It's even funnier if you were ever an Evangelical who knew Sign Language. Did you notice that some of the audience actually were mimicing them at times? High-larious.
As a Sign Language snob, I can't tell you how many times I've cringed at hand motions with songs, especially when they're done by children. So I especially enjoyed this. Thanks, Mark.
Actually, I thought it was pretty cool - only trouble was the sound was a bit distorted, so couldn't hear the words etc. too well. But the bearded guy had a great voice. 
Don-you're right. The guy with the beard has a great voice.
"Hand motion sickness" - that was pretty funny.
Christine - it was hilarious when the audience started copying them.
+J.M.J+
Those guys are Catholic: http://www.decafmusic.com/home/
Guess that explains the part of the song where they say that the Apostles gave us the Sign of the Cross.
In Jesu et Maria,
It's just as funny if you remember being at school and having to do the accompanying hand motions to "His Banner Over Me Is Love" at Mass.
One more reason I'm glad the 70s are long gone...
Unfortunately, this goofiness is still prevalent in some parishes today.
Unfortunately, this goofiness is still prevalent in some parishes today.
I must be going on since their website says "book us to come to your parish or diocese!"
Ahhh! Your site credits Mary's Aggies and Mary's Aggies credits you. I'm trapped in an infinite loop.
<sheepish>Oh, I was looking at the wrong post. Never mind.</sheepish>
Hehehe. I actually enjoy songs with actions (aka sign language)... but then, I'm *naturally* daggy.
The Friday morning mass at my parish is hosted by the kids at our school. As someone who has actively worked on her ASL skills for almost 25 years, it's often a difficult mass for me because the kids "sign" the songs, one of them being "His Banner Over Me is Love"--argh! I have to close my eyes and confess resentment towards whomever taught it to them because I suspect that this person honestly believes they're teaching these innocent kids how to sign. All they're really doing is passing on dreck, and what makes it worse is that I also suspect these innocent children believe they're learning ASL.
I'd love to step in and teach them how to do it right, but that's probably overstepping. Believe me, I've tried to do my part in other ways. For example, I have a nifty translation of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" that I teach to the groups my kids attend. Not only is it linguistically accurate, it's simple enough for little hands to execute.
Regarding sign-song. When I was learning ASL and getting trained as an interpreter, sign-song was my hobby. My friends and I (all Evangelicals) would spend hours translating and performing Christian songs for each other. It was fun at the time, but looking back, it was intensely competitive and pretty self-indulgent. It made us feel good to be so spiritual and skilled in our sign skills at the same time.
As far as signing in church, I avoid it at all costs. For me, it's about what Jesus said about prayer in secret, since signing is automatically conspicious. In the past, I'd do it for the attention, since it's pretty even when done badly and hearing people get all impressed when they see you sign.
Hey Louise.
You're from Oz, aren't you??
And you're naturally daggy???
You konw what that is in Down-under terminology.
Certainly no self-complement; if you get my rattle!! 
Yeah, these guys are Catholic.
http://www.bobricemusic.com/
Christine, I was an interpreter in my former life, and I interpreted Mass at my parish. The Life Teen Mass was transformed from crummy hand motions to actual signs (we taught the parish how to sign the responsorial psalms, etc.). We had Deaf parishioners, though, and so it wasn't a matter of the interpreters showing off; it was a matter of making the Mass accessible to everyone in our parish.
I loved to interpret Mass, too. Before each Mass, though, I'd pray that I would not be visible, but that I would only convey God's message. My very best interpreting was done at Mass, and I miss it terribly. There are NO Catholic parishes that interpret Mass here, and though the daughter of our of our parishioners is Deaf, she is fallen away and no one is sure that having an interpreter weekly (I'd do it for nothing) would bring her back right now.
I do wish we could offer it. I hate to see people leave the Church because Mass is so difficult (or impossible) to follow. (And, please don't jump all over me for that. I'm sure if you read it with charity, you'll understand what I mean.)
Those guys are Bob Rice & Chris Padgett. Don't know about Chris, but Bob is a Steubenville Conference fixture. The Steuby Youth conference theme songs always include hand motions so these guys are kinda poking fun at themselves.
It was a little long but the whole "conversion" section made it worth the viewing as Bob incorporated the handmotions and lyrics from a few popular praise songs.
Brill! I wish I had a higher speed connection though.
I too loved the Apostles gave us the Sign of the Cross jab! Good piece of apologetics amidst the humor.
The only hand motions with song I ever encountered was at Steuby: the refrain to Lord, I Lift Your Name on High and the Yes Lords to Trading My Sorrows. Other than that I can't think of any other songs or settings where I've encountered it.
But I'm a goofball who likes the crusty old Latin polyphony, plainchant...and praise and worship songs with all the dressing (signing or hand motions). Still, I can laugh. (How do you laugh in Latin?)
I am booked to go to Steuby for Bible Studies and Apologetics...but might have to cancel, bummer.
For filk (science fiction and fantasy music) here in the Midwest, we have not one, but two, excellent (so I'm told) ASL interpreters. Filkers being filkers, this causes a lot of singer-distraction whenever one shows up and signs a song.
