A couple years ago, I saw a video online of an event held by Nadia Bolz-Weber‘s church in Denver. It was a group of people, in a bar, singing loudly to old church hymns. It seemed passionate and loud and FUN and instantly I wished it was local so I could go. I don’t even like beer . . . I just like the idea of people getting together to enjoy these old songs.
This past summer, we went to the Wild Goose Festival, which had a Beer and Hymns event every night. Again, the premise was simple: people singing hymns at the top of their lungs, many with a brew in hand. Each night, the sing-a-long was led by a different group. As it turns out, there are quite a few Beer and Hymns events popping up all over the country, from Portland to Raleigh to Nashville.
After Wild Goose, I pondered why we didn’t have something like that in Orange County, and then I decided: I just need to do it. I sing. I have friends who sing and play guitar. We can do this.
And so we are.
This Sunday evening is the inauural gathering for Beer and Hymns Orange County. We’ll be meeting at Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub in Costa Mesa at 8pm. Beer-drinking optional. You are the choir. Everyone is welcome. 21+ only.
Please share and invite your friends. If you are interested, please RSVP to our event page, and follow us on Instagram. You can also go to our webpage to sign up for info about future events.
Anyone is welcome regardless of religious affiliate. No agenda, no preaching, just singing and a brew or too.
