Sunday, June 15, 2008

2008 Walker Hymn Sing

Last night our family was blessed to be able to attend the 2008 Walker Hymn Sing, as we have for three of the past five years that they have had it. It was held on the lawn of the Walker Mower Manufacturing facility near Timnath, CO. Last night there were 942 people in the crowd, of all ages and walks of life. It was about 80'F, clear blue sky with a very gentle breeze. A perfect Colorado early summer evening.
The thing that we really enjoy about it is the fact that they provide a new songbook each year for everyone, with all old hymns, with a few songs written in the 1950 -1960s that Janet and Rowen grew up with. The Walkers are old-time Nazarenes in Loveland, Colorado, and the two brothers who own the Walker Mower manufacturing company are both singers themselves. They are in their fifties -sixties, so they enjoy the old style that they and we grew up singing.

On the sound stage there is an acoustic (real) piano, an organ, and a violinist; all are amplified, but old style. This year's SING included these 25 songs, of which we sang nearly every word of every verse and chorus. Some of our voices were strained at the end! Bob Walker himself led the last third of the songs.

Afterward we visited with a few friends who were there; Steve, LaDeana (Janet's cousin) and Tiffany Desmond, and Don, Zonya, Hannah, Abigail, and Phineas Campbell. That was a blessing, as well as the worship time of singing.

On our way home, we stopped for Sonic ice cream cones - but they were out of cones, so gave us our softserve ice cream in dishes instead. It was an enjoyable family outing.