Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, April 30

The 21st annual singing convention at Harrods Creek Baptist Church was held the last Saturday in April and the Sunday following. Timothy Morton called the class to order by leading 47t. Eddie Mash offered the opening prayer.

The following officers and committee members were elected or appointed: Chairman—Timothy Morton; Finance Committee—Darrell Swarens and Liz Meitzler; Arranging Committee—Johanna Sims, Chandler Bainter, and Brenda Waters; Memorial Committee—Virginia Eldridge and Adrian Eldridge; Secretary—Johanna Sims.

During the first session, Buford Parrish, deacon of Harrods Creek Baptist Church, welcomed the class and gave a history of the church. Leaders: Johanna Sims 32t; Randy Webber 236; John Huffman 528; Laura Mattingly 49t; Zach Davis 56b; Clara Herr 273 (CB); Ray Rechenberg 133 (CB); David Carlton 265 (SoH); Mary Huffman 66; Erin Fulton 83 (SoH); Claire Outten 111 (SoH); Vickie See and Billie See 480; Sue Duff 276.

RECESS

Leaders: Liz Meitzler 142; Jim Herr 312t (SoH); Connor Herr 107; Tom Morton 209; Eddie Mash 518; Rich Overturf 294; Beth Garfinkel 188; Curtis Cook 178; Carol Medlicott 440; Stephen Huffman 29t; Mary Brinkman 147t; Joshua Wright 572 (CB); Steve Duff 505 (CB); John Plunkett 411. The Finance Committee, Darrell Swarens and Liz Meitzler, were called at this time to ask for contributions toward convention expenses. They led 128.

Leaders: Bob Cull 569b; Joel Deckard 25b (SoH); Virginia Eldridge 208; Brenda Waters and Chandler Bainter 49b; Ben Fink 254; Doug Trent 68b; Darrell Swarens 441; Katherine Eldridge 451; Annaliza Cull 448t; Seamus Allman 503; Heather Summers and Timothy Morton 504; Michelle Cull 268; Mike Grimes 393; Michele Cull and Timothy Morton 176t. Tom Morton offered a blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Leaders: Ben Fink 457; Timothy Morton 547; John Huffman 515; Zach Davis 162; Clara Herr 564; Ray Rechenberg 203; David Carlton 411 (CB); Mary Huffman 34b; John Plunkett 114 (SoH); Steve Duff 454; Erin Fulton 67; Claire Outten 196; Vickie See and Billie See 339.

RECESS

Leaders: Johanna Sims 344; Susan Zurcher 344 (CB); Liz Meitzler 331b (SoH); Sue Duff 36b; Stephen Huffman 163t; Jim Herr 222; Rich Overturf 488 (CB); Beth Garfinkel 551; Carol Medlicott 475; Mary Brinkman 147b; Curtis Cook 260; Mike Grimes 496; Katherine Eldridge 485 (CB).

The arranging officer, Johanna Sims, announced that singers from nine U.S. states were represented. Announcements were made.

Timothy Morton led 347 as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Steve Duff.

Sunday, May 1

The Sunday session of the Bob Meek Memorial Convention was brought to order by Timothy Morton leading 82t. He welcomed everyone. The opening prayer was offered by Darrell Swarens.

Leaders: Johanna Sims and Annaliza Cull 571 (CB); Darrell Swarens 38 (SoH); Peggy Brayfield 454; Bob Cull 163b; Laura Mattingly 282; Annaliza Cull 155; Tom Morton 335; Tom Kochan 572 (CB); Doug Trent 146; Joshua Wright 38t (CB); Eloise Clark 313b; Joel Deckard 267b (SoH); Eddie Mash 450 (CB); Sue Duff 30t (CB); Katherine Eldridge 322 (SoH); John Plunkett 156.

RECESS

Leaders: Ben Fink 511t (CB); James Eldridge 67; Sheila Patterson 81t; Vickie See and Billie See 108b; John Bealle 69b; Adrian Eldridge 152; Jim Patterson 569b; Virginia Eldridge 110 (SoH).

The class then walked over and joined the congregation of Harrods Creek Baptist Church in the new building during their Sunday service. They sang 63 and 36b for them, and then reconvened in the old church.

Leaders: Johanna Sims and Timothy Morton 384; Clara Herr 288; Heather Summers 159; Grace Patterson 47t; Rebecca Eldridge 65; Steve Duff 546.

Virginia Eldridge and Adrian Eldridge conducted the memorial lesson. They led 106 for the sick and shut-ins, and 410t in memory of the deceased. Adrian Eldridge closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: John Bayer 89t (SoH); Anna Krippenstapel 47b; Jim Herr and Connor Herr 377; Timothy Morton 59. Jim Herr offered a blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Leaders: Michele Cull 76b; Joy Dunn 479; Tom Morton 496; Brenda Waters and Michele Cull 535; Darrell Swarens and Liz Meitzler 178; Liz Meitzler 49 (SoH); Kelly Toon 504.

Timothy Morton then introduced film documentarian, Leo Osborne. He set up a 360 degree camera in the hollow square to film two songs sung without a leader. Timothy Morton called 300 and 31t from his seat in the bass section. John Bayer then called a third song, 268, in memory of Bob Meek, from his seat in the tenor section.

Leaders: Peggy Brayfield 133 (CB); Rebecca Eldridge and Katherine Eldridge 472; Ben Fink 486 (CB); Eddie Mash 263; Tom Kochan 463 (CB); James Eldridge 465 (CB).

RECESS

Leaders: Heather Summers 448t; Eloise Clark73t; Joe Manning, Timothy Morton, Elsa Hansen, and Will Oldham 209; Joshua Wright 59 (SoH); John Bayer 132 (SoH); Grace Patterson 37b; Steve Duff 198; John Plunkett 54b (SoH); Jim Patterson 278b; John Bealle 373; Sheila Patterson 512; Sue Duff 141; Jim Herr and Clara Herr 310 (SoH); Vickie See and Billie See 312b; Darrell Swarens and Rebecca Eldridge 507; Adrian Eldridge, Virginia Eldridge, Katherine Eldridge, and James Eldridge 82t.

The arranging officer, Johanna Sims, announced that singers from nine U.S. states were represented. Announcements were made.

Timothy Morton led 347 as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by John Bayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Timothy Morton; Secretary—Johanna Sims