Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Eighth Michiana Singing was called to order by James Nelson Gingerich leading the song on page 49 (t? b?). Barbara Nelson Gingerich read a passage from the book of Zephaniah and led the class in prayer. James Nelson Gingerich led the song on page 481. Other leaders followed: Matthew Lind 34b; Samuel Sommers 217; Kent Beck 155; Christine Guth 99; Johanna Fabke 300; John Bayer and Dan Brittain “Self Examination”; Wendy Lee 335; Paul Foster 168; Ted Mercer 333; Jim Page, “Northern Court”; Lissa Blood 272; Debbie Hall 163b; Emmie Barford 28b; John Bealle 80 (t? b?); Mary O. Bachmann 137; Kristin Richardson 195; Jim Pfau 275 (t? b?); Kathleen Kuiper 383; David Barford 189; Paula McGray 384; Bernard Gordon 40; Janet Fraembs 209; Joan Aldridge 475.

RECESS

James Nelson Gingerich brought the class together by leading the song on page 29 (t? b?) and 148. Other leaders were: Pat Fosberg-Smith 198; Jerry Enright 377; Sarah Davie 456; Michael Miller 95b; Lisa Grayson 528; Lee Steinmetz 154; Becky Browne 362; David Rust 284; Marcia Johnson 196; Brad Oglesby 192; Reba Windom 171.

RECESS

James Nelson Gingerich brought the class back by leading the song on page 146. Leaders: Beverly Enright 496; Elizabeth Todd, Chris Sepic, and Paul Foster 452; Julie Vea 102; Nancy Hejna 173; Kathy Wallace 35; John Fink 38 (t? b?); Val Eng 500; Dan Brittain 291; Michele Rae Biery 186; Charles Knecht 191; Nathan Barford 286; Connie Karduck 368. James Nelson Gingerich prayed grace to begin the lunch break.

LUNCH

The class was called together by James Nelson Gingerich by leading song on page 31 (t? b?). Leaders: Laura Short 547; David Rust 66; Emily Lind and Matthew Lind 45 (t? b?); Anne Heider 235; Gary Gronau 110; Barbara Bowens 220; Ted Johnson 142; Debra Barford 269; John Seaton 77 (t? b?); Eloise Clark 184; Melanie Hauff 34 (t? b?); Richard Popp 428; Kathryn Knecht 84; Dean Slaton 419; Bruce Miller 479; Judy Hauff 313 (t? b?).

RECESS

Matthew Lind called the class together by leading songs on pages 46 and 299. The Memorial Lesson followed. Rachel Miller Jacobs remarked that the Sacred Harp community acknowledges death more than the world around us seems to do. She spoke about her father, Marlin E. Miller, and read the names of those deceased: Marlin Miller, Mary Brumbaugh, Lessie Cates, George Klein, Shem Lawless, Curtis M. Smith, Rev. Jeffrey Thompson, Minnie Clayton Oglesby, Margaret Strain, Stephen Haseltine, Winford Lacey, Jason Calhoun, Peggy Ann Dillard, William Pixley, Tom Coppe, and Frederich “Doc” Schaeffer. Names of those who are sick and shut-in are: Charles Gardner, Tammy Webster, Mark Self, Gary Nachtrieb, Harold Smith, and Fred Karsten. Rachel Miller Jacobs closed the Memorial Lesson by leading the song on page 547. Other leaders: Loraine Bayer 159; Mary O. Bachmann 178; Dan Brittain 522; Joan Aldridge 222; Paula McGray 129; Jim Page 180; Val Eng 485; John Bayer 86; Reba Windom 203. A roll call of states recognized singers from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. James Nelson Gingerich led the song on page 267; Samuel Sommers 112; Kathy Wallace 155. James Nelson Gingerich said a closing prayer, and Matthew Lind led the song on page 62 while the class took the parting hand.

Submitted by Samuel W. Sommers.