Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Berks County Sacred Harp Singers hosted the fifth annual all day singing on Saturday before Labor Day at Maidencreek Meeting House near Leesport, Pennsylvania.

Guy Bankes called the class to order at 9:30 a.m. leading song on page 77b. Ginny Landgraf led the opening prayer.

Leaders: Guy Bankes 556; Betty Hanf 49t; Molly Sayvetz 171; Gina Balestracci 271 (t? b?); Tom Tucker 473; Susan Bingham 446; Claire Simon 66; Ginny Landgraf 71; Gerry Hoffman 477; Rosemary Greenaway 475; Dennis Leipold 290; Blake Morris 214; Eileen Metzger 32t; Hal Kunkel 546; Gail Doss 269.

RECESS

Susan Munch brought the class to order leading song on page 39t. Leaders: Laura Densmore 542; Ted Stokes 428; Diane Mennella 564; Thom Metzger 547; “Happy Birthday” to Thom Metzger to the tune of 40; Cathy Tucker 332; Barbara Swetman 417; Joyelle Washington 313b; Gilead Henkin 358; Roland Hutchinson “Memorial Anthem” by Bruce Randall and Dan Brittain; Donna Abrahams 496; Gabriel Kastelle 385t; Daniel Henkin 117; Laura Clawson 216; Hanna Henkin and Doron Henkin 114; John Hewes 38t; Bob Todd 278b.

RECESS

Tom Tucker brought the class to order leading song on page 48t. Leaders: Susan Bingham 454; Claire Simon 87; Gerry Hoffman 372; Ginny Landgraf 172.

Bob Todd led the memorial lesson and song on page 335 for the following sick and shut-ins: Ruth Densmore—Ohio; Vedie Touchstone—Georgia; Elsie Allen—California; Mia Durso—New York; Muriel Parker—Maryland; Barbara Smith—Pennsylvania; Betty Nikelsky—New Jersey; Peter Henkel—Michigan; Phil Shea—Massachusetts; and Allen Henkin—Maryland.

Diane Mennella led the memorial lesson for the following deceased: Karen House and Karen Hamilton—New York; Charlotte Munch—Missouri; Laura Sherman, Grant Wesner, Molly Rose Irwin Trieb, John L. Glover, Jr., William Demorest, and Heywood Williams—Pennsylvania; Marvin Meyere—Colorado; Roland Venier and Gina Diguisto—France; Frances Hoffman—Maryland; Arthur Allen—California; Virgil Phillips and Ruby Phillips—Alabama. Ginny Landgraf closed the memorial lessons with a prayer.

Susan Bingham offered grace for lunch by leading “Johnny Appleseed Grace”.

LUNCH

Gail Doss opened the afternoon session leading song on page 269. Leaders: Blake Morris 378 (t? b?); Rosemary Greenaway 383; Dennis Leipold 250; Eileen Metzger 217; Laura Densmore 74b; Ted Stokes 229; Diane Mennella 208; Thom Metzger 376; Cathy Tucker 236; Barbara Swetman 196; Hanna Henkin 388.

RECESS

Doron Henkin called the class to order leading song on page 128. Ruth Shaffer started the session from other sources by leading “Selingsgrove” in German; Barbara Swetman “The Stone Forever Stands”; Blake Morris “Ireland”; Guy Bankes “Cranbrook”; Laura Densmore “Sweet Peace”; Ted Stokes “Good Old Way”; Roland Hutchinson “Earthquake”.

RECESS

A short business meeting was held in which thanks were given to all those who assisted with set-up, registration, pitching, arrangements, memorial lessons, publicity, chaplains, and hospitality. The treasurer announced that expenses had been met.

Leaders: Rosemary Greenaway 68b; Joyelle Washington 83t; Gina Balestracci 318; Bob Todd 178; Donna Abrahams 200; John Hewes 551; Molly Savetz 566; Doron Henkin 192; Hal Kunkel 340; Gabriel Kastelle 95b; Gail Doss 107.

Betty Hanf led song on page 86 as the closing song. Ginny Landgraf dismissed the class with a prayer.

Chairperson—Betty Hanf; Secretary/Treasurer—Ruth Shaffer; Assistant Secretary—Gina Balestracci.