
revival or renewal service, what do we call it? Delighted. It was renewal and a
breath of fresh air from the Spirit. Hopeful. Always. It's so scary to
take those steps of faith into the waters of the Jordan and so wonderful to see
God do exactly what He's promised. He gives us the places the soles of our feet
touch. He promises to be with us. That gives us hope.
Thankful. Thankful for the ministry that God
gives to
SPIRITED each and every day.
God love and blessings,
Rev. Nathan Snider Chestnut Grove UMC
King, NC October 6 & 7, 2011
Thank
you so much for coming to our church! What a wonderful evening of beautiful,
inspirational music,and helpful, hopeful thoughts about our life in the world! I
enjoy reading Jonathan's column Jonathots, and Janet's performance on the wind
machine was especially impressive.
May God bless you on your Spirited Tour. Pastor Steve Hassmer,
Calvary UMC, Arlington, VA. September 21, 2011
Jonathan,
Thank you so much for your visit to our church. The music was superb, and the
message was exactly what people needed to hear. You have a compassionate,
generous, evangelical heart… and a message of hope for a frightened world. Keep
up the great work for the Kingdom! Pastor Steve, Union Chapel UMC, Joppa, MD September 7, 2011
Dear Jonathan, When your agent called me to see
if Upper Dublin Lutheran Church would book SpiriTed the Sunday of Labor Day
Weekend I felt my congregation would appreciate something unique. Your method
of financing yourself with a free will offering and taking care of all your
own personal arrangements made it an easy decision. I read your daily column,
felt comfortable with your sense of God and your sense of call, and met you,
Janet, and Dolly on Saturday. Experiencing your professionalism and
interacting easily with you as you set up, listening to your sound tests, I
was at peace Saturday evening knowing my initial impression was proving
accurate.
Sunday you fulfilled your promise to perform at all
three services, rushing outside for our middle informal worship, giving me the
glorious opportunity to know that you were so generous with your material. You
always shared the same consistent message with different illustrations and
music. Your particular emphasis as you welcomed us all to the feeding of the
5000 during our outdoor worship spoke directly to my troubled heart. Thankful
to God for what I have, I will enter retirement giving what I have for what
God wants done. Like the amazed congregant who tells me that she is certain I
was preaching just for her, it is my joy to likewise tell you Jesus spoke to
me.
God bless
you, Albert I Douglass, Pastor, Upper Dublin Evangelical Lutheran Church
Ambler, Pa September 4, 2011
Dear Jonathan, Those who
were with us Sunday morning are still excited about the wonderful presentation
that you and Janet shared with us. I truly appreciated your stories, the
wonderful music but most of all your fresh perspective on the feeding of the
5000 and how most folks see obstacles while a few see through God’s eyes and
see opportunities. Hurricane Irene was the worst storm in decades to hit our
region. After the second service we looked out and saw that a big old tree had
fallen and just missed the church. Many people in our area are still without
power and the clean up continues. I mention this because our worship time
together made me feel like one of the disciples when Jesus calmed the storm at
sea. Yes, the storm was raging around us, but as we heard God’s word I
couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm and peace from knowing that God was in
our midst thanks to you and Janet.
You and Janet remind me of St. Paul. No matter how much adversity you have to deal with you still share the gospel. In light of the flooding dare I say, ”Come hell or high water!” Those who were present on Sunday morning are telling folks what a wonderful and inspirational presentation you gave us.
I must also comment about how “dead on” your comment was about the political situation in our nation today. It is so true—we are underestimated by those we have overestimated.
We look forward to seeing
you again when you are in the area.I’m sorry the Berwick folks missed your
wonderful presentation.
I look forward to reading your daily columns. Please give our best to Janet,
Dolly, and Jackie.
CAUGHT THE SPIRIT Tom Richards, St Paul Lutheran Church, Tannersville, PA August 28, 2011
************************************************************************************************
Jonathan, your
presentation, testimony, and marvelous musical ability by yourself and Janet
Clazzy, was an awe-inspiring evening. Even this morning after our
church-service so many of the congregation stopped me and remarked how
wonderful the concert was and how much they enjoyed it. True performers,
wonderful Christians, very humorous, were just a few remarks people have
expressed. Thank you so much for a very enlightening evening and hope you can
come back again.
Carol Koslo, Minister of Music, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Bangor, PA,
August 18, 2011
****************************************************************************************
Jonathan, Thanks you for such a “Spirited” performance for our parish. The Holy Spirit has truly
blessed you and Janet with a gift of combining the love of God and the truth of His Word with grace
and humor. The music was uplifting and the stories inspirational. May God continue bless you and
others with Spirited performances.
