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Posted on 12/04/2022 2:11:14 AM PST by Morgana
Flying drummers, flying angels, live animals, and a 1,000-member cast. It’s all part of a Christmas extravaganza at a Dallas-area megachurch — which recently sparked backlash, after a clip from a show rehearsal went viral on TikTok.
“A nice humble place of worship,” commented one TikTok user about the production at Prestonwood Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Plano, Texas, pastored by Jack Graham, founder of PowerPoint Ministries.
Many of the clip’s more than 14,000 other comments follow a similar snarky tone. “I’m not sure how I feel about this. I’m in awe and I’m turned off at the same time,” wrote a user named Melissa Cunningham.
The 23-second clip of the rehearsal of Prestonwood’s production called, “The Gift of Christmas,” was posted by TikTok user Tony Daussat. The video features several drummers suspended on wires above the congregation.
The clip, which has attained 2.3 million views in five days, was posted with the caption “Casual Christmas worship service in TX.”
Prestonwood executive pastor Mike Buster said in a statement that the church expects about 75,000 people to attend their Christmas pageant. “At Prestonwood, we believe Jesus deserves our absolute best, especially at Christmas.”
A press release from the church, which reportedly has over 50,000 members, describes the show as a “visually stunning multimedia event.” In addition to flying acts and an expansive cast, the show also reportedly features special effects, an LED video wall, and a 50-piece orchestra playing an original music score.
Tickets cost $19 to $59, with an optional Christmas buffet available for an additional $22.50. At press time, 11 of the 14 performances had sold out. Church calls out critics as ‘hateful’
(Excerpt) Read more at julieroys.com ...
Incredible. And people fall for these southern Baptist churches
Reason #3585 for why we’re in the mess we’re in in this country.
Church services are complete shows now. There is no “worship” of God.
Sickening.
So? Folks fall for Pope Francis and his maxi-mega flying Pachamama church. This one sounds tame in comparison.
If I find that NachoMama I will burn it!! That is NOT Our Lady!!
This is SO wrong. Jesus was modest and was able to spread The Word without using flying drummers or flying monkeys. Is anyone else reminded of Jim and Tammy Faye?
Weird but funny at the same time.
Why do you care
As long as this is not indicative of regular services and just a special event for Christmas I don’t see a problem with it.
Yes I agree.
Hmmm...I dunno...He used wine, bread and fishes...
Exactly.
What is that saying about throwing stones from a glass house? Make sure one’s church isn’t a maxi-mega glass church when throwing a stone at a mini-mega glass church.
“White Trash Behaving Themselves”
Ian Anderson, on the flip side of Aqualung, ranted against the Church of England. He stated that God is not the kind you have to wind up on Sunday. I think of these lyrics every time I see a modern worship service.
I don’t either. If it follows the Bible and tells the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ and people enjoy it what is the problem? Has no one ever been to an outdoor amphitheater where they tell the story of the Passion of the Christ? They have one in the zsark Mt. in Arkansas that used to be open all year and it was great!
This is a paid show, not some free pageant or service.
Not something I would personally pay to go see, but if others are, who cares?
I don’t think you’d find anything like this in a Catholic Church. Are you a Prestonwood member or something?
Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous peoples of the Andes. In Inca mythology she is an “Earth Mother” type goddess, and a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting, embodies the mountains, and causes earthquakes.
Not Catholic.
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