{"id":9559,"date":"2017-10-23T06:00:20","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oddwalkministries.com\/oddblog\/?p=9559"},"modified":"2017-10-23T12:00:21","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T18:00:21","slug":"oddwalk-turns-thirteen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/oddwalkministries.com\/oddblog\/2017\/10\/23\/oddwalk-turns-thirteen\/","title":{"rendered":"Oddwalk Turns Thirteen!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This Tuesday, October 24, Oddwalk turns thirteen years old. Happy Oddiversary to us! We expect to celebrate our jump into these adolescent years by staring at our phones while someone is speaking to us, gushing about our favorite YouTuber, and rolling our eyes at Mom’s “oldies” radio station as it pumps out ancient hits by Smashmouth<\/em>, Oasis<\/em>, and TLC<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Since this week’s blog theme is “joy” , I thought I might reflect back on a few aspects of this Oddwalk experience that have brought me joy over the past thirteen years\u2014<\/p>\n

The Moments<\/strong> \u2013 There are too many to name here, but a few that stand out include our first booking, (for the Diocese of New Ulm) where we wrote Just Because You Can the night before the show<\/a>, a CD release party in 2006 where the band performed while World Series game one was projected on the wall<\/a>, Shannon vs. the Velcro Wall<\/a>, Youth Ministry Extravaganzas at the NCCYM<\/a>,\u00a0 practicing Tom Booth’s Sacred Silence at a youth rally to the beat of a triggered fire alarm, Mascoutah conga lines, keytar solo<\/a>s, Orin’s ripped pants<\/a>,<\/p>\n

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We can all be grateful for a well-placed keytar<\/p><\/div>\n

making fun of Dan Lang, being published by and recording with GIA<\/a>, NCYC workshop warm-ups<\/a>, and Orin using his\u2014um\u2014wide-ranging music library to play DJ on road trips.<\/p>\n

The Band<\/strong> \u2013 Anyone who has seen even a few episodes of the VH1 show, Behind the Music, knows that the politics of a band can be dicey, to say the least. This has never been the case with our band.\u00a0 As you know, when Oddwalk shows up at an event, you typically get Orin and me.\u00a0 Occasionally,\u00a0 drummer Rick Turcotte, bassist Dan Lang, and singer\/awesome wife (to me) Erin Cerneka are added to the mix for a bit of extra punch.<\/p>\n

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In addition to being really good musicians, these are some of my favorite people on the planet.\u00a0 We love playing together<\/a>, but mostly just love* being* together.\u00a0 In my humble opinion, the best version of Oddwalk is when we play as a full band.<\/p>\n

The Shrine<\/strong> – I know it sounds clich\u00c3\u00a9, but we never truly know what we have until It’s gone.\u00a0 Orin and I gained some of our best friends through work we did in connection with the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows<\/a>. \u00a0Orin actually served as Music and Liturgy Director at the Shrine from 1998-2012. Through the years, Orin and I performed for many Shrine youth ministry, liturgy, and other events.<\/p>\n

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So much of who we are and how we approach ministry can be traced back to our time at the Shrine and the amazing community we were blessed to be a part of. We still see these friends from time-to-time, but I realize now that those years were a moment of time we’ll never get back.<\/p>\n

The Orin<\/strong> \u2013 There is so much I could say here, and it’s difficult to know where to start.\u00a0 One of the things that makes Oddwalk an amazing experience for me is getting to spend time with Orin.\u00a0 In addition to being a great friend, Orin challenges me and helps me grow as a person, a minister, and a child of God.\u00a0\u00a0 Also, Orin makes profound creative and constructive contribution to this ministry.\u00a0 He makes us look (and sound) good.<\/p>\n

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I know I’m no slouch.\u00a0 I’m simply trying to say that Orin is a significant part of what makes us legit.
\nThese are just a few of the things that fill me with joy as I reflect back on thirteen years in this ministry.\u00a0 While we can never be truly certain what God has in store for us, I hope lots more Oddwalking is a significant part of the mix.\u00a0 Thanks to all who have take a flyer on us over the years, whether through hiring us, coming to a show, buying our music, or clicking on a link because we told\u00a0 you to.\u00a0 We are truly grateful for your support.<\/p>\n

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Thirteen years have gone by in a blink.\u00a0 Here’s to thirteen more!<\/p>\n

-Shannon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Tuesday, October 24, Oddwalk turns thirteen years old. Happy Oddiversary to us! We expect to celebrate our jump into these adolescent years by staring at our phones while someone is speaking to us, gushing about our favorite YouTuber, and rolling our eyes at Mom’s “oldies” radio station as it pumps out ancient hits by…<\/p>\n

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