Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 24, 2024 and Sunday, August 25, 2024

Saturday, August 24

The 94th session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, Forest, Mississippi, on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in August.

Four books were used for song selections during the weekend including:
The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition,
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2012 Revision,
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Mark Davis welcomed everyone and thanked the people of Antioch Church for hosting the convention. He called the class to order by leading 101t (SH), Canaan's Land.
The opening prayer was offered by Robert Vaughn.

Leaders:
74b (SH), King of Peace - Mark Davis
432b (CH10), Fish Pond - Henry McGuire
54 (CH10), My Trust
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Darlene Reynolds
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Arlon Gardner
183 (SH), Greenwich
97 (SH), We'll Soon Be There - Robert Vaughn
75 (SH), I Would See Jesus
181 (SH), Exit - Charlie McGuire
300 (SH), Calvary
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - Mike McNeill
522 (CB), Shades of Night
514 (CB), Wiley - Jeff James
548 (CB), The God of Love
518 (CB), Love At Home - Amy Armstrong Wells
393 (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro.

RECESS

Mark Davis brought the class back to order and appointed the following singers to the Business Committee: Charlie McGuire, Will Gatewood, and Nicholas Thompson.

Leaders:
126 (SH), Babel's Streams - Mark Davis
543t (WB), Alone - Prisca Rice
526 (WB), Gospel Waves
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings - Lisa Geist
472 (SH), Akin
50 (CH10), Cranbrook - Mary Beth Garrison
361 (SH), Loving Jesus
288 (SH), White - Sophia Gardner
277 (SH), Antioch
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Dawn Van
128 (CB), The Promised Land
133 (CB), John 4:14 - Danny Creel
186 (CH10), Lord Remember Me
30b (SH), Prospect - Dennis Cranford
155 (SH), Northfield
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet - Anders Wells
110 (SH), Mount Vernon.
Arlon Gardner asked for a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Mark Davis led 326 (SH), Weary Pilgrim, to begin the afternoon session.
Leaders:
204t (CH10), What a Day - Cheryl McNeill and Mike McNeill
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway
514 (CH10), Crown - Will Gatewood
82t (CH10), Lady, Touch Thy Harp Again
450 (CB), Leaning on Jesus' Breast - Sonja Kirkham
100 (CB), The Bower of Prayer
78t (CH10), Repent - Haisley Perkins
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me?
513t (CB), The Christian's Desire (Avon) - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
384 (CB), Longing for Heaven (Panting for Heaven)
212 (CB), Sharon - Chris Nicholson
293b (CB), Saint Thomas
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Drew McGuire
552 (CB), And Live Through Endless Day
304 (SH), Morgan - Nicholas Thompson
176 (CH10), Heavenly Treasures.

In a business session, the following officers were elected to serve for the weekend:
Chairman—Mark Davis; Vice Chairman—Drew McGuire; Secretary/Treasurer—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner.

Leaders:
454 (SH), The Better Land - Mark Davis (for Darlene Reynolds)
168b (CH10), Sunrise - Prisca Rice
118b (WB), Enon - Robert Vaughn
67b (CH10), Dundee - Chris Nicholson
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Drew McGuire.

Mark Davis led    “The Drone”, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, August 25

The Sunday session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention met again at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, Forest, Mississippi. The class was called to order by Mark Davis leading 37b (SH), Liverpool.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
77t (SH), The Child of Grace - Mark Davis
56b (SH), Villulia - Drew McGuire
368b (CH10), Sweetest Pleasure
486t (WB), Trusting - Darlene Reynolds
511 (WB), Willie
151 (CH10), Sweet Prospect - Arlon Gardner and Sophia Gardner
111b (SH), To Die No More
456 (SH), Sacred Mount - Charlie McGuire
336 (SH), Eternal Home
77 (CH10), How Beautiful Heaven Must Be - Haisley Perkins and Nicholas Thompson
78t (CH10), Repent
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger - Sophia Gardner
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die
189 (CH10), One by One - Sonja Kirkham
269 (CB), Nightfall.

RECESS

Leaders:
140 (SH), Sweet Solitude - Mark Davis
38t (CB), Sessions - Chris Nicholson
464 (CB), Hocutt
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Amy Armstrong Wells and Corinne Wells and Helen Wells
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus
455 (SH), Soar Away - Andy Davis
436 (SH), Morning Sun
72b (SH), Bellevue - Jane Armstrong
63 (SH), Coronation
197 (SH), Georgia - Will McGuire
215 (SH), New Topia
70b (SH), Save, Mighty Lord - Anders Wells
76b (SH), Desire for Piety
490b (WB), All-Saints - Will Gatewood
38t (WB), New York Tune
16 (CH10), The Finest Flower - Nicholas Thompson
364 (CH10), Redemption (Second).
Arlon Gardner asked the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Mark Davis brought the class to order and appointed Chris Nicholson to serve as the Memorial Committee and Lisa Geist to serve as the Resolutions Committee.

Leaders:
106 (SH), Ecstasy - Mark Davis
391 (SH), Sounding Joy - Lisa Geist
527 (SH), My Life and Breath
410 (WB), The Dying Californian - Henry McGuire
460 (SH), Sardis - Henry McGuire and Nicholas Thompson
138t (CB), Song to the Lamb - Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon - Andy Davis and Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Chris Nicholson. He read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins:
Marlin Beasley, Betty Shepherd, Chris Shepherd, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, David Light, John Lee Van Horn, Judith Gatewood, Alice McGuire, Colvin Mann, and Leon Ballinger.
Chris led 54t (CB), Palmetto.

The following list of names of the deceased was read aloud by Chris Nicholson:
Larry Wise—Mississippi; Henry Guthery, Earl Ballinger, Ozella Blackmon, Chaeta Blockman, and Richard Mauldin—Alabama; P. Dan Brittain—Arkansas; Eva Striebeck—Germany.
Chris led 285t (CB), Arnold.
Arlon Gardner closed the memorial service with prayer.

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing reports. The Business and Credentials Committee reported the collections and expenses for the weekend. Lisa Geist reported the resolutions thanking Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for hosting the convention. She thanked the cooks for bountiful meals. She thanked God for visitors who came to join good fellowship and good singing. The business session was closed. Announcements were made.

Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and Drew McGuire led    “The Drone”.
Arlon Gardner offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—Drew McGuire; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.