Rusk County Singing Convention, 16th Year

Old Pine Grove Church
Henderson, Rusk County, Texas
Saturday, April 27, 2024 and Sunday, April 28, 2024

Saturday, April 27

The Rusk County Convention met for the 16th year on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in April at Old Pine Grove Church near Henderson, Texas. The tune book for Saturday was The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2012 Revision. Chris Nicholson called the class to order by leading 47t, Salvation, O the Joyful Sound (Primrose).
Elder Robert Vaughn offered the opening prayer.

A business meeting was held, and the following officers were elected: Chairman—Joseph Sherer; Vice-Chairman—Emily Brown; Secretary—Gaylon Powell.

Leaders: 30b, Prospect - Chris Nicholson
348t, Happy Land - Joseph Sherer
81, Jesus Is Willing (Beach Spring) - Joseph Sherer
38t, Sessions - Emily Brown
86, Guiding Spirit - Emily Brown
482, Amazing Love - Gaylon Powell
552, And Live Through Endless Day - Gaylon Powell
67, Columbus - Tristan Gordon
145t, Streams of Mercy (Warrenton) - Tristan Gordon
131t, Messiah - Kristie Powell
210, Minnesota - Kristie Powell
273, Marthasville - Robert Vaughn
268t, Restoration - Robert Vaughn
505, Cleansing Fountain - Janie Short.
146, Hallelujah - Janie Short.

RECESS

Leaders: 276, Bridgewater - Joseph Sherer
268b, Texas - Ivy Hauser
269, Nightfall - Ivy Hauser
399, The Dying Boy - Charlie McGuire
392, Little Pilgrim - Charlie McGuire
292b, The Wonder - Daniel Williams
446t, Sharon's Lovely Rose - Daniel Williams
503, That Beautiful Land On High - Ann Jett
515, When the Lord Shall Come for Me - Ann Jett
31t, Ninety-Third Psalm - Stina Soderling
98, Glory Shone Around - Stina Soderling
63, Coronation - Will Gatewood.
511t, Brown - Will Gatewood.
Dan Alquist asked the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Leaders: 122, All Is Well - Joseph Sherer
108b, The Traveler - Jim Lazenby
361, Loving Jesus - Jim Lazenby
404, He Died on the Cross - Danny Creel
133, John 4:14 - Danny Creel
38b, The Road to Life and Death (Windham) - Molly Peck
278b, Traveling Pilgrim - Molly Peck
567, Child of Thine - Henry McGuire
478, March On - Henry McGuire
511b, Jesus Died for Me - Ken Tate
447b, Laban - Ken Tate
336t, Hester - Samuel Williams
479, Behold A Sinner - Samuel Williams
504t, Peterborough - Sonja Kirkham
475, Lover of the Lord - Sonja Kirkham
172, Harmony - Yancey Jett and Emily Brown
216, Delight - Yancey Jett and Emily Brown
297, Conversion - Charity Vaughn and Chris Nicholson
112, The Last Words of Copernicus - Charity Vaughn and Chris Nicholson
222, Ocean - Tammy Powell.
142, Stratfield - Tammy Powell.

RECESS

Leaders: 132, Evening Shade - Joseph Sherer
400, Struggle On - Natalie Fletcher and Tammy Powell
401, Cuba - Natalie Fletcher and Tammy Powell
524, My Home Above - David Williams and Samuel Williams
410, Willie - Will Gatewood and Molly Peck
514, Wiley - Danny Creel and Ken Tate
411, The Finest Flower - Henry McGuire and Charlie McGuire
242, Newton - Sonja Kirkham and Jim Lazenby
192, Schenectady - Ann Jett and Ivy Hauser
212, Sharon - Charity Vaughn and Chris Nicholson
470, There We Our Jesus Shall Adore (Sardis) - Tristan Gordon and Stina Soderling and and Ivy Hauser
571, Not Made With Hands - Janie Short and Tammy Powell
54t, Palmetto - Emily Brown and Kristie Powell
536, Thy Love (North Salem) - Gaylon Powell and Robert Vaughn.
Joseph Sherer appointed Kristie Powell and Gaylon Powell to serve on the memorial committee. After announcements, Joseph Sherer led 274t, The Golden Harp, for the closing song.
Chris Nicholson led the closing prayer.

