Sunday, feeling hollowness in my soul from helping my girl friend pick out a new ipod last week (and enjoying it), I felt a real need to go see the Reverend Billy and the Stop-Shopping Choir. The Reverend has been performing at the Spiegeltent at the South Street Sea Port all summer, and I needed to see this special venue as well. If you are not familiar with the Spiegeltent, you should check it out. It is a spectacular 1920's hand crafted traveling venue. BUT! this is the last week of performances before it moves on. The Spiegeltent is an exceptionally ideal venue for the Reverend's revival sermon.

This Sunday turned out to be extra special, as none other than Dan Goldstein and Shabnam Merchant of Develop Don't Destroy were sainted into the Stop Shopping Church! Fortunately I caught this transformative moment on film! Here it is, so you can witness it like you were there.

Sainting is not a task entered into lightly. Here the Reverend has the help of the whole choir, their hands on these two souls, as they and the entire audience beseech the great unknown to bless them:



Here is the transformative moment as the Reverend takes them in his embrace! The frenzied audience almost blocked my shot!



Let's look at that up close.



WOW! Goldstein is overwhelmed, his whole body has done limp; the sainting is almost too much for him, he can barely hold on...and jesus!... his glasses are almost falling off - just an average citizen fighting against a great demon, one more powerful than most of us can comprehend. I think I cried right here.

But he and Shabnam are strong!



WOW AGAIN! Sometimes you just get lucky and you're in the right place at the right time. What an amazing day!