SENIOR SCENE 12-8-2011

December 19, 2011 at 5:05 am | Posted in Senior Scene | Leave a comment

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

Hurray! Christmas is just around the corner and it’s almost “Happy Birthday Jesus” time . . . but, first, a gentle reminder:

Yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day . . .  70 years ago yesterday . . . a day that is enshrined deep in our hearts and memories . . . no doubt some still have loved ones entombed below those murky waters . . . ask John Williamson and Lew Dillon where they were that day . . . both were already on active service that fateful day.

Now, let’s fast forward to today and begin our celebration of the Christmas Season . . . and there is no better way than to have our own Gloryland Transfer guys to sing and touch our hearts as only they can do.

Bro. Wayne Ward and his Gloryland Transfer group were on board with their harmonious voices and lift us up they did. So, first, let us introduce them: Maestro Wayne Ward, Gene Bedingfield, Louis Blosch, Jimmie Neely, John Gregory, Prentiss Wade, Gerald Weems, Dane Cearley, Bob Fisher, and Lew Dillon . . . a motley crew, but we love ’em anyway.

Wayne said he and the group were glad to be back here again at Eastwood Baptist Church. (They also sing at other functions.) They started off with “I’m glad I know Medley.” Next, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” featuring Gene & Wayne, followed by “He Started the Whole World Singing a Song” featuring Wayne.

Remember our own Brother Burl Bedingfield? He sang “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” as a solo for many years, but due to his retirement, Jimmy Neely sang the solo part. What precious memories!

Next, came “It’s Still the Greatest Story Ever Told” featuring Prentiss and Wayne. Then came our all-time favorite, “Silent Night.” (Ed note: The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf, it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stillie Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!)

Next, came Eastwood’s and Jerry Rhodes’ all-time favorite “Sweet Beulah Land” featuring Prentiss Wade.

(The Southern Gospel song, “Sweet Beulah Land” was written and composed by Squire Parsons in 1973. Parsons recorded it in 1979. It became the number one Southern Gospel single and received the “Singing News  Fan Award” for Song of the Year in 1981. We know it best as it is sung by our own, Prentiss Wade.)

This was followed by a special favorite, “My God is Real” featuring Gene Bedingfield. By this time, we were all up on the mountain top.

Then, due to requests, the encore and finale . . . “He Started the Whole World Singing” which finished a truly Wonderful time with Wonderful music. Thank You, Gloryland Transfer. We look forward to your next visit!

Door Prizes were won by: Carolyn Holcomb, Zelmer Rock, Gene Bedingfield, Jimmy Neely, Shirley Ward, and Mary Margaret Freeman.

And, just in case you were wondering . . . we did have a few goodies on the goodie table.

For Entrees: we had: Meatballs, sauerkraut & wieners, wieners & baked beans, smoked turkey, smoked ham, KFC chicken, chicken tortilla casserole, and spaghetti & meatballs.

For Vegetables: Potatoes au gratin, green bean casserole, potato casserole, green beans, vegetable medley, asparagus casserole, and sweet potato casserole.

Soup & Salad: Chili, taco soup, Baptist eggs, fruit salad, stuffed celery, pink fluff gelatin salad, and strawberry gelatin salad.

For Dessert: Pumpkin, apple, cookies & cream, lemon, cherry, pecan, and fresh apple crunch pies; