The 23rd Kentucky Christmas Singing (with Southern Harmony)

Mt. Zion Global Methodist Church
Mercer County, Kentucky
Sunday, December 14, 2025

Song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 2025 edition (tagged with `SH') and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint (tagged with `SoH').

Jim Thobaben called the singing to order promptly at 3:00 by welcoming visitors to his church, explaining the history of the building, and offering a prayer.
Ron Pen was requested to name the shapes and sing the gamut for the aid of those church members who joined the singers.

73b (SH), Arlington - Ron Pen
47b (SH), Idumea - Erin Fulton
213 (SoH), David's Lamentation - Don Waggener
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Rafi Finkel, by request of Jim Thobaben
479 (SH), Chester
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - Christian Cunningham
178t (SH), Africa - Rafi Finkel, by request of Diane Arnson Svarlien
45t (SH), New Britain - Erin Fulton, by request of James Mason
68b (SH), Ortonville, in honor of Tim Gregg, sadly unwell, absent from this singing
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Christian Cunningham
535 (SH), Shawmut - Rafi Finkel
252 (SoH), Wondrous Love, by request of Elena Arnold

Break

16 (SoH), Star in the East - Ron Pen, by request of Jim Thobaben
322 (SoH), Samanthra
312b (SH), Restoration - Erin Fulton, by request of Zoe Lawless
80 (SoH), Pisgah - Don Waggener, who requested that the class sing first sing together on the second treble, “the most beautiful line in all the Southern Harmony”
117 (SH), Babylon Is Fallen - Rafi Finkel, by request of Owen Trotter
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Erin Fulton, by request of Pat Waggener; Jim Thobaben acknowledged the importance of this song to the Big Singing
507 (SH), Woodlands, by request of James Mason
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Christian Cunningham; this song was remembered as having been Keith MacAdam's favorite
496 (SH), The Rock That Is Higher than I - Erin Fulton, by request of Carter Smith,in honor of Tom Morton
455 (SH), Soar Away - Ron Pen, by request of Jim Thobaben

Rev. Andi Wallace offered a closing prayer, following which the class took the parting hand while singing 267 (SH), Parting Friends.

The group, comprised of forty-nine singers, were then dismissed to a soup supper prepared by members of the church.

Chairman—Jim Thobaben;
Vice-chairwoman—Rev. Andi Wallace;
Secretary—Erin Fulton.