St. Luke’s United Methodist Church - Memphis, TN - News

Ok…maybe not anything, and maybe this wasn’t my only motiviation, but I did score an auction item out of the experience. Last night, Michael and I saw Amy Grant perform with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra at the Cannon Center. It was a great show, and I am a huge fan. After the concert, I bought a t-shirt and they gave me a free poster. I was feeling lucky, so I asked Michael if he would mind if we tried to get backstage to ask Amy to sign the poster to put in the auction for the Level 5 mission trip.

Michael said, “Why not,” so we walked around until we found a small group of people waiting by a door with a security employee posted in front. That seemed pretty easy, and since the group was small, I really thought I would have a good chance to plead with the guard to let us send the poster back for signing–or better yet–walk it back personally.

We walked up to the group nonchalantly and made small talk with the others while we all waited. After a few minutes, I realized everyone seemed to be holding tickets for a Meet & Greet session, stamped with the date. Michael and I looked at each other and I started wondering if we could just walk in behind the group without being stopped. The guard was big, but he didn’t look very fast. I was willing to sacrifice Michael, if necessary.

I asked Michael, “Do you think we are the only ones trying to bust in?” and the young woman in front of us overheard me. When she turned around, I explained that we didn’t actually have any passes, and that I was going to try to convince the guard to let us go back to get the poster autographed. She looked at her husband and then opened up her program and held out two passes and asked if we would like them…she had two extra passes! I was so excited! I thanked her (probably a few too many times) and promised to buy one of her cakes–she has a bakery–and send everyone I know to her website (www.uptownsweets.com, tell her Beth sent you!).

My heart was pounding…we were going to MEET AMY GRANT! OK, a little background is needed here. I don’t just like Amy Grant, I love her. In fact, I was tempted to yell this to her several times during the concert, but the fact that Michael would be mortified dissuaded me. I have over 70 of her songs on my ipod. That’s like five hours of nonstop Amy.

They finally led us back to a room where we waited a little longer until she came in to meet us. Michael and I were second in line and I asked her to sign my program (a souvenir for me) and the poster for our auction. She thought a bit about what to write on the poster, and when she finished, her “handler” took a photo of the two of us with a camera borrowed from the couple who gave us the passes. I am thinking I should probably buy two cakes.

So… now we have a poster autographed by Amy Grant for our Spirit of St. Louis auction on May 21! And all I had to do was buy two tickets to the show, get a t-shirt, convince Michael to wait in line, risk certain arrest for attempting to outrun Cannon Center security personnel, and inspire the sympathy of a  better-connected fan. Voila.

Here I am with Amy, my new BFF. I think I made an impression, maybe I can get her to come to St. Luke’s!