In Christ. Harvey Huth Arch Deacon Albany Diocese St. Stephen Episcopal, Delmar NY August 11, 2011
***********************************************************************************************
Dear Jonathan, I did so enjoy your concert
on Tuesday evening. The message was inspiringly simple...the best kind of inspiration! We are in this world to work
together for the kindom of God. I especially appreciated your invitation to consider all different ways and language
and symbols that motivate us to be the best at who we were created to be--servants of a Christ who saw no limits,
built no barriers, and greeted each moment as an opportunity to love and care for each other. What a gift to experience
this in the context of moving music by you and Janet.!
Please come back. Grace and Peace, Pastor Pam Mikel Hayes, Cobleskill UMC August 9, 2011.
**************************************************************************************
Dear Jon, Thank you for
stopping by last Thursday evening. The event was nothing short of fantastic
and inspiring. Not only are you and Janet extraordinary musicians, but you
both are warm and wonderful people who spread the love of Jesus through music
and by sharing your poignant life stories. Thank you for sharing your message
and music with us; it certainly was a “Spirited” evening!
God Bless, Laurie Russell , Music Director, Fayetteville UMC, Fayetteville, NY
August 4, 2011
************************************************************************************************************************
SpiriTed is a delightful, fun and inspirational evening of music and
story. Jonathan’s humor, message
and gift of music combined with Janet’s breezy, sometimes mystical melodies with
the oboe and wind machine
make an enjoyable hour that leaves you wanting more. We’ve invited
SpiriTed to come back soon!
Pastor David Blank, First Lutheran Church, Warren, PA July 22, 2011
************************************************************************************
Hi Jonathan - Hope your travels are going well, and you are spreading
SEEDS everywhere you go!
We thoroughly enjoyed the SpiriTed concert! The stories, the music,
the talent, the sharing of gifts
and testimony..... I got a lot of good feedback - Many said
they had been truly blessed.
I specifically appreciated the way you supported me, as pastor, by reinforcing
to my "sheep",
that this "shepherd" loves them, and that God wants the absolute best for them!!
That is the message I hope I preach every week - not just from the pulpit,
but from my heart and
in my words and actions daily. You uplifted MY call, as well as each of the
others present.
Thanks to you all! Blessings on your way ~
Betty Bond, United Baptist Christian Church, Lewiston, NY July 20, 2011
***********************************************************************************
SpiriTed was held on a very hot
July evening with a small crowd in attendance.
Many speakers and singers rely on the energy of the crowd to inspire them.
That wasn’t the case with Jonathan Cring and Janet Clazzy.
The show they put on was performed as if there were 500 in attendance.
Their enthusiasm and passion shone brightly and touched the lives of those who
were in attendance. Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire and
encourage
us through your uplifting presentation!
– Rev. Dr. Keith A. Manry, Senior Pastor,
Akron First United Methodist Church, Akron, NY, July 19, 2011
********************************************************************************
What a dynamic duo! These two troubadours for
Jesus know how to move a crowd.
Jonathan’s wit and humor will have you laughing and thinking.
What a blessing, they really are SpiriTed! Janet has an amazing gift
playing the oboe
and wind machine. They are a professional class act that has the ability
to connect to
the gathered people. We loved them and you will too!
Pastor Sam Troyer, Apple Creek United Methodist Church, July 10, 2011
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
My Dear Jonathon,
It was a wonderful and inspiring evening. I have had many positive comments.
You will always have a place at Grace Church. BTW...Joanna and I went out an
oriental restaurant on Friday. My Fortune was..."Judge each day not by the harvest
you reap but by the seeds you plant". Wow! God is so good.
That was definately NOT a coincidence. Blessings to you, your wife and Janet.
Mickey Shankland, Grace Lutheran Church, Wadsworth, OH July 7,
2010
Jonathan,
It was truly a God-moment when I received the call, inquiring about the possibility of our
hosting you and Janet! Your messages were indeed blessings for us all. I can’t think of a
better way to be sent off to camp than to be blessed by the Gospel in music.
When I returned from confirmation camp, I had an email from one of our couples who
attended Saturday night, saying that they left worship feeling truly “re-charged” by the Spirit.
Thank you so much for sharing your God-given gifts with us!!
In Christ’s joy,
Gary Eichhorn, Our Savior Lutheran, Dayton, OH, Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26, 2011
**********************************************************************************
Jonathan,
Wow! What a great evening. I appreciate that you communicated all along the way
leading up to the program. We didn't have any questions or surprizes.
