Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, March 11

The 32nd annual session of the Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was called to order at St. John United Church of Christ by John Huffman and Roberta Strauss leading 47t. Tommy Schultz offered the opening prayer.

The convention officers previously elected or appointed are as follows: Chairpersons—John Huffman and Roberta Strauss; Secretary—Dave Ressler; Arranging Officer—Presley Barker; Finance Officer—Hollie Powell; Memorial Committee—Joan Aldridge and Paul Figura. Song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition and The Missouri Harmony, 2005 Edition.

Leaders: Stephen Huffman 49b; Dave Ressler 135 (MH); Tommy Schultz 497; Tullaia Powell 142; Karen Isbell 68 (MH); John Uhlemann 455; Evangeline Schultz 29t; Mary Huffman 171; Hollie Powell 564; Martha Beverly 532; Theophilus Schultz 565; Jim Page 45 (MH); Katie Dohman 178; Syd Caldwell 460; Elizabeth Stoddard 423; Bill Beverly 13 (MH); Peggy Brayfield 151 (MH); Jim Herr and Clara Herr 556.

RECESS

Barbara Chopin led 180 (MH) to bring the class together. Leaders: Dan Brittain 109 (MH); Ginny Landgraf 9 (MH); Darrell Swarens 341; Jubal Schultz 229; Lou Kujawinski 48b; Lori Graber 46 (MH); Cory Winters 112; Gail Doss 191; Anna Dohman 107; Judy Mincey 177 (MH); Ted Mercer 77 (MH); Paul Landskroener 6 (MH); Carole Briggs 334; Julie Thompson 63; John Seaton 62; John Ramsey 224.

RECESS

Penny Kujawinski and Monica Beery led 430 to bring the class together. Leaders: Barbara Uhlemann 147 (MH); JoDell Albi 163b; Amanda Jokerst 319; Chris Nicholson 34b; Prisca Rice and Anne Drexler 277; Lindsay Kruse 131b; Marcus Whitman 26 (MH); Luke Sivertson 420; Dayle Dryer 228. The class sang 164 (MH) as a blessing, and Marcus Whitman offered a prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Lisa Bulawsky led 40 to bring the class together. Leaders: Wendy Hofmann 475; Aubrey Hemminger 474; Vickie See and Billy See 480; Cindy Burlison and Dan Brittain 141 (MH); Ryan Hill 338; Shirley Figura 299; David Barford 260; Zoe Hosmer-Dillard 448b; Debbie Barford 288; Jenny Whitman 236; Carla Bermudez 360; Paul Figura 19 (MH); Presley Barker 505; John Huffman 362; Stephen Huffman 365; Tommy Schultz 481.

RECESS

Evangeline Schultz led 270 to bring the class together. Leaders: Tullaia Powell 209; Jamie Dohman 546; Ginny Landgraf 175 (MH); Dave Ressler 138 (MH); Roberta Strauss and Mary Huffman 384 and “Trusting” (for Coy Ivey); Jim Herr 222; Jim Page 170; Syd Caldwell 137; Elizabeth Stoddard 312t; Bill Beverly 127 (MH); Cory Winters 149 (MH); John Uhlemann 50 (MH).

After announcements, the class sang 499, and was dismissed with prayer offered by Gary Huffman.

Sunday, March 12

The Sunday session of the Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was called to order, and Evangeline Schultz offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Roberta Strauss 32t; Barbara Uhlemann 66; Judy Mincey 89 (MH); Peggy Brayfield 73 (MH); Elizabeth Stoddard 8 (MH); Syd Caldwell 113 (MH); Nate Zweig 104 (MH); Jairus Schultz, Theophilus Schultz, and Abigail Schultz 313b; Jim Page 84 (MH); Jim Herr 294; Karen Isbell 133 (MH); Darrell Swarens 145 (MH); Jubal Schultz 450; Chris Nicholson 157 (MH); Penny Kujawinski 500.

RECESS

Amanda Jokerst, Hollie Powell, and Tullaia Powell led 72b to bring the class together. Leaders: Martha Beverly 124 (MH); Clara Herr 535; Lori Graber 174 (MH); Gail Doss and Cory Winters 513; Ted Mercer 131t; Paul Landskroener 436; Julie Thompson 268; John Seaton 47t; John Ramsey 451; Vickie See and Billy See 33b; Russell Rench, Tiffany Sipes, and Paul Figura 47b.

RECESS

Wendy Hofmann led 485 to bring the class together. Leaders: Ryan Hill 84; John Markovitz 86.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Joan Aldridge read the list of names of the sick and shut-ins. She commented that small acts of kindness and remembrance matter, and they add up in all our lives. She mentioned how much cards are appreciated, even if from strangers. Joan led 134 for the sick and shut-ins.

Paul Figura read the list of names of the deceased from the past year. He commented that each convention, and each annual session, is different, in large part because of the people who are in attendance and in our thoughts. Paul read a biography and remembrance of Les Sontag, an active St. Louis singer, who passed three weeks prior to the convention. Presley Barker gave a remembrance of Charlie Derleth, another St. Louis singer, who died in May, 2016. Charlie always exhorted singers to “Sing it all!” The class sang 348b, and Aubrey Hemminger closed the lesson with prayer.

Leaders: David Barford 58; Jedidiah Schultz 547; Lou Kujawinski 276; Aubrey Hemminger 503. The class sang 164 (MH) as a blessing, and Judy Mincey offered a prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Jenny Whitman led 13 (MH) to bring the class together. Leaders: Debbie Barford 218; Shirley Figura 318; Tullaia Powell 300; Joan Aldridge 445; JoDell Albi 159 (MH); Ginny Landgraf 283; Nate Zweig 49 (MH); Syd Caldwell and Karen Isbell 446; Tommy Schultz 470; Cory Winters 182; Hollie Powell 560; Merlin Whitman 163t; Luke Sivertson 178; Lisa Bulawsky 501; Roberta Strauss and Penny Kujawinski 269.

RECESS

Darrell Swarens and Syd Caldwell led 389 to bring the class back to order. Leaders: Barbara Chopin 327; Judy Mincey 128 (MH); Amanda Jokerst 7 (MH); Presley Barker 121 (MH); Roberta Strauss 441; Wendy Hofmann 448t; Marcus Whitman 102; Jim Herr and Syd Caldwell 138t.

Announcements were made. The class sang 146 as the closing song. Jim Herr dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairpersons—John Huffman and Roberta Strauss; Secretary—Dave Ressler