 The Manequins are taking over!! - confront your doubles!! |
Captain Pedantic 
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Registration Date: 12-18-2002
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Location: "This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence." - Vyvian - The Young Ones
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| The Manequins are taking over!! - confront your doubles!! |
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http://www.larknews.com/april_2004/secondary.php?page=2
Animatronic band takes guesswork out of worship
PLANO — On Sunday morning at High Valley Community Church, the curtains part to reveal a 10-piece band of mannequins which springs to life at the touch of a button.
"Good morning everybody!" says lead animatron "Steve," a male mannequin with blond hair and a beaming smile. "Let's worship God!"
They launch into a flawless version of "Open the Eyes of My Heart," and the animatrons "play" their instruments while people in the audience clap and sing along.
It has taken a few months to get used to them, but the people at High Valley have embraced the burgeoning trend in electronic worship leaders.
"I thought I'd miss the human element, but these machines are so real," says Douglas Wilson, 62. "And I appreciate the consistency."
The shift happened last fall when the church's worship leader resigned. Pastor Ted Lindey had trouble finding a replacement. Then he heard about Animatronics Group, a company out of New Zealand which creates animatronic shows for theme parks. For the price of three years' salary for a flesh-and-blood worship leader, Lindey realized he could get a system that lasted ten years or more and offered almost limitless worship possibilities.
"Real worship leaders have a warmth, but they can be also moody and flaky," says Lindey. "It's tough to find one that matches your church."
He had the system installed in November. The people were astonished, even annoyed at first. Then they began to bond with the animatrons. Many now say they've reached new heights of worship with the pre-programmed band.
The Deluxe Animatronic Church system comes with generic animatrons in the skin tones of a church's choice. Churches may upgrade their "head kits" to feature Michael W. Smith, George Beverly Shea or Darlene Zschech, who have licensed their voices and likenesses to the company. At High Valley, Lindey upgraded to the George Beverly Shea kit for his early morning service, and on Saturday nights the youth rock out with the newly introduced Delirious head kit.
"It's so real," says Stella, 16, sweaty from an hour of mosh-pit worship. "It's Martin Smith's voice and everything."
The system comes with 100 song sets, including everything from staid Lutheran fare to heavy metal praise. Churches can choose the song list in advance, or a sound man can seamlessly stitch together songs of different emotional intensities, responding to the mood of the crowd.
"Animatronics has come a long way since Disneyland's Abe Lincoln," says one attendee after morning worship. "The band works so well, we're thinking of getting an animatronic pastor." •
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04-02-2004 15:44 |
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EdHead
Official Impasto
Registration Date: 10-21-2002
Posts: 2,565
Location: The Imaginary Sanctuary
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Cool!
err....
I mean freaky, man! 
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04-02-2004 15:45 |
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Razen Phidul
Dark Steamy Cabbage
Registration Date: 04-01-2004
Posts: 18
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Then I guess the praise leaders are not that much different than the worshipers. 
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04-02-2004 16:19 |
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dorfsmith
Grand Encephalon
Registration Date: 03-24-2002
Posts: 28,142
Location: Everybody needs a persicom
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I love larknews!!!
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http://www.google.com
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04-02-2004 16:23 |
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Mark
Moderator
Registration Date: 03-18-2002
Posts: 9,525
Location: Grand Encephalon - Words have their place but live what you say God can have His way when you hit them with Love
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heh heh
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But never, never pin your whole faith on any human being: not if he is the best and wisest in the whole world. - C.S. Lewis
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04-02-2004 18:31 |
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Mountain Fan
Ubique Epoque
Registration Date: 10-09-2003
Posts: 14,224
Location: NC, Alive and Kicking, BOBD
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This reminds me a little of my perception of part of the intent of Thomas Kersey's intent behind "Jesus Christ He's Your Friend" on Sediment 1.
I can't think of a better illustration for why our beloved TST is not more famous if people actually fall for this BS. Just weird. I wonder if these people have rubber dolls in their closets at home?
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Got a few miles left ...
Make sure you have heard a Kind Word! 
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04-04-2004 23:53 |
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mindgasket
A Hot Wolly
Registration Date: 06-18-2003
Posts: 420
Location: Just because we're hypnotized that don't mean we can't dance!
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"Good morning everybody!" says lead animatron "Steve," a male mannequin with blond hair and a beaming smile. "Let's worship God!"
If this is true it's absolutely hilarious, because it proves what the world always knew: Christians are stupid.
If it's a parody it's absolutely hilarious, because it spot on!
If you don't have my cd/lp collection then your collection sucks!
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04-06-2004 06:47 |
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Mountain Fan
Ubique Epoque
Registration Date: 10-09-2003
Posts: 14,224
Location: NC, Alive and Kicking, BOBD
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Open their eyes and FART on them, Lord!
Maybe the smell will awaken them!
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Got a few miles left ...
Make sure you have heard a Kind Word!
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04-06-2004 08:03 |
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dennis
Ubique Epoque
Registration Date: 09-19-2002
Posts: 13,303
Location: In not-quite earth, in not-quite heaven.
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I'm talkin' bout the Vinyl , the Holy Vinyl.
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04-07-2004 08:52 |
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