Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 26th annual Maidencreek All-Day Singing was held on Saturday before Labor Day at the Maidencreek Friends Meeting House. Hayden Arp called the class to order by leading 32t. Lyn Koehnline offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Rachel Hall; Vice Chairman—Hollie Long; Secretary—Chelsea Feltman; Treasurer—Rachael Geary.

Leaders: Rachel Hall 313t; Sophie Sokolov 111t; Hollie Long 283; Lyn Koehnline 73b; Korey Guerrieri 66; Ben Fink 228; Mike Galganski and Hayden Arp 49t; Rachael Geary 37b; John Luttenberger and Alex Forsyth 159; Chelsea Feltman 276; Katie Browne 282; Jonathan Kadar-Kallen 355; Katherine Reier 186; Pete Sandeen 47b; Miriam Delirium 201.

RECESS

Ted Stokes called the class back to order by leading 331. Matthew Kaufmann led the German lesson with some brief remarks on the cultural and linguistic history of the Pennsylvania Dutch in Southeastern Pennsylvania and led “Halleeluya, Losst Uns Singen” from Dutchified German Spirituals to the tune of 145b.

Leaders: Kass Urban-Mead 299; Madeleine Smith 127; Julian Bender 474; Ellyn Ross 107; Joyce Forry 373; Greg Holt 113; Thomas Ward 230; Rachael Geary 76t; Hal Kunkel 380; Elsa Phemayotin 376; Jason Steidl Jack 432; Lindsey Falbo 154; Sam Kleinman 377; Liora O’Donnell Goldensher 426b.

RECESS

Doug Kurtze called the class back to order by leading 288. Leaders: Emily Ross 198; G.C. Waldrup 505; Nina Burris 362.

Ben Fink conducted the memorial lesson, reading the names of the following sick and shut-ins: Massi Agosti, Sohie Sabat, Lance Fulton, Tom Waggener, Pat Waggener, Liam Lehrer, David Carlton, Jamie Ceschen, Dave Bennett, Dan Phemayotin, Jim Koones, Cindy Tanner, Bruce Saylor, Corrone Bryant, and Chris Cotter.

Ben led 417, remarking upon how the song’s harmonic changes mirror the sudden and disruptive nature of grief. He invited the class to consider how the lyrics and tempo changes reflect the difficulty of “going back to normal” in the wake of grief. He led the song in memory of the following deceased: Karin Wilson, Norman Wilson, Marjorie Breder, Mary and Frank—Pennsylvania; Doug Ivey, Chita Blakeley, Claudene Townson, Jerry Kitchens, Boyd Scott, Hubert Nall, Elder J.L. Hopper, Norma Green, Marlon Wootten—Alabama; Michael Greene, Aaron Reimer, Benjamin Reimer, Cordelia Reimer—Massachusetts; William R. Wylie, Joan Sheldon—Maine; Melaine Hauff—Illinois; Lydia Lewallen—North Carolina; Eva Striebeck—Germany; Philip Denney, Virginia Dyer—Georgia; Nancy Paris, Alison Rieke—Kentucky; Cheryl Foreman, Landis Powell, and Charlotte Powell—Texas; Eden Grace; Pete Mathewson—Colorado; August Golden—Minnesota; Esther Reaves—Maryland; Graham DeZarn—Virginia. Ellie Knickman followed with a prayer.

Leaders: Erika Wilson 285t (for Erik Schwab); Jeff Shenk 142; Elizabeth Patton 156; Scott Robinson 267; Guy Bankes 534; Gary Ryan 378b; Tom Stokes 319. Sophie Sokolov offered the blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Hayden Arp called the class back to order by leading 88t. Leaders: Keillor Mose 61; Rachel Speer 200; Sarah George 208; Kelsey Ivey 419; Ben Sachs-Hamilton 548; Evelyn Saylor 480; Travis Peck 162; Shane Brown 383; Rosie Sokolov 414; Myles Louis Dakan 345b; Marco Wessingk 77t; Becky Wright 272; Dean Jens 445; Rachel Farber 214; Nancy Mandel 324; Richard Ivey 567; Emma Rose Brown 444; Tom George 396.

RECESS

Tim Leonard called the class back to order by leading 29t. Leaders: Jon Giles 408; Erin Fulton 497; Jacob Hamidi 551; Jasmine Mendoza 546; Kevin Griffin Moreno 99; Blake Sisemore 411; Mary Helen Dupree 232; Chris Holley 348b; Nicholas Thompson 220; Alanna Goodman 300; Sean Bonsall 163b; Patti Davis and Ben Fink 254; Micah John Walter 400; Sue Peters 68b; Quinn Ross 535; Susan Loucks 147t; Kobi Bordoley 33b; Bridget Jamison 111b; Sara Lott 436. There were one hundred twenty attendees from thirteen states and two countries, and eighty leaders led eighty-four songs.

After announcements, Rachel Hall led 565 as the closing song. Blake Sisemore offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Rachel Hall; Vice Chairman—Hollie Long; Treasurer—Rachael Geary; Secretary—Chelsea Feltman