Recently I sat in sacrament meeting in the overflow area. You know the place where there is plenty of room for your legs and you feel like you’re a soloist if you sing the hymns. The organ sounded softer and there was a good view of the comings and goings of the room.

After the sacrament was passed, the closing hymn began, “Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee . . . by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.” I thought how beautiful and timely the sweet lyric applied to my soul. It was what I needed. As I continued to sing, the artful words fulfilled my unuttered longings as though hands were placed on my head, ” . . . the Lord thy God shall bless thee . . . with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares”.

It would have been so easy not to have sung the closing hymn. I watched parents busily taking care of the needs of their little ones, children with no access to a device to see the hymn, and others seemingly indifferent to singing. Singing takes effort. The Lord ‘loves effort’ as President Nelson has declared. Ginger Dean- Stake Music Chairman

The hymns are not just for church. They can be a blessing to us in our everyday lives. Here are some ideas to increase the singing and listening of hymns at church and home:

• Encourage your family to sing. Set the example by singing yourself.
• Ask your ward’s music chairman or leader what hymns will be in sacrament meeting. Make copies for your family and take them to church.
• Online sources for hymns include: Church apps , Sing-Along Videos, The Tabernacle Choir, Latter Day Saints Channel.
• Gospel Voice for Alexa and Google Assistant is now available.
• The hymn library has a playlist, lyrics, and notes. Try it.

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MY CALLING

Stake Music Specialists are called as needed. Specialists may be assigned to provide music for a particular stake meeting….They may also be assigned to provide music training or assist with music in stake activities. You might not realize that if you have sung or played at a stake conference, you have been a music specialist. See handbook.

We have several music specialists that regularly help sustain music in our stake and wards. Please contact any music specialist with your questions, needs, and offerings:

• Sister Kay Bohn – Helps train in organ, piano, and music skills as well as supports stake music activities.
• Sister Linda Pereira – Recording specialist for our new program “Rise & Shine” to share uplifting content with others, offering musical suggestions & more. She and husband Phil will come to you to record your musical offerings!
• Sister Sprice Packham – Assists with the stake music electronics including CoalStakeMusic.com
• Michele and Todd Seay – Support and help with stake music events.

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WHAT’S NEW?

Song “He Is Always There” by Lianne Franklin. Perfect for children, families, and youth groups. Optional 2 parts that are beautiful and easy to learn. Appropriate for church use in primary and sacrament meeting. Free. See more music at Lianne K.W. Franklin Music.

“Rise and Shine” – Share your music and light the world. Prepare your music then contact Sister Linda Pereira or Sister Ginger Dean at coalstakemusic@gmail.com and we’ll help you record your music. A variety of styles and genres of music are welcome. Here is the newest in “Rise and Shine” performed by Elder Carli and Joel W. Hiatt:

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UP AND COMING

Music Training for Wards – Ongoing all year. Contact Sister Ginger Dean or Sister Kay Bohn at coalstakemusic.com You can also text, or call to schedule.

Youth Music Festival – March 17, 8 PM EST Churchwide.

Tabernacle Choir Sings ‘The Messiah’ – March 26, 9PM

General Conference – April 3-4

Meet the ORGAN Concert – April 25th 6-7 pm Dahlonega Ward Building 7207 Dawsonville Highway, Dahlonega, GA  30533. Enjoy listening to the newest Allen LD-34 Organ and learn about it’s features.

Stake Music Training – May 15 (In person or virtual – TBD)

Stake Conference – May 15-16

Rise & Shine on YouTube – Enjoy music performed by Coal Mountain Georgia Stake members.

Virtual Concerts – learn more Through Deseret Book . Fee for tickets.

• • The Bonner Family: March 5 
• • Truman Brothers: April 9 
• • Nathan Pacheco: May 7 
• • Calee Reed: June 4 
• • The Nashville Tribute Band: July 2 
• • The Tonga Sisters: August 6

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HYMN HIGHLIGHT

This hymn, set to an Irish Tune is for the young in age and the young in heart. The hopeful and powerful lyric was written by Susan McCloud b. 1945. She also wrote “Lord I Would Follow Thee” #220.

Listen to this solo arrangement of the hymn. Music is available here.

Other hymns with Irish roots include: Be Thou My Vision (piano solo), The King of Love My Shepherd Is (piano & oboe), If You Could Hie to Kolob (Tune: Star of the County Down), I Cannot Tell Why He, Whom Angels Worship (Londonderry Air Tune).

WATCH THIS

The Bonner Family sings: CHARITY