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| Young Voices in Song, performing on Memorial Day, 2019. |
By Jairee Counterman
New Bloomfield, PA – On a beautiful Memorial Day Monday, Perry County’s newest choir – Young Voices in Song - made its public debut as part of the annual Memorial Day Ceremony in the New Bloomfield Cemetery. After an introduction by co-founder Rev. Jean Felty of New Bloomfield United Methodist Church, the children, ranging in age from kindergarten through 5th grade, sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” once by themselves and once with the enthusiastic crowd of ceremony attendees joining in.
Brief History: Young Voices in Song started in the fall of 2018 with a $1,000 “Mission Ignition Initiative” grant from the Harrisburg District of the United Methodist Church. Starting in November, every Wednesday that school was in session, between 8 and 15 children attended Young Voices in Song for singing, crafts, snacks, and activities that emphasized good manners and positive behaviors. Young Voices is staffed primarily by volunteers, including the pastors, from New Bloomfield United Methodist Church and Christ Lutheran Church (also in New Bloomfield). The director/accompanist, Mr. Bob Buyers (who also directs the choir at Enola Emmanuel United Methodist Church and works with the youth choir of the Susquehanna Chorale) receives a stipend and reimbursement for mileage. All staff and volunteers are vetted and have up-to-date background checks and clearances. Currently most attendees are “walkers” from New Bloomfield Elementary School, but Young Voices is open to any Perry County child in kindergarten through Grade 5, and we expect the program to grow. All children are welcome regardless of experience or ability. Additional funding has been received from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Harold Greaney Charitable Trust of the Perry County Community Foundation of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.
Purpose: Provide Perry County children with a safe, supervised activity that reinforces positive social values and instills and develops a lifelong hobby/skill.
Schedule: Young Voices in Song had its last meeting of the 2018-2019 school year on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at New Bloomfield United Methodist Church. After taking the summer off, Young Voices will resume after Labor Day.
Program Contact: to register a kindergarten through 5th grade child for Young Voices in Song for the 2019-2020 school year, or to volunteer or donate, please contact Rev. Jean Felty at 717.582.2715 or Rev. Linda Shank, Christ Lutheran Church, at 717.582.4356.
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Young Voices in Song Committee – Rev. Jean Felty, Rev. Linda Shank, Rev. Miriam Nicholson, Mrs. Suzanne Twilley, Ms. Jairee Counterman, Mrs. Elizabeth Sawyer
