Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The fifteenth annual Michiana Singing was called to order by James Nelson Gingerich leading song on page 171. Herb Schroeder offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Samuel Sommers 217; Matthew Lind 85; Molly Williams 479; Natalia Cecire 538; Rachel Miller Jacobs 148; Jeff Gauthier 340; Jim Swanson 377; Susan Geil 178; Warren Steel 179; David Rust 165; Nancy Yeager 510 (for Richard DeLong); Mitchell Brothers 46, 45t; Sue Probert 528; John Plunkett 466; Karen Freund 68t; Lela Crowder 430.

RECESS

James Nelson Gingerich brought the class back to order leading song on page 146. Leaders: Megan Jennings 282; Joe Todd 103; Reba Windom 192; Don Keeton 335; Cathryn Baker 318; Coy Ivey 137; Wendy Wahn 546; Regina Bayer 383; Herb Schroeder 128; Lori Graber 350; Mark Brown 448t; Suzanne Flandreau 424; James Page “Nebraska”; Carolyn Craig 195.

RECESS

Samuel Sommers called the class to order leading song on page 319. Leaders: Jan Wright 155; Rachel Adelstein 280; Dick Dunagan 65; John Seaton 47t; Kay Huener 99; Judy Hauff 373.

Rachel Miller Jacobs, Syble Adams, Mark Brown, and Louis Hughes conducted the memorial lesson.

Rachel Miller Jacobs spoke briefly about how Sacred Harp music is big enough for our sorrow and grief, as well as our joy, read the list of the sick and shut-ins, and led song on page 56b. Those remembered were: Harold Lackey, Kelly Beard, Catherine Kohn, Bob Scorgie, Stephanie Robin, Mary Hackney, Linda MacDonald, Richard DeLong, Pricilla Susan Davis, and Carol McCurry.

Syble Adams commented on the power of Sacred Harp music to lift up our hearts and spirits and equip us to live and to die.

Rachel Miller Jacobs read the list of the deceased: Lawrence Underwood, Lula Underwood, Freeman Wootten, Polly Moore, John Lacy, Bobby Lacy, and Lucille Tolbert—Alabama; Lynn M. Heaton—Michigan; Alan Lomax, Randy Wells, and Frances Beasley Lee—Florida; Dick Hollihnger, and Fleta Jonassen—Indiana; Bill Stark—Ohio; Joseph Mirabella, Ed Carey, Jackie Long, Jerilyn Schumacher, and John Bailey—Illinois; Phillip Page, Jr.—New Jersey; Linda Smart and Juan Infante—New York; Everett Yoder—New Mexico. Mark Brown sang “Sweet Beulah Land” in memory of the deceased. Louis Hughes closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Anne Heider 455; Judy Mincey 475. Randy Neufeld offered prayer before lunch.

LUNCH

James Nelson Gingerich, Niklas Oelerich, and Luke Jacobs brought the class back to order for the afternoon session with song on page 59. Leaders: Debbie Hall 362; Jeremy York 504; Janet Fraembs 284; Ann Miczulski 71; Mary Bachmann 43; Dennis George 270; Guy Bankes 352; Annie Grieshop 63; Fred Todt 34t; Pauline Childers and Andrew Irving 428; Marcia Johnson and Pauline Childers 288; Jerry Enright and Coy Ivey 384; Loraine Bayer, Hans Bayer, and Jubal Bayer 347; Roger Williams 298; Syble Adams 515; Steve Warner 84; Berkley Moore 197; Charlotte Wolfe 72b; Lee Steinmetz 149; Melanie Hauff 564.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Matthew Lind leading song on page 277. Leaders: Beth Todd 234; Susie Kauffman 299; Bill Beverly 547; Louis Hughes 112; Nicholas Pasqual 58; Al Frank 376; Anne Steel 480; Randy Neufeld 32t; Ted Mercer 349; John Bayer 75; David Yeager 276; Martha Beverly 274t; Dean Slaton 359. Announcements were made. Matthew Lind led song on page 62 as the closing song while the class took the parting hand. John Bayer led the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Matthew Lind; Treasurer—James Nelson Gingerich; Secretary—Samuel Sommers.