HOLIDAY HARMONY - The musical group "Just Friends" provided a concert of Christmas and gospel tunes at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf the evening of Dec. 3. Pictured here are (front, from left) Dale Krueger, Doug Riskedahl, Dean Buendorf, Paul Hanson, Vern Wilker, (back, from left) Brian Vairma, Randy Lewer, Larry Crabtree, Dennis Maurer, Brad Stencl and accompanist Gratia Johnson.
Just Friends provides Christmas concert in Waldorf
Wed, 12/10/2025 - 11:30pm
The vocal harmony group “Just Friends” presented a 90-minute concert with a combination of Christmas and gospel music to an audience of about 50 people at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Just Friends consists of 10 singers supported by an accompanist and sound technician. As reported at other times by the Star Eagle, the singers get together, practice and perform for the simple joy of producing music they enjoy and enjoy sharing. The group has been active for more than 20 years.
The concert served as the start for First Lutheran’s Wednesday evening Advent services. All were welcome to attend not only the performance but a one-hour social gathering which offered treats and refreshments before the singing began.
Just Friends members are Dean Buendorf, Larry Crabtree, Paul Hanson, Dale Krueger, Randy Lewer, Dennis Maurer, Doug Riskedahl, Brad Stencl, Brian Vairma and Vern Wilker.
Among the numbers performed were “When He Comes,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” “The Virgin Mother Had a Baby Boy,” and “Christmas Presence.”
In his introduction to “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” spokesperson Randy Lewer told the audience the song has 23 verses, but went on to assure everyone the group would be singing only two of them.
Lewer also mentioned the complicated harmonies of “Can He, Could He, Would He?” were considered “mission impossible” when the group was first learning them more than a decade ago, but practice apparently does make “proficient,” since the group managed the echoes and tongue twisters without any apparent effort.
Also performed were “Angels Among Us,” “Calypso Lullabye,” “Oh Holy Night,” and a version of “Amazing Grace” which did not use the traditional words or tune.