CHRISTMAS, 1980

 

Across the Fence

By Arvord Abernethy

 

Remember I told you that if you could attend the Christmas program and cantata at the Baptist Church you would hear a lively and spirited program?

 

The children sang some songs before the adult choir performed and that same description would well fit part of the children’s program, especially the part of the three and four year olds had. Seems like Matthew Poteet and Bradley Haile each felt they should hold the microphone, and for a time “Peace on earth, goodwill towards boys” was gone.

 

The adult choir, which was composed of people from several churches, did a splendid job. The solos, duets and groups did such a fine work, that altogether, it made a program well worth attending.

 

Phil Burnaman, the music director of the First Baptist Church , can be given credit for much of the success of the performance. Phil realized that all the singers were doing what they did because they enjoyed singing, yet he wanted everyone to do their very best, so he put them through some hard work, and would sometimes seem to bear down pretty hard on them.

 

After a long period of cantata work, Alyce Ann Poteet sat down and wrote the following poem.

 

Once upon a time at First Baptist

In a place called Hamilton .

There was someone who led the choir

With both a whip and a gun.

Hark! Now do not scoop that note,

And please don’t go flat.

When you do sing your note in turn

For Pete’s sake do not splat.

Sing them high, sing them low,

Sing them all around.

But you'll know you've sung them wrong

When you see that man Phil frown.

Open that mouth real wide,

Raise the eyebrows high as a hill.

And shake those tonsils to and fro,

But keep your eyes on Phil.

Hold those notes as long as you can,

Even until you turn blue.

And do not even take a breath,

Cause you know who is watching you.

But when the song is at its end,

And we have our accolades,

We can thank our lucky stars,

For the difference that Phil has made.

 

 

It was my pleasure to attend the Candlelight Service at the Presbyterian Church on Christmas Eve. They had an interesting program planned, but the impressive part was when each one lighted their candle from someone and they in turn lighted the candle of the person next to them. The lights were then turned off and it was amazing how light it was with everyone just holding one candlelight of power. It was under such a solemn atmosphere we sang “Silent Night” to close out the program.

 

 

 

It may not have been planned for the service at the Presbyterian Church to coincide with other candlelight services over the country and also the lighting of the White House Christmas Tree for the 417 seconds in memory of the 52 hostages who have been held for 417 days, but it was almost at the same time that the candles were on here when the lights were on at the tree in Washington.

 

We can all feel for those people in homes where for the second year one of their loved ones has been held hostage. May the time soon come when there will be "Peace on earth, Good will toward men."