SHAMOKIN - Nan Weller, president, conducted the January meeting of the Cecilian Club at the First United Methodist Church. The open meeting was well-attended by members and guests.
Linda Latsha shared a devotional reading entitled "Blessing with a Sting" from the book "Beside the Still Waters." She noted that the same way the sting of some disinfectants hurts when put on wounds, the sting of harsh words can hurt us or others. If directed at us, we should look at ourselves to see if there's any truth behind the criticism. Also, as the speaker, we should think carefully before saying words that"sting."
The evening's concert theme was "Let's 'C.'" Each number was in the key of C, composed or arranged by a person whose name began with C, or had "C" in the title.
The opening number, arranged by Coates Jr. was "Amazing Grace," sung by Carol Ellis, Charlene Pell, Merle Kashner and Mary Anne Miller, and accompanied by Bonny Klinger. Susan Miller followed with a piano solo, "Sonata in C, K545" by Mozart.
Another quartet, Ellis, Mary Hollingshead, Grethel Vinup and Kathi Christ, accompanied by Weller, sang "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by Scott, arranged by Coates Jr. Weller played a flute solo, "Czardas," by Monti. She was accompanied by Philip Maue on piano.
Rob Ensinger, accompanied by Klinger, sang "Camelot" by Loewe. Vinup followed with a piano solo, "Nocturne Opus 9, No. 1" by Chopin. A trio comprised of Ellis, Martha Lynch and Weller, accompanied by Noriene Ladd, sang "Calm Repose" by Bortniansky, arranged by Lorenz.
Miller played a clarinet solo, "Etude No. 26" by Rose. "Count Your Blessings" by Berlin was sung by Ellis, Charlene Pell, Kathi Christ, Kashner and Tom Christ, accompanied by Weller on flute and Vinup on piano. The concert concluded with a piano duet as Klinger and Irvin Liachowitz played "Polonaise in A" by Chopin.
Members and guests then sang "Come, Christians, Join to Sing" arranged by Benjamin Carr, harmonized by Austin C. Lovelace, words by Christian Henry Bateman.
The business meeting followed. Members were asked to remember several colleagues who are sick or recuperating from injuries.
There was a discussion about the scholarship fund. It was decided that the amount of the scholarship would be increased to $500 for this year. Applications will start going out soon and are due by the end of April. The applications are sent out to about 20 area schools and are accepted from students who will be starting college next year with a major in music. Details about the applications will accompany the forms.
Club members are asked to meet at the hospital at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 18 to sing forthe patients in the rehab wing.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at Grace Lutheran Church in Shamokin. The public is invited to this program "I Love a Parade," a program of patriotic music.