The performance was amazing. By simply requiring a free-will offering
(rather than charge what your calibar of talent deserve), we as a smaller church
were able to enjoy a fantastic show. Jonathan and Janet are extremely talented.
My only complaint was that it ended too soon. God bless you all in this ministry
that you are presenting to the nation.
Mark Berg Stockwell UMC June 15, 2010
*******************************************************************
Jonathan
Thanks both for your wonderful presentation yesterday AND for the gracious
words in today’s column!!! You are right on target…I am the pastor left standing
—holding onto the remnant… This is a new day and God is going to do a new
thing in Delton. As Scarlet O’Hara said, “After all, tomorrow is another day!”
…Thanks for your kind words, wonderful humor, and lasting memory.
People were still talking about it last evening!) God’s blessing on you in the rest
of your journeys. Gary Bekofske Faith UMC Delton, MI June 12, 2011
**********************************************************************************
Jonathan,
Your concert was truly a blessing! What a wonderful opportunity to stop,
relax, laugh, be entertained and inspired all in one setting. I didn't know what to
expect never having seen your performance before, but it was beyond my expectations.
If your are in our area again let me know! My only disappointment was in my
failing to have a larger audience. People little realize what they missed.
Thank you for making it a wonderful evening.
God be with you all and bless you.
Blessings in Christ, Milt Gould, Pastor Willow Creek UMC June 7, 2011
**************************************************************************
Jonathan and Janet,
Thank you for your gift of music and stories. Sunday I heard congregation
members talk about laughing, crying and enjoying the music.
Thank you for your gift of two sets of stories and songs, those who were at
both services enjoyed each service. Congregation members who attended
one service were sharing your stories with members who attended another
service. Another member shared, those amazing stories of God's work need
to be shared. She continued, I know they happen in the world, and others
need to share and hear those stories.
Your message was a gift for me to me as a pastor.
I was able to sit and be fed through laughter and hope.
Your packet of information, the preparation phone calls and flexibility made
the whole event easy to incorporate into ministry and worship.
Although there was not leadership to add another afternoon/ evening event,
I am certain that coordinating a third event would have been easy for
congregational leadership.
Blessings to you as you continue to share Christ with others through the
gifts of music and story that God has given you!
Pastor Amy Fondroy Eich Joy Lutheran Church, ELCA, Prescott Wisconsin
Sunday May 22, 2011
This was my second time to experience Spirited,
and it was just as fun as the first. This time, on Sunday, February 13th,
we hosted five other Methodist Churches in the area and made it a
celebration of Church unity and fellowship with a lunch afterwards. As
always, Jonathan and Janet’s message was perfect for the event. We
also asked Jonathan to lead a joint adult Sunday School Class before the
program. His ability to engage a group and bring new life to the
scriptures was a gift. If you haven’t experienced Spirited,
give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!
Jeff Gantz, FUMC
Jacque,
Jonathan
and Janet were truly a "Class Act". Our congregation
plus over 100 Winter Texan visitors were just delighted and
inspired by the presentation yesterday morning. We truly felt the
Spirit of God dwelling in both Jonathan and Janet. When next in
our area, PLEASE give us a call, this was the BEST. Several of our
Winter Texans want to bring them to their home churches up north.
We all felt very privileged to have them in our midst.
Blessings and Shalom,
Dana L. Hamilton, Pastor,
Hello Jacqueline,
Our congregation at
Nativity Lutheran in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida was ecstatic about
Jonathan and Janet’s performance at both of our Sunday services on
November 14, 2010. They added a certain pizzazz to our worship that was
uplifting and exhilarating. Their storytelling ability and music are
first rate.
Every so often taking a chance really pays off. Jonathan and Janet were great. Their exceptional talent as musicians really mattered in this church that knows music very well. I was deeply touched by the presentation and at the end my emotions really got the best of me. I cannot take credit for canceling the bell choir rehearsal. The director of the ensemble did that all by himself. My only regret is that more of the congregation did not receive this blessing. I would be especially interested in booking them again for a Sunday morning when they are back in the area. I am happy to provide a recommendation. Here it is:
Jonathan and Janet are performers of exceptional story telling and musical talent. They know how to connect with an audience and have fun. We took a chance and booked them without knowing anything about them. It turned out to be a great blessing to our church.
May God bless you in this ministry. Dave Gladstone First UMC Port Huron, MI Wednesday September 15, 2010
What a SpiriTed day we had with Jonathan and Janet! Both our traditional and our contemporary worship services responded with a standing ovation during their witness in worship. People were “wowed.” Each worship service was a different offering of God’s message. Even though they have done this many times before they make it fresh and real. They were personal and authentic. Set up and tear down was flawless and in a timely fashion. We would and will welcome them anytime and even at a moment’s notice. We look forward to keeping up with their ministry on Jonathan’s daily devotional.
