Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 28

The 149th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention was hosted by Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in October. The class was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Rachel Carlisle leading 63. John Plunkett offered the morning prayer. Helen Brown directed the introductory lesson leading songs on pages 569t (in memory of Raymond Hamrick), 309, 142, 225t (in memory of Hugh McGraw and Lonnie Rogers), 531, 370, 26, and 234.

Leaders: Helen Bryson 81b; Jeannette DePoy 213t; Andy Ditzler 191; Lisa Bennett 212 (for friend, Joni); David Brodeur 304; David Smead 204; Robert Chambless 343; Faye Holbrook 494; Philip Denney 300; Janice Paulk 136; Samuel Williams 512.

RECESS

Rachel Carlisle called the class to order leading 145t. A business session was held with the following officers and committee members elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Faye Holbrook; Vice Chairman—Jeannette DePoy; Secretary/Treasurer—Helen Bryson; Resolutions Committee—Lisa Bennett and Judy Mincey; Memorial Committee—Ted Brown and Helen Brown; Arranging Committee—David Brodeur and Andy Ditzler; Chaplain—Michael Walker.

Leaders: Jerusha Wheeler 155; Judy Chambless 29t; Daniel Lee 411; John Plunkett 465; Karen Rollins 446; Tony Hammock 39b; Susan Cherones 56b; Ted Brown 119; Debora Grosse 49t; Jesse Roberts 193; Judy Mincey 434; Michael Spencer 420; Daniel Williams 203; Michael Walker 202; Phillip Langley 475.

RECESS

Jeannette DePoy called the class to order leading 36b. Leaders: Rosemarie Yntema 228; Karen Rollins 365; Sandra Wilkinson 297; Lisa Bennett 296; Philip Denney 168; Debora Grosse 81t; Daniel Lee 28b; Susan Cherones 564; Daniel Edwards and his father 501; Andy Ditzler 572; Helen Bryson 492; Jerusha Wheeler 200. Ted Brown asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Faye Holbrook called the class to order leading 542. Leaders: Janice Paulk 518; Jesse Roberts 208; David Smead 478; Ted Brown 378t; Rosemarie Yntema 183; Helen Brown 436; Michael Walker 207; Michael Spencer 521; Daniel Williams 505; Judy Mincey 485; Tony Hammock 383; David Brodeur 360; Judy Chambless 209; Samuel Williams 498; Robert Chambless 77b; John Plunkett 459; Sandra Wilkinson 144; Ted Brown, Helen Brown, and Michael Walker 187; Faye Holbrook 455.

Announcements were made. Jeannette DePoy and Faye Holbrook led 46 as the closing song. Jesse Roberts offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, October 29

The Sunday session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention began with Faye Holbrook, who called the class to order leading 49t and 67. Michael Walker offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Jeannette DePoy 129, 421; Helen Bryson 91, 176t; Andy Ditzler 116, 76t; David Brodeur 124, 135; Nathan Rees 104, 374; Lisa Bennett 29b, 70b; Ted Brown 73b, 303; David Smead 48b, 385t; Scott DePoy 48t (for Daniel Evans).

RECESS

Daniel Williams called the class to order leading 400 and 384 (in memory of Horace DeLong). Leaders: Isaac Green 541, 422; Lauren Bock 292, 227.

Ted Brown and Helen Brown conducted the memorial lesson. Helen read from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we may be able to comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”. This epitomizes the Sacred Harp Community. We are supporting and comforting all those in need, whether they be sick in mind or body, by thinking of them and singing for them. As important as it is to name them, we need to carry this through into contacting our sick and shut-ins to let them know they are in our thoughts. Many people have been touched, comforted, upheld and strengthened by knowing that they have been named on this list. It can mean so much to receive a card or a phone call to say “we sang this for you today”. Let’s never underestimate the amount of compassion and comfort which we can supply, by the grace of God. One day our own names may be on the list and I certainly would hope that someone will sing for me. The deceased we sing for this year are as follows: Jean Macdonald, Donald Macdonald, and Julie Selvey—United Kingdom; Hugh McGraw, Harold DeLong, Michael Thompson’s father, Daniel Evans, Mike Taylor, George Snyder, Johnny Lee, Delorese Lee, and Bill Posey—Georgia; Eloise Wootten and Caleb Allred—Alabama; Charles Wells—Minnesota; Julie Vea—Wisconsin; and Janelle Davis—Illinois. Helen led 70t in memory of the deceased.

Ted Brown reminded us that death leaves a void in our heart. He offered suggestions that we may adopt to assist the sick and shut-ins and those who have lost a loved one: offer to run errands, cook and deliver meals, encourage folks to ask for help, send cards and flowers, not just in the immediate period following a death, but later. Ted led 566 for the following sick and shut-Ins: Kate Evans, Benton Evans, Agnes Roberts, Virginia Dyer, Andy Anderson, Charlene Wallace, Richard DeLong, Jack Paulk, Virginia Futral, Cassie Allen, Chris Holley, Concetta Branson, Don Walker, Charlotte Walker, and Rosalie Romero. Michael Walker closed the memorial lesson with prayer. Judy Mincey led 27 and 71.

RECESS

David Brodeur called the class to order leading 223. Leaders: Samuel Williams 302, 562; Matt Hinton 320, 312t; Phillip Langley 385t, 460; Anna Hinton 142, 455; John Plunkett 467, 150. Matt Hinton offered the lunch prayer.

LUNCH

Faye Holbrook called the class to order leading 376. Leaders: Jesse Karlsberg 503 (in memory of Junie Wooten), 189 (in memory of Violet Thomason); Erica Hinton 69t, 534; Amber Davis 110, 300 (in memory of Gravis Ballinger); Michael Walker 35, 517; Laura Akerman 28t, 383; Helen Brown 217, 456; Isaac Green 522; Lottie Hinton 32t; Lauren Bock 528; Helen Bryson 546; Ted Brown 373; Lisa Bennett 372; Daniel Williams 448b; David Smead 527; Phillip Langley 224; Samuel Williams 378b; Matt Hinton 375; Helen Brown 349; Michael Walker 230; Nathan Rees 200; Amber Davis 276.

The convention entered into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports. Judy Mincey and Lisa Bennett of the Resolutions Committee reported the following: We give thanks to the Almighty for the opportunity to lift our voices in song together, to share this rich fellowship and to enjoy the hospitality of Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church. We thank Big Creek for the use of this historic and beautiful facility. We thank all the cooks and providers of the wonderful meals we have enjoyed both days. We are grateful to the officers and committee members whose work makes this convention operate so smoothly it seems to run itself, including those who work quietly behind the scenes arranging the room and cleaning up. We hereby resolve to meet at the City of Alpharetta Municipal Building on September 29 and 30, 2018, for the 150th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention. The Treasurer reported that convention expenses were met. The reports were approved and the business session was closed. Announcements were made.

Faye Holbrook and Jeannette DePoy led 146 as the closing song. Michael Walker offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Faye Holbrook; Vice Chairman—Jeannette DePoy; Secretary/Treasurer—Helen Bryson