Page 18 - MLD Book

Mary Ann Garnar was now the director of the children’s choir, accompanied by Sandra Cherry, and they met every week at 9:45, singing often at the 9:15 middle service, which continued to grow under Ben’s direction. (In 1984, John Hale took his turn as director!) At 11, we now would sing the Psalm every week, but were careful to use only the psalm tones 8 and 2, which then became familiar and easy for the congregation to sing too. And I think that is vitally important for congregational involvement. That philosophy continued throughout Ben’s and my ministries. But now the philosophy is that it’s more fun for the choir to sing difficult psalm settings that almost always exclude the congregation while we sit there – or at the moment in 2020 fast forward if looking at the video later at home!
1983
The most memorable program created in 1983 was CRISIS CARE! This concept was championed by Georgine, and the philosophy was to provide a meal to any parishioner experiencing a crisis, whether it be death, sickness, birth, happy time, or sad time. This program is still in action today, although not as active as back then with Georgine to spur it on. Sally Reisz adds this ministry to her many hats she wears. Oh yes, and we hosted the Diocesan Convention in 1983,, always a big deal creating lots of stress and extra work. This
may prove to be the least stressful year of all, as we survey the whole scene.
1984
In reading my music report for 1984, I was reminded of the huge crowds we drew for Christmas Eve. At that time, it was only one service, designed to offer Communion at midnight in the true Anglican tradition of the time. We had a full-fledged concert beginning at 10 pm and in 1984, we did Bach’s monumental MAGNIFICAT with full orchestra. My mention of it in the music report of 1984 was to remind people what was coming (Annual
meetings were at that time the beginning of December), to be there, and to help defray the cost of the Louisville Orchestra members. We had no trouble either with attendance or support!
the present readers of this epistle to enjoy. I cited the memory earlier of WLRS playing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer through the electronic device speakers in the balcony on my first Christmas Eve back in 1964. In subsequent years, things always seemed to happen too. There was the time that the pipes in the basement burst, and Ben was frantically trying to keep the rushing water away from the furnace so the church wouldn’t be cold. I still can see him sloshing in the water with his boots! One year, it was 7 degrees and Jonathan Smith had a flat tire, discovered after the midnight service. We took warm hats from the clothes
I do want to interject, however, a couple of memories of Christmas Eve that we oldsters will remember, and memories that I want