Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 4th annual Shaker Meetinghouse Singing was held on Saturday before the first Sunday in June at the historic Shaker Meetinghouse at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine. Barb Ames welcomed everyone and brought the class to order leading 59. Corrone Bryant offered the opening prayer. Meg Haskell and Barb Ames taught two Shaker songs to the assembled class, “Let Zion Move” and “Followers of the Lamb”.

The following officers were appointed to serve: Chairperson—Barb Ames; Treasurer—Corrone Bryant; Arranging Committee—Pleasance Crawford and Chuck Crawford; Secretary—Peter Golden.

Leaders: Peter Golden 52t; Bobbie Goodell 184; Corrone Bryant 28b; Mary Jo Shafer 229; Richard Schmeidler 66; Susan Jaster 157; Robert Stoddard 33t; Patricia Callahan 76b; David Bliss 162; Chris Noren 171; Elizabeth Stoddard 144; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 300; Ines Lüttgen 103; Chuck Crawford 480; Sally Langendorf 40; Chuck McCallum 65; Pleasance Crawford 91; Al McCready 155; Joanne Fuller 29t; Willis McCumber 126; Chris Holley 77t; Robin Honaker 159; Ian Ludders 448t; Chuck Micciche 276; Corrone Bryant 147t.

RECESS

Corrone Bryant called the class to order by leading 282. Leaders: Peter Golden 388; Barb Ames 371; Bobbie Goodell 540; Mary Jo Shafer 101t; Richard Schmeidler 543; Susan Jaster 24b; Barb Ames and Corrone Bryant 34b (in honor of Francis Bliss’s 92nd birthday and John Van Sorosin’s 75th birthday); Robert Stoddard 392; Patricia Callahan 430; Francis Bliss 178; Chris Noren 454; Elizabeth Stoddard 546; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 189; David Bliss 86; Ines Lüttgen 500; Chuck Crawford 378t; Sally Langendorf 176t; Chuck McCallum 49t; Pleasance Crawford 468; Al McCready 347; Joanne Fuller 542; Ian Ludders 228; Robin Honaker 335; Chuck Micciche 500; Vicki Adams 479; Willis McCumber 168; Francis Bliss 163b; Mary Jo Shafer 82t; Ines Lüttgen 349; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 377; Elizabeth Stoddard 411; Susan Jaster 485; Ian Ludders 556.

Meg Haskell and Barb Ames led the class in singing another Shaker song, “We Will All Go Home with You”. Announcements were made. Barb Ames thanked the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community for their hospitality, and everyone who helped make the singing a success. Corrone Bryant reported that expenses had been met. Singers came from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Ontario, Canada. Sixty four songs were led by 26 leaders.

Barb Ames led 62 as the closing song. Elizabeth Stoddard offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed to the Shaker dining room in the Dwelling House, where Sister Frances and Barb Ames led a traditional silent Shaker Grace, and Francis Bliss offered grace in Latin.

DINNER

Chuck Micciche led 86 to bring the class to order for the evening session at the Maine State Building at the Poland Spring Inn in Poland Springs, Maine.

Leaders: Chris Noren 319; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 344; Robert Stoddard 297; John Engle and Chris Holley 68b; Karen Keller 56b; Elizabeth Stoddard 43; Susan Jaster 352; Richard Schmeidler 474; Chris Noren 475; Pleasance Crawford 327; Elizabeth Stoddard 326; Chuck Micciche 117; Patricia Callahan 110; Robert Stoddard 137; Joanne Fuller 39b; Karen Keller 39t; Chris Holley 74b; Robert Stoddard 155 (for Joan Sheldon); Chris Noren 185 (in memory of Sumner Robert’s wife); Robert Stoddard 260; Pleasance Crawford 571; Mary Jo Shafer 569t; Chuck Micciche 569b; Bobbie Goodell 426b; Chris Holley 480; Robert Stoddard 481; Patricia Callahan 99; Bobbie Goodell 313b; Chris Noren 547; Karen Keller 348t; Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner 217; Elizabeth Stoddard 564; Joanne fuller 384; Pleasance Crawford 192; Chuck Micciche 457; Chris Noren 203; Bobbie Goodell 174; Robert Stoddard 302. Elizabeth Stoddard led 323t as the closing song.

Chairperson—Barb Ames; Secretary—Peter Golden