Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Berks County Sacred Harp Singers hosted the ninth annual Maidencreek All Day Singing which was held on Saturday before Labor Day at Maidencreek Meeting House near Leesport, Pennsylvania.

Guy Bankes called the class to order leading 120. Eileen Metzger offered the opening prayer.

Officers and Committees for the day were: Chairman—Guy Bankes; Treasurer—Ruth Shaffer; Arranging Committee—Laura Densmore; Secretary—Doron Henkin; Chaplains—Eileen Metzger and George Seiler; Resolutions—Aldo Ceresa; Keying—Paula Picton, Jean Seiler, and Dennis Leipold.

Leaders: Guy Bankes 171; Laura Densmore 228; Betty Hanf 147t; Ted Stokes 216; Molly Sayvetz 99; Lamar Matthew 163b; Carol Myers 496; Doron Henkin 179; Donna Abrahams 282; Roland Hutchinson 524; Cathy Tucker 335; Dennis Leipold 348b; Joan Aldridge 189; Aldo Ceresa 474.

RECESS

Chloe Maher called the class back to order with 40. Leaders: Sally O’Brien 504; Victoria Bolles 327; Tom Tucker 442: Thom Metzger 383; Lucy Roberts 82t; Jean Seiler 217; Louise Lugar 143; George Pomfret 155; Guy Bankes 344; Nicola Collett 455; Claire Simon 122; George Seiler 480; Anne Broome 300; Barbara Swetman 368; Chloe Maher 73t; Kevin Moreno 276.

RECESS

Gina Balestracci led 71b to call the class back to order. Leaders: Nancy Tkacs 66; Eileen Metzger 201; Ernest Blake 48t.

Cathy Tucker introduced the memorial lesson, describing how we all very easily become a family.

Tom Tucker conducted the lesson for the sick and shut-ins and led 330b in their honor. Those remembered were: Roxanne Mennella and Marie Hanss—New York; Marilyn Darch—California; Margaret Peckman—Florida; Jane Roman—Maryland; Richard Carrico—Delaware; Ruth Ulvog—Minnesota; Elizabeth Bennefeld—North Dakota. Cathy Tucker conducted the memorial lesson for the deceased and led 503 in their memory. Those remembered were: Cheryl Doehler, Joan Hill, and A.J. May—New Jersey; John Pomfret and Joy Wheeler—New York; J.C. Hardin—Alabama; Elizabeth Werner, Thomas L. Miller, Jr., Archie Wasson, Evelyn Wasson, Ruth Hohenstein, Horace Taylor, and Catharine Elder—Pennsylvania; Mike Nickles—Georgia; Glenn Ruby—Virginia; Jeff Wise and Capt. Andy Houghton—Texas; Nancy Mulenex—Washington, D.C.; Jennifer Pomfret—Indiana; Althea Forman—Maryland. Eileen Metzger closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Peter Pate 269; Gina Balestracci 430; Carly Goss 142; Jim Wantland 34b. The blessing for the meal was offered by George Seiler.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Carly Goss leading129. Leaders: Paula Picton 286; Sue Hanson 299; John Hewes 178; Kim Moreno 270; Mary Ann Daly 372; Marion McKenzie 528; Charles Collett 410t; Walter Smith 113; Kathy Collett 47b.

Ruth Shaffer introduced the German language shape-note tradition of the region. Roland Hutchinson led the class in singing one of these bilingual tunes, singing on the notes and then in English and German.

Leaders: Joan Aldridge 198; Dennis Leipold 203.

RECESS

Dennis Leipold called the class back to order leading 128. Leaders: Eileen Metzger 101b; George Pomfret 68b; Anne Broome 376; Ernest Blake 386; Sally O’Brien 277; Peter Pate 436; Victoria Bolles 200; George Seiler 347; Barbara Swetman 475; Jean Seiler 273; Thom Metzger 274 (t? b?); Cathy Tucker 144; Lucy Roberts 551; Tom Tucker 445; Donna Abrahams 496; John Hewes 254; Kathy Collett 497; Kevin Moreno 162; Nicola Collett 245; Gina Balestracci 532. Aldo Ceresa presented the Resolutions Committee Report.

George Seiler offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Guy Bankes; Secretary—Doron Henkin.