Pastor Keith Treman, Portland United Methodist Church, Portland Mi. Sunday September 19th, 2010
"Fruit
in its Season" was an inspirational, dramatic sensation at our church.
Jasson, Dollie, and Jasmine took us into the life of a Christian named David who
keeps his head and stays true to his beliefs despite the temptations of
greed. The next morning, "Spirited" made a big hit on our Sunday
morning worship service. Jonathan Cring and Janet Clazzy showed their mastery of
music and the handling of the Word. Their message was very well received and I
would highly recommend that any church that desires renewal and something
wonderfully different to call and book the two groups together. The Rev.
Dr. Performance on Sunday April 25th, 2010 David J Whetter Salem Lutheran church,
Lenexa Kansas Sunday April 11, 2010 Wow! How does one
describe a holy encounter? At Dear Jonathan and Janet…Thank you for giving me this chance to recommend your
program to other churches. Tom
W. Crowe Jonathan
and Janet are warm and very gracious Christians who genuinely thanked our church
for the privilege of being with us for worship on February 21, 2010.
However, we were the privileged ones who were blessed by their incredible
talent, awesome music, and down to earth sharing of life and faith. They
are "real" folks with a "real" story to share. Thank
you, Jonathan and Janet, for the gracious blessing!
Jonathan
and Janet were well received. We had a great attendance. Initially our members were reserved, however, Jonathan was able to
help them open up. We had over two hundred in attendance for the Sunday
service. I heard many positive comments; Jonathan presented a
good mix of touching faith stories and humor which prompted people to
actually
It is a pleasure to recommend Mr. Jonathan Cring and Ms. Janet Clazzy to your organization. They performed at Christ the Rock Community Church on January 20th, 2010. We were truly astonished and blessed to hear a good quality, scripturally sound, Christ centered message that included humor and beautiful worship. We cannot wait to invite them back! Should you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me Pastor Darrell M. Owens At Christ the Rock Community Church in Cooper City, FL Happy
to send you comments made by our congregation after Spirited led us in
worship on Sunday Dec 6th Thanks again
for your willingness to be present with the folks at BassettUMC. We praised God
today in this worship service. It felt good to applaud for the Lord.
We give thanks for the gift of music with which God gifted to Jonathan
and Janet. I’ve
heard so many good things from folks who heard you yesterday.
One woman, who attended the 8:45 service, tuned into the radio
broadcast at 11. She said, “He was right, he didn’t repeat
himself.” I’ve
been thinking about what a unique blend of humor, humanity and
down-to-earth (humus?) wisdom Jonathan’s stories convey.
They are, of course, deceptively simple. Anyone who really
listens recognizes the amount of work and really good
scholarship that went into the writing of those stories. Then
there is the music that frames the stories; the level of
composition and performance is so high that it takes your
breath away. I
was wondering why people as talented as you share your gifts
with churches,
and after talking with you both, I’ve concluded that you
really mean it when you say that churches are the one place in
our culture where people are prepared to change their minds.
As
someone who has spent almost 40 years as a pastor, I want to
say “thank you” for making me see through your eyes just
how worthwhile it is to nurture a congregation dedicated to,
as Jonathan says, producing good people. Finally,
it was amazing to spend the entire day with you. Those of us
who both worshipped with you in the morning and then spent an
hour with you in the evening, were not “entertained”, that
word seems way too superficial for what you did for us. In
some important ways, we were transformed. Jonathan said the
same things in several different ways and they were important
things. I, for one, have decided to quit being mean. If even
one person at every church you visit makes that decision, you
will make this a better world. Again,
thank you!
Jonathan
Richard Cring and Janet Clazzy show the congregation that the
Gospel of Good News can be delivered in a more entertaining
and creative way then most are accustomed to hearing or seeing
the Gospel presented. It was an evening of spiritual
enrichment as both Jonathan and Janet touched more then our
hearts and heads with their music and words, they touched the
soul of each individual that attended. The evening was
filled with laughter, tears, and spirit-lead worship.
Every comment that I have heard have been positive. The
most common comment I have heard since that evening is "I
wish more people would have been there." - I wanted
to thank Janet and Jonathon for being with us August 10th.
Jonathan and Janet blew into Medford,
WI on Sunday, August 2, and with their "Spirited"
presentation blew new life into St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
With humor, powerful stories and incredible musical abilities
Jonathan and Janet inspired all in attendance. We laughed, we
cried... we made a joyful noise! Thank you Jonathan and Janet!