Sunday, April 28

The Sunday session of the convention was held in conjunction with the Pine Grove Cemetery Homecoming. The tune book for Sunday was The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition. Joseph Sherer led 470, Duke Street, for the opening song.
The opening prayer was offered by Rick Foreman.

Leaders: 165, Babylon is Fallen - Joseph Sherer
51, Lonsdale - Emily Brown
131, Will You Meet Me? - Emily Brown
67t, Peterboro - Rick Foreman
66b, The Penitent's Prayer - Rick Foreman
67b, Dundee - Stina Soderling
276, Worlds Beyond the Sky - Stina Soderling
82t, Lady, Touch Thy Harp Again - Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn
546b, Oak Grove - Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn
168b, Sunrise - Ken Tate
490, Creation (Second) - Ken Tate
432b, Fish Pond - Henry McGuire
447, Mount Pisgah - Henry McGuire
353, Bower of Prayer - Joan Smith
210t, Old Hundred - Joan Smith
223, Hallelujah! Praise The Lord - Ivy Hauser
61t, North Carolina - Ivy Hauser
548, Macedonia - Kristie Powell
258, Thorny Desert - Kristie Powell
170, On My Way - Ann Jett.
149, A Good Time Coming - Ann Jett.

RECESS

Leaders: 360, The Saints Bound for Heaven - Joseph Sherer
167t, Detroit - Molly Peck
281t, Am I Born to Die? - Molly Peck
82b, Gospel Waves - Charlie McGuire
398t, St. Thomas - Charlie McGuire
354, Summer - Yancey Jett and Emily Brown
307, True Happiness - Yancey Jett and Emily Brown
60, What Did He Do? - Will Gatewood
316, This Heavy Load - Will Gatewood
49, Forever with the Lord - Janie Short
43, The Heavenly Throng - Janie Short
74, God's Helping Hand - Tristan Gordon.
329, Redeeming Grace - Tristan Gordon.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Kristie Powell made some comments concerning the sick and shut-ins, and read the list of names: Lucy Heidorn, Wanda Capps, Henry Guthery, Cindy Tanner, Mike Hinton, Leon Ballinger, Bruce and Peggy Ray, and John Morris. She then led 221b, Poor, Weak, and Worthless.

Gaylon Powell made some comments concerning the deceased, and read the list of names: Texas—Rosalee Burns, Eli Howard; Alabama—Tommie Spurlock, Norma Green; Arkansas—P. Dan Brittain; California—Jeff Bagley; Germany—Eva Striebeck; Recent burials at Pine Grove Cemetery—Melissa Avra, Sissy Benavidez; James Sharborough. He then led 228, Pass Me Not.
The memorial lesson closed with prayer by Mike Kirkham.

Leaders: 255, Watchman (Second) - Sonya Kirkham.
189, One by One - Sonya Kirkham.
Dismissed for lunch. Prayer for lunch was given at the table.

LUNCH

Leaders: 293, Lenox - Joseph Sherer
308, The Happy Time - Danny Creel
54, My Trust - Danny Creel
64, Youthful Blessings - Tammy Powell
1, Weary Rest - Tammy Powell
278, God Holds the Future - Robert Vaughn
86t, Ortonville - Robert Vaughn
186, Lord Remember Me - Henry McGuire
292, Grief of Love - Ken Tate
208b, French Broad - Will Gatewood
176, Heavenly Treasures - Yancey Jett and Emily Brown
355, Homeward Bound - Charlie McGuire
96, Mighty Love - Ann Jett
13, Traveler's Hope - Stina Soderling
128b, Ninety-Fifth - Rick Foreman
167b, Come Along - Danny Creel and Rick Foreman
268, Come Ye to the Waters - Ivy Hauser
303, The Unclouded Day - Janie Short
117, Angel Band - Sonya Kirkham
336t, Sweet Harmony - Kristie Powell
184, Where We'll Never Grow Old - Chris Nicholson.

After some announcements, leaders: 253, Is It Far? - Tristan Gordon
421b, Caddo - Tammy Powell
180, The Sinless Summerland - Robert Vaughn
59b, Dove of Peace - Joan Smith
175, O How I Love Jesus - Natalie Fletcher and Emily Brown
19, The Day of Days - Emily Brown
203, Cumberland - Gaylon Powell.
Joseph Sherer led 549b, The Drone, for the closing song.
Emily Brown led the closing prayer.

Chairman—Joseph Sherer; Vice Chairman—Emily Brown; Secretary—Gaylon Powell.