Filkers being filkers, of course Michael Longcor had to get them together for a sort of dueling signers event, at Marcon in Columbus this year. It was (intentionally)hysterical.
First off, this bit is eight months old. I thought that you'd have this up sooner...
That said, the one (sad) time I saw an interpreter for the deaf was at a Celebrant Singers concert... the worst concert I had ever attended. The voices all sounded so plastic, so uniform, so uninspiring, but in the center of it all was a deaf interpreter, gesticulating wildly, as if she were overcompensating for the performance...
But THAT was not the worst part.
After a lackluster performance of a number of well-known praise songs, one of the singers stepped in front and gave her testimony. And the one part, that very moment where an interpreter was needed (since the aforementioned songs were already displayed on an overhead projector), the interpretor SAT DOWN AND LISTENED WITH THE REST OF THE AUDIENCE.
It would've been better if Garrett Morris toured with the group.
***THAT*** is funny.
Man, you guys have touched so many of my hot-button issues...
C the Soccer Mom, I don't mean to be uncharitable. I was just talking about me and the spiritual struggles I've had as a signer. I know that to non-signers, to hearing people who haven't been a part of the Deaf community, it sounds strange. Being an interpreter is such a seminal experience and takes over every part of yourself, even your spirituality.
I'm sure that you have a good heart and that interpreting Masses is a true ministry. I started interpreting at church as well. I've never been used by God more significantly. But for every story from interpreters who work at their craft and see it as a way to serve God and the Deaf community, there are stories like the one Nick tells.
It's unfortunate, but in my experience, I hear more stories like Nick's. I suspect that the interpreter sat down because she wasn't able to translate the testimonies, which doesn't surprise me. I can't tell you how many Christians will take sign classes just for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf, and simply start a "Deaf ministry" after just one ASL class, even though religious interpreting is the hardest setting possible. Then they receive all this praise and adulation from hearing people and think they're actually serving. No wonder Deaf people stay away from the Church. They can see that they real reason for much of religious interpreting is to get attention, not to serve God, and they can't understand the dreck they're seeing, anyway.
To be honest, it's something I've struggled with. Receiving that kind of praise can be addicting and something to really guard your heart against. Being involved with Deaf ministry requires a calling, and then a commitment and devotion to study of both languages, scripture, and liturgy. It's hard, and I find that most aren't willing to do that. But they get up and "sign" anyway and wonder why Deaf people don't come. The end result is lost souls, which is deplorable.
Christine, I will pray for the young Deaf girl, that she will return to the Church. And ask that God continue to use you as you serve Him and the Deaf community.
Christine M,
Thanks so much. Our parish was blessed to be able to pay interpreters, so we always had excellent interpreting. The only time we ran into trouble was when we had missionaries come in occasionally with very heavy accents. Our diocese had a workshop for the interpreters for the Deaf/HH once, and I was shocked at how many people were really interpreters. They knew some signs and were just doing the best they could for Mass. They knew nothing about the Code of Ethics (for non-terps, see rid.org for more on that), and so often would stop interpreting to answer questions from the clients! Yikes! Much discussion ensued about how to properly interpret Mass and interpret in general.
We really were blessed at our parish because we also had parishioners who were well-catechized and did not stop us during Mass (or try to, I should say) to ask what things meant. And if they did have questions, they asked the priests themselves.
Quick story, though, about one priest in particular. Father Diego came to our parish after I'd been interpreting for a couple of years. He was amazing! Very holy priest...when he said the Eucharistic Prayer, esp. the Consecration, you got chills. Every interpreter said the same thing. (At this time, we were in our old church and stood only a few feet from the altar.) The hair on the back of my neck would stand up. I nearly cried several times.
Anyhow...Fr. Diego told the interpreters that he was working on learning sign language because he saw a need for that. He wanted the D/HH parishioners to be able to talk directly to him without us. Then he told us his big secret. He was working on learning the Lord's Prayer in ASL. He would occasionally ask for advice on how to sign it, but never told the D/HH people he was doind this.
One Sunday, Fr. Diego said the introduction for the Our Father, and as we began to say it as a parish, I, being the interpreter on duty, signed along. Everyone in the front pew for whom I was interpreting stopped looking at me and their mouths hung open. One person signed, "Look at Father!"
Father Diego was signing it at the altar. He did so every Mass he did (the interpreted ones, I mean) until he was transferred to another parish. It was so beautiful, and he was so reverent with it. He did it out of love for the D/HH people in the parish, too. No one ever thought he did such a thing for more attention. He was one of those kinds of priests who seemed to disappear at Mass, and you could see Christ there instead.
Gosh, I miss that parish sometimes. I'll be visiting this week and next while I'm there on vacation.
Just a quick shout out to Christine M for her wisdom and knowledge about this underused but vital ministry. As long as there are interpreters who are expertly trained, and can not overstep the message, then the people get the proper help to grow spiritually and serve God. I pray that doors will open for you to use your talents again.
C the Soccer Mom, what a wonderful story. It brought tears to my eyes. Fr. Diego sounds like a wonderful saint, an example of a hearing person who Deaf people love because of his genuine love for them and for God.
And Nick, thanks for the kind words.
Oddly, this reminde me of some acts I've seen at the Ren Faire....
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