We would recommend your performance to anyone and everyone!
Jonathan and Janet, Thank YOU! Their appearance was a pleasant interlude in the middle of the summer and brought together people from various aspects of the Neillsville community. Among the 50 or so people in attendance were a number of folks from outside our church, including guests of members and those who simply responded to the advertising. The mixture of commentary and music they offered was just right. One of our members commented that they were a pleasant surprise because she was expecting something syrupy and sentimental in the vein television evangelists. Of course people were intrigued with Janet’s wind instrument and all of the sounds she produced with it. Jonathan’s commentary gave us something to ponder and even sort out. What did he mean by “taking back” the church and country? I guess that is for us to decide. Thank you for this surprise treat.
Thursday July 22, 2009
Riverside
United Methodist Church enjoyed an uplifting, humorous,
heartfelt evening last week when Jonathan and Janet brought
their message and wonderful music to our community. All
ages, from small children to retired adults were in
attendance. Jonathan is a wonderful storyteller and had us
laughing through the entire evening, and Janet is an extremely
talented musician. Bravo!
Island in the Son UMC, Corpus Christi
,
Pastor Jim Bezaire
The day with you was outstanding and the people of New Life where deeply moved by intertwining of music and story. God was definitely in the house and moving through you. Your presence was the culmination of a great weekend for us, with all of the great happenings, and a terrific capstone. Your gracious presence was inviting and you captured the spirit of our New Life community. I know that we will be talking about the day for a long time. We hope that we can have you with us
again.
Pastor Rob Carlson At St. Matthew's "New Life" Lutheran Church in Madison ,WI
Dr.
Gail Harrelson, Crosby United
clap hands. This is something that doesn't happen very often in a Lutheran church. At the end the congregation gave Jonathan and Janet
a standing ovation! I couldn't believe it! We will remember the
Sunday with much joy and praise God for the ministry of
"Spirited."
Rev. Dr. Peter Stiller Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sun City Center, Florida
Sunday January 17th 2010
Sunday
December 6 Betty Marshall, 1st United Methodist Church, Bassett VA
Pastor
Roger Talbott, Elyria
First United Methodist Church,
Elyria
,
Be
Blessed!
Pastor Frank Oakman, Northside Community UMC
Terre Haute, IN
Rev. Paul
Armstrong Oak Creek UMC Oakcreek WI August 10, 2009
While our attendance was unexpectedly sparse, those present
were deeply
moved and motivated by your message (including myself).
Know that you
have my great appreciation for being with us and will
recommend you
highly to others. May God bless you in your continued
ministries.
Pastor Pete Warmanen, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Medford, WI August
2, 2009
James D. Mohr, United Church of Christ, Neillsville, WI
July
12 & 13, 2009
At our worship on Sunday,
July 12 and Monday Evening, July 13 it was our privilege to have
Jonathan and Janet share their music and message. They are
two of the most gracious and thoughtful people you will meet,
which made working with them very easy. Their music was
amazing. The message they shared was heartfelt, wise and
reflected the amazing goodness and grace of God who is present
with us in the midst of all things. We were blessed and
our worship enriched by their presence.
Roland Hayes, Pastor St.
Michael’s
Thursday July 9,
2009
Dear Dollie,
Sunday June 28, 2009 Dear Jonathan and Janet,
Sun
June 14 PM, 2009 SpiriTed’s
performance at
Pastor Sue Reames
June 11, 2009
Dear
Jonathan and Janet,
Thank
you for being with us at Elim on Thursday evening! The
feedback I heard has been positive. People were uplifted,
especially through the fabulous music and great humor. Wow!
Janet is amazing on oboe and the wind machine! "Being
creative vs. a critic" was a powerful vehicle in which
to bring to the forefront the many ways in which our society and,
at times, churches polarize issues and people that can be
destructive. May God continue to work through your ministry
to bring people joy and healing.
In
Christ's healing presence,
June
7, 2009 Comments
from Dr. Robert Toll, pastor of Louisville United Methodist Church,
Louisville CO
Our congregation felt very blessed to have "SpiriTed" for
an evening program in our sanctuary
on June 7, 2009. Jonathan and Janet are outstanding musicians.
Jonathan sang beautifully as well as
played the electronic keyboard. He also shared some very
inspirational stories that touched our hearts.
