Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 28

The 153rd session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held at Sweetwater Chapel, Lawrenceville, Georgia, on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in October. The class was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Faye Holbrook leading 49t. Bill DuPre offered the morning prayer. Malinda Snow directed the introductory lesson. She spoke about the different meters of poetry that appear in songs in The Sacred Harp, and how earlier hymnals only consisted of words—poems or psalms which were numbered and had an indication of the poetry’s meter. Different communities who used these hymn books had tunes passed down through their communities that could be used with any hymn of a corresponding meter. Different communities often used different tunes for the same poetry. She explained how song books such as the Sacred Harp, by printing music along with the words, might have caused certain sets of words and music to seem more married than they were before. She showed how even now the meter of a tune (noted next to the tune’s name) can give singers a clue as to other tunes that could be used with the same poetry. Malinda Snow led 56t and 268.

Leaders: David Smead 52t, 456; Helen Bryson 102 (for Ms Nan), 522; John Plunkett 105, 104; Faye Holbrook 542, 455; Lisa Bennett 436, 404.

RECESS

David Smead called the class to order leading 30t. Leaders: Cathy Bonk 35, 53; Bridge Hill Kennedy 32b, 328. A business session was held with the following offers and committee members elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—David Smead; Vice Chairman—Lauren Bock; Secretary/Treasurer—Lisa Bennett; Chaplain—Faye Holbrook; Arranging Committee—John Plunkett; Memorial Committee—Jeannette DePoy; Finance Committee—Helen Bryson and Lisa Bennett; Locating Committee—Faye Holbrook; Resolutions Committee—Bridge Hill Kennedy and Lisa Bennett.

Leaders: David Smead 458; Amy Armstrong Wells and Helen Wells 475, 128; Bill DuPre 31t, 480; Debora Grosse, Allison Bay, and Asang 159, 189; Doug Allison 277, 278t; Lauren Bock 317, 426b; Malinda Snow 77b, 76b; Jeannette DePoy 34b (in memory of Cathy White), 89.

LUNCH

Lauren Bock called the class to order leading 82t. Leaders: Jesse P. Karlsberg 289, 138t; Tony Hammock 464, 465; Anders Wells 145t, 112; Abigail Forester 47b, 457; Faye Holbrook 380, 318; Lucey Rose Karlsberg and Corinne Wells 196, 186; Shawn Kirchner and friends Amy Vogt and Sean Vogt 454, 218; Helen Bryson 313b, 568; Bridge Hill Kennedy 70b, 110; Amy Armstrong Wells 384; Doug Allison 335; Malinda Snow 178.

RECESS

Leaders: David Smead 166, 424; Bill DuPre 122; Lisa Bennett 60, 33t; Jesse P. Karlsberg 234; Debora Grosse 66; Tony Hammock 275b; Shawn Kirchner 91; Lauren Bock 351. After announcements, David Smead led 323t as the closing song. Debora Grosse offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, October 29

David Smead called the class to order leading 46. Faye Holbrook offered the morning prayer. Leaders: David Smead 467; Lauren Bock 39b, 422; Lisa Bennett 283, 464; Faye Holbrook 290, 67; Jeannette DePoy 171, 148; Bridge Hill Kennedy 37b, 100; John Plunkett 391, 492; Matt Hinton 399b, 401; Abigail Cannon 30t, 472; Judy Mincey 291, 180; Debora Grosse 173, 48t.

RECESS

Lauren Bock and Lucey Rose Karlsberg called the class to order leading 146. Leaders: Tony Hammock 400, 513; Cathy Bonk 84, 282; Erica Hinton 108t, 527; Robert Kelley 70b, 429; Bill DuPre 229, 195; Helen Bryson 227, 172; Jesse P. Karlsberg 285b, 185.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Jeannette DePoy. She quoted Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”, and spoke about the sanctity of the hollow square. The list of the sick and shut-ins included Carol Hanson, Sandra Wilkinson, Bill Hollingsworth, Lela Crowder, and Don Bowen. Helen Bryson led 312t for the sick and shut-ins.

The following list of names of the deceased was read aloud: George Burnette, Philip Denney, Sarah Dodson, Virginia Dyer, and Cathy White—Georgia; Clyde Avery, Hubert Nall, Pearl Guier, Jack Paulk—Alabama; Melanie Hauff, Ted Mercer—Illinois; Becky Browne—Missouri. Bridge Hill Kennedy led 138b in memory of the deceased. John Plunkett closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

LUNCH

David Smead called the class to order leading 111t. Leaders: Malinda Snow 192, 155; Lauren Bock 432; Lisa Bennett 154; Faye Holbrook 392; Jeannette DePoy 460; Abigail Cannon 340; Bridge Hill Kennedy 73t; Debora Grosse 454; Robert Kelley 306; Bill DuPre 512; Judy Mincey 528; Cathy Bonk 117; Tony Hammock 314; Erica Hinton 129; Matt Hinton 47t; Helen Bryson 213t; Jose Martinez 90; John Plunkett 236 (for Bill Hollingsworth and the Hollingsworth family); Judy Mincey 320; Bridge Hill Kennedy and Mindy Simmons 448b; Jose Martinez and Abigail Cannon 179; Robert Kelley 28t.

The class went into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports. Bridge Hill Kennedy and Lisa Bennett of the Resolutions Committee reported the following: We, the singers and members of the 153rd session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention thank God for the many blessings he has given to us. We are filled with gratitude for Sacred Harp, for the joy of singing and for the opportunity for fellowship with friends from near and far. We give thanks for all those singers who have gone before us and those who have kept this tradition alive and growing. We thank all the singers who participated and joined us in the fellowship, especially those who introduced new friends to Sacred Harp this weekend. We are grateful to all whose work made for a wonderful weekend of singing. We are thankful to the caretakers of Sweetwater Chapel for hosting us. We resolve to meet on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in September, 2024, for the 154th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention at the Alpharetta City Hall building. The Finance Committee reported that expenses were met. The reports were approved, and the business session was closed. After announcements, David Smead and Lauren Bock led 56t as the closing song. Faye Holbrook offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—David Smead; Vice Chairman—Lauren Bock; Secretary/Treasurer—Lisa Bennett