The 35th Annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing (with Southern Harmony)

St. Raphael's Episcopal Church
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Saturday, May 14, 2016

The 35th annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing was called to order at 9:06 a.m. by Ron Pen. After making a few announcements about the singing and the facilities, and offering a prayer, Ron led 549 (HespH) (Hesperian Harp).
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint were used throughout the day.

Leaders:
277, Antioch - Alana Boltz
503, Lloyd - Joy Dunn
347, Christian's Farewell - Tanner Jones
49b, Mear - Mary Brinkman
335, Return Again - Donna Kwon
127, Green Fields - Tim Morton
125, Expression - Paul Wyatt
16 (SoH), Star in the East - Zach Davis (for Jim Thobaben)
178, Africa - Keith MacAdam
209, Evening Shade - Tom Morton
36b, Ninety-Fifth - Stephen Huffman
47b, Idumea - Bob French
276, Bridgewater - Mary Huffman.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Ron Pen.
Leaders:
322 (SoH), Samanthra - Zach Davis
327, Invitation - John Huffman
515, Federal Street - Randy Webber (for Howard Carlberg)
159, Wondrous Love - Ben Fink
126, Babel's Streams - Glenn Koenig and Randy Webber
344, Rainbow - Zach Davis (for Susan Liddle)
197, Georgia - John McCluskey and Ben Fink
457, Wayfaring Stranger - Gwen Johnson and Ben Fink
236, Easter Anthem - Randy Webber (for Shirley Carlberg)
193, Huntington - Judy Taylor
284, Garden Hymn - Traci Cornett and Stephen Huffman
455, Soar Away - Ron Pen
186, Sherburne - Randy Webber and Marguerite Emmons.

RECESS

Joy Dunn led 542, I'll Seek His Blessings to bring the class together.
Leaders:
504, Wood Street - Randy Webber
339, When I Am Gone - Tanner Jones
59, Holy Manna - Doug Trent
146, Hallelujah - Ron Pen
128, The Promised Land - Alana Boltz
117, Babylon is Fallen - Zach Davis (for Jillian Lykens)
313b, Cobb - Mary Brinkman.

Zach Davis conducted the memorial lesson.

Joy Dunn memorialized her Aunt Elvadeen Dunn, saying that they would have long telephone conversations and that Elvadeen would have singings at her home once a year. Elvadeen was a Kentuckian, and died in 2016. Joy led 278b (SoH), Zion.

Ron Pen read a brief encomium to honor his mother, Yvonne. Yvonne would sing during family musicales, and would sing lullabies to Ron and his sister, including occasional up-tempo numbers she knew from her chorus line days, touring with the Three Stooges. An actress, singer and dancer, Yvonne was the subject of many photographs. Ron led 118, Stockwood.

Tom Morton remembered Mary Catherine Hayes, Bill Hayes's mother. Catherine was a Kentuckian, and died at the age of 94 just begfore the 2016 Harrods Creek Singing. Tom led 421, Sweet Morning.

Tim Morton spoke of Oliver Kindig-Stokes, a Pennsylvania singer, who died in an auto accident in October of 2015. Tim led 176t, Ragan.

Bob French remembered Lorrain Cannon, a long-time friend of his from Australia, who died in April, 2016. She had visited him in Lexington numerous times and had attended folk singings and Sacred Harp singings. Bob led 312b, Restoration (First).

Randy Webber memorialized Loraine Bayer of Ohio, who died of cancer in 2015. Randy mentioned Loraine's famous rainbow Jello salad/dessert, and led 38 (SoH), Resignation.

Zach read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Brenda (Begie) Rechenberg (Ed Walton led 565, The Hill of Zion); Norma Green (Stephen Huffman led 569t, Emmaus); Nancy Wyatt (Paul Wyatt reported that his wife, Nancy, is doing better after surgery, and then led 285t, Arnold in memory of his deceased father, Wilton (Roy) Wyatt of Alabama).

Zach Davis remembered his adopted grandfather, Terry White, a regular singer with the Lexington-based group, who had been ill for a number of years and died the day before the 2015 Kentucky Annual Singing. Zach felt that his relationship with Terry was what saved Terry spiritually, as Terry had not really had a religious faith before meeting Zach. Zach led 410t, The Dying Californian.
That concluded the memorial lesson.

Jim Thobaben asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Randy Webber leading 79, The Old Ship of Zion.
Leaders:
268, David's Lamentation - Zach Davis and Marcy Thobaben
472, Akin - Annaliza Cull
148, Jefferson - Laura Earles
535, Shawmut - Brenda Waters and Annaliza Cull
201, Pilgrim - Zach Davis (for David Beshear)
300, Calvary - Michele Cull
254, Rose of Sharon - Ben Fink (for Mary Brinkman)
147t, Boylston - John Huffman and Kay Huffman
522, Ye Heedless Ones - Ben Fink
524, The Twenty-Third Psalm - Zach Davis and Gwen Johnson
424, Sweet Union - Tim Morton
464, Sheppard - Paul Wyatt
481, Novakoski - Mary Brinkman and Ben Fink (for Jim Thobaben)
143, Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Ed Walton and Michele Cull.

RECESS

The class was reconvened by Tom Morton leading 496, The Rock That is Higher Than I.
Leaders:
107, Russia - Zach Davis
48t, Devotion - Stephen Huffman
338, Sawyer's Exit - Bob French
165 (SoH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Mary Huffman
15 (SoH), Davis - Zach Davis
34b, St. Thomas - Joy Dunn
480, Redemption - Doug Trent
163b, China - Ron Pen
218, Mount Pleasant - Randy Webber
278b, Traveling Pilgrim - Laura Earles
49t, Old Hundred - Brenda Waters
46, Let Us Sing - Michele Cull
149, The Trumpet - John Huffman
549, Phillips Farewell - Ben Fink
282, I'm Going Home - Gwen Johnson and Ben Fink
74b, King of Peace - Tim Morton
53, Jerusalem - Paul Wyatt
45t, New Britain - Zach Davis (for Betsy Fleischer).

Randy Webber thanked everyone for coming, especially those who had come a long distance. Announcements were made. The class sang 267, Parting Friends (First), as the closing song.
All who wanted shared the parting hand, and the class was dismissed at 3:10 p.m.

Chairman and Treasurer—Charles H. Coulston; Secretary—Mary Brinkman.