Janet's oboe playing on both the traditional oboe and the modern
electronic oboe (which produces hundreds
of interesting sounds) complimented Jonathan's music and message in
a very special way. Surely the
presence of the Lord was in this place when SpiriTed performed for
us that evening. It was magical! I
highly recommend this couple to any church that is looking for a
quality program that will lift the spirits
of everyone in your congregation! I am enjoying listening to
their C.D.'s and reading Jonathan's inspirational
books that were made available after their presentation. They
were very inexpensively priced. I am so
grateful for their Christian ministry.
May
19th, 2009 Dear Jonathan and Janet,
I have already read several chapters each
of the froggie book and the gold digging book (which I like the
better–terrific!) I listened to all of your wonderful I’M
CD last evening and this morning on my walk. It really made Jesus
come alive for me. Beautifully written and read! I listen to
thousands of books as a member of the Talking Books for the Blind
and Visually Handicapped for 47 years. They are all read by
professionals, but not even the professionally- sold books on
cassette can compare to the incredible job you did ,Jonathan,
reading your book and the perfect and appropriate accompaniment by
Janet.
We
are enjoying the music CD’s, too, and we are looking forward with
great anticipation to watching the $6. Man this weekend.
May 17, 2009 What a wonderful experience we had on Sunday afternoon, listening and enjoying the music, the stories and the reflections on faith from Jonathan and Janet. Janet’s gift of music entertained and inspired all those who attended from the young to the young in heart. Jonathan’s sharing his stories of faith and life gave depth and meaning to the music they shared. I would highly recommend them to any church or group that wants a time of outstanding music that connects faith to life. We hope to have them back with us again. Pastor Michael Sager Hope Lutheran Church, Eagle, ID
May
9th 2009, We were a small group who attended the SpiriTed
concert last weekend, in the Pacific Northwest, when the sun is
out on a Saturday morning, people tend to change plans and head
outdoors.
However Jonathon and Janet performed as if there were thousands,
and we were touched with the holy that morning, through their
music, stories and humor. It is my prayer that they will be
back in our area, so we can really encourage others to come out
and have their lives lifted up. Thank
you Jonathon and Janet....you left your mark of the spirit on us,
and we will never be the same.
In Christ, Marta Schellberg Bremerton UMC Bremerton WA
The Rev. Mark Randall Salmon Creek UMC Vancouver, WA
May 2nd, 2009:
Engaging,
Christ centered, encouraging, and an extremely thoughtful
presentation that touches the heart, soul, and mind of the hearer.
Recommended for anyone who wants to see Jesus in a new and
refreshing light. There were no strings attached, no attitudes
of superiority but just two people with servants hearts who wanted
to bless people who are willing to grow in their understandings of
Jesus. For persons who have been confused, disappointed, who
have struggled with some of life's pains, you have an opportunity to
meet the Master in a new way who cares deeply for your whole being.
-- American Baptist Congregation,
Sun
April 5 SPIRITED,
two traveling troubadours for the Lord, visited us Sunday to share
the stories and songs of faith. On their arrival, they
emanated a spirit of peace and love. Set up was a breeze and
getting to know them a delight. Their desire was
to support and uplift our ministry to the glory of God. Their
presentation was polished and professional. More importantly,
it was real. They spoke, sang, and played the truth of God’s
saving love in ways that brought us to laughter and tears. We
felt as though we had known them and they us for a long time.
They shared the truth of their lives and how God is at work in
mighty ways to fulfill His plan and purpose in each of us.
Hearing original music performed with such heart and soul from a
tremendously gifted vocalist and pianist and a marvelous wind
accompanist was a wonderful experience we will remember and talk
about for a long time. They left, having become our friends.
Pastor
Carl Hoppman St. Luke’s
March 4th 2009 Dear
Jacqueline,Greetings to you and please send my love to Jonathan
and Janet. It is time to jot you a few words concerning the
March 4th 2009 show at
Dearest Jonathan and Janet,
“Music to warm the soul, story telling to enliven the imagination, faith to give wisdom, counsel, and hope in our faithless moments. Truly an opportunity all congregations ought to embrace!”
Rev. Kent R. Lee, Senior Pastor
Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church, FL January 2009
Jonathan and Janet presented a wonderful program of music, humor, and thought provoking commentary. It was a most enjoyable event. Jonathan and Janet were warm, gracious, and friendly. Janet's "wind machine" is amazing, and she is too.
First United Methodist in Atmore Alabama is happy to have provided the venue for SPIRITED.
Jim Reece, Pastor Jan.30th, 2009
Jonathan and Janet,
What a joy to host you here at Trinity. I've heard many comments about the gentle and moving way in which you presented the Gospel of Christ as experienced in your life. And, that instrument... wow! Of course the keyboard was great and we enjoyed Jonathan's vocals but it was a treat to hear the many voices from Janet's wind instrument.
