LAWRENCE: Good Friday service set for gospel and blues

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The music will do the preaching at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville’s Good Friday noontime gospel and blues service — at least, that’s the hope of the Rev. Jeffrey Vamos, who leads the congregation.
   The hourlong Good Friday service, which starts at 12:15 p.m., is open to the public at the church, which is located at 2688 Main St. in the village of Lawrenceville.
   The goal is to encourage township residents to attend the service, which will mix readings from the Gospel of John with music, the Rev. Vamos said.
   The service features pianist Sam Dockery, saxophonist Frank Mazzeo and bassist Andy Lalasis, the Rev. Vamos said.
   The connection to the musicians was made through James Moyer, who is the church’s music director.
   Mr. Dockery has performed with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Mr. Lalasis was a staff musician for Steve Wynn’s Golden Nuggett Orchestra and also was Merv Griffin’s bassist with his orchestra at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
   Mr. Mazzeo has played with Frank Sinatra, Mel Lewis, Bernadette Peters, Randy Newman, Peabo Bryson and Marvin Hamlisch. He is the lead alto player at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia.
   The Rev. Vamos said the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville traditionally held three small services on Good Friday, but it was decided to hold one service that would feature the musicians and that would include the community.
   ”We thought, why not do the Good Friday service in a new style of worship,” he said. “People think of preaching as staid and stale. The church is trying to use music to bear the message to the hearer. Gospel and jazz in some ways are inherently spiritual. The music speaks to people’s souls.”
   The service also is an “excuse” to invite the broader community into the church to worship with its members, the Rev. Vamos said.
   The hope is that people will know that there is a community at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville that welcomes them, he said.
   At the Good Friday service, there will be a reading of the Passion according to St. John, and then some music, the Rev. Vamos said.
   There is a time for silent meditation. No one will be preaching from the pulpit, he said.
   ”Our hope is that people who like that music will come,” the Rev. Vamos said. “It is not a musical performance, but a service of worship.
   ”We hope they will be as engaged as people who have a faith background. There is no need to be pious. Just come and listen to the (Passion) story.”