May our Lord bless you even as you have blessed us,
...Jerry Milner Florida January 2009
What a blessing to have Spirited with us. We have two very different worship services with a wide range of ages and interests and Jonathan and Janet ministered to both.
St. John's UMC from Edwardsville, IL Sunday November 30th, 2008
We were blessed to have Jonathan and Janet with us. God has given them wonderful talents and they share them graciously. I am most appreciative that they were willing to come on a "love offering" basis and then offered their books. CDs and DVD at an extremely reasonable price. It is obvious that they love the church and that this is a ministry rather than a performance.
Pastor Kathryn Hunter, Hibben UMC, Mt. Pleasant, SC, November 16th, 2008
Hi, Jacqueline, Jonathan, and
Janet,
I am so glad to have the opportunity to share my thoughts with you about Jonathan and Janet's visit with us this past Saturday.
Though our attendance was much lower than I had hoped, due I am sure to my own failures for which I apologize to you, the people who attended your performance were DEEPLY blessed and impressed.
You truly are "Spirited" and Spirit-filled, and the Lord speaks and sings through you both to prod God's people into greater awareness, faithfulness, joy, love and creativity in service to Christ.
I cannot tell you how much those who attended "Spirited" have overflowed with praise for your spiritual offerings and gifts shared, and with the sincere desire that we will have the opportunity to host you again in the future. "Now that we've experienced it," they've all said, "we want to be able to tell people what they're all about and get all of Orangeburg in to be touched by them!"
Thank you so much for stopping in at our church. I will certainly be passing on your names to other ministers in our Conference, and will hope to be able to see you again in our area. We also, of course, would love to host you again at any time.
Thank you again.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Kristen R. Richardson-Frick, St. Paul's United Methodist Church,
Orangeburg, SC, November 15th, 2008
It was an awesome, refreshing worship experience for both services and all ages. I’ll get more comments for your marketing when my feet hit the ground.
Blessings,
Don Thomas, Trinity UMC, Knoxville, TN, November 2nd, 2008
Our congregation greatly enjoyed Spirited, finding them to be entertaining, warm, humorous, spiritual and uniquely suited for the balanced views of a mainline congregation.
Blessings!
Pastor David Schrader, Grace UMC, South Bend, IN,
October 22nd, 2008
It was great to have you here at Christ Lutheran Church on October 5.
Your proclamation of word and music was a breath of fresh air and
renewing spirit for our congregational worship. One of our members, who
was unable to purchase CD's on that Sunday wanted to know if there was a
way to purchase recordings of Jonathan and Janet on line. Please
forward information to me.
To You God's Peace and Joy,
Pastor Ron Poisel, Christ Lutheran Louisville, KY, October 5th, 2008
Jonathan
and Janet were delightful to work with and
flexible in working around our scheduling
issues. You may have heard that this
presentation, lined up months in advance, came
at a perfect time, when both our ministers
were unexpectedly away.
I’ve heard lots of positive comments from
members: “Wow! Such talent!”
Our best wishes to all of you in this musical
ministry.
Marti Johnson
Worship Team Chair
St. Paul's UMC, Lenexa, KS September
28th, 2008
Dear Jonathan and Janet,
Roger Talbott, Lead Pastor, Elyria First United Methodist Church, Elyria, OH, September 7th, 2008
Our recent "Visitation" by Jonathan and Janet was
a wonderful way for our church family to enter the fall season of worship. The stories shared
were both humorous and pointed. The music was beautiful and uplifting. The "spirited" ministry
made it so easy for us to host this special event.
Thank God for all you folks are doing!
Rev. Jonathan Reese, Westbrook Park United Methodist Church,
Canton, Ohio, September 7th, 2008
Thank you for coming. Though we were a small group everyone was delighted with the beautiful music, humorous and witty insights and the spirit of the program. It was a joy filled night. May God bless you in your ministry.
Marcia,
St. Paul UMC Frankfort, KY Friday, July 18, 2008
We had looked forward with joy to Jonathon and
Janet being with us this past weekend. I
have to say the mixture of love and laughter
along with the insights into life and faith
brought us that deep joy and abiding love.
Please accept my deepest thanks!
Sincerely, Bob Howard, PastorPlatte City United Methodist Church (Sunday July 6th, 2008)
What
a wonderful experience to have Janet and Jonathan
with us this past weekend. They lifted our
spirits with God’s spirit through their wit,
humor, stories and songs. They
challenged us to hear, to see and to feel in new
ways through God’s re-creative work in making
our joy complete. –
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found myself inspired! Thanks for your belief in the church. There is a lot of craziness that passes for the church and you brought some sanity, hilarity, and inspiration to us.
Dennis
R. Fakes,
Pastor, St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Huntsville, AL 35801
(Sunday, June 8th,
2008)
Jonathan
and Janet's visit to Franklin First UMC on May
18th was one of the more memorable
experiences in my life. Jonathan's obvious love
for people and love of the Lord combined with his
delightful - and insightful - sense of humor provided
observations of God and life that touched the
hearts of all of us who heard them. The beauty and
depth of the music from Jonathan and Janet that
framed the times of monologue warmed my soul. They
are both truly people of grace.
I
extended Jonathan and Janet a standing
invitation to return to Franklin Ohio and I hope
they are able to take me up on it. They certainly
made this little piece of the world a better place
than it was before they touched it. Thank you for
introducing them to us and please accept my
prayers and best wishes for the ministry they fulfill.
Blessings
to you all.
Pastor
Franklin First United
(Sunday, May 18th,
2008)
Valerie Waibel, Lead Pastor
Lindenwald United Methodist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
(Sunday, May 18th
,2008 – 3 services)
(Spirited, Sunday April 20, 2008)
Jonathan and Janet offered us a "spirited" morning of story-telling, song and music that touched our souls and our minds as well. We laughed, we cried, we applauded, we offered "Amens". Our beliefs and our outlooks on life were both confronted and affirmed. It was a time of joyful celebration. We can't wait until they are in our "neck of the woods" again so we can do it all one more time!
Central United Methodist Church
Stockton, CA 95204
(Spirited, Sunday April 6th, 2008)
Thank
you for joining us at
Pastor
John Broad
Pioneer UMC,
(Spirited, Palm Sunday
March 16, 2008)
Dear
Jonathan and Janet -
We
thank you for sharing your gifts of word and music
in worship on March 9, 2008 in our sanctuary.
In general, your ministry was very well received and
appreciated. One of the comments was,
"Jonathan seemed to be speaking directly to me
and my inner spirit." One of our young
persons said, "I want to learn to play that
'air horn' just like Janet." There were
many fine comments. The flow of music from
floor to ceiling was very uplifting. The
congregation was uplifted and challenged to show the
love of Christ in their lives by the legacy of words
and actions. The
In
God' Shalom,
Pastor
Tim
First
United
(916)
783-3464
"The
Our
evening with Jonathan and Janet was a real blessing.
Full of humor and deep spiritual insight, our
congregation was engaged--everyone from young
children to seniors--left wanting more. We would
really enjoy hosting them again when they are in our
part of the world! May God continue to bless this
empowering ministry.
Judith Bither, Senior Pastor St. Paul's UMC in
Manteca, CA
(Spirited,
Sunday March 9th, 2008)
University United Methodist Church received the blessing of Jonathan and Janet at our three morning services on February 24. Good humor, insightful stories, lovely music yielded a special morning for our congregations.
University UMC,Las Vegas.
Gratitude to Jonathan and Janet who brought their talents to Holy Trinity Lutheran, Chandler, AZ, this past Sunday. Jonathon's dramatic readings and original songs, lifted from his own experience, offer deep insights into the way of God and the way of humanity. As I heard both deep sighs and laughter from parishioners all around me, I was drawn to Micah 6:8 and the prophetic call to justice, kindness and mercy. Jonathon, along with the Janet's marvelous music, became the instruments through which Jesus again offered the invitation, "Follow Me." Humor and Christian spirituality became "one" through these marvelous servants.
Your music was inspiring, and message was heartfelt. Something us
common folk could relate to! Thank you for sharing a wonderful God
given gift with the folks of Gloria de Cristo.
In Christ- Jerry Grill
Gloria de Cristo Lutheran
Yuma, AZ
(Spirited, February 3, 2008)
Recent Letter from Lord of Grace Lutheran, Tucson, AZ Jan ''08
Jonathan & Janet provided a rich and wonderful worship experience Sat. Jan. 26th, 2008. I had told them they might only see 6 in attendance. There could, on the other hand, be as many as 30. We had 27! Jonathan's wit and relating things to scripture was especially good. Janet is a consummate musician. Her renditions on both instruments were really special. I have heard nothing but praise from the people who attended. We thank them for enriching our church with their presence.
St. James United Methodist Church,
Tuscan, AZ
Jonathan & Janet were simply a gift! The
presentation was engaging and
enjoyable!
Thank you so much,
Rev.
Jonathan Arnpriester
Sr. Pastor, Grace UMC,
Jonathan and Janet,
(Spirited, January 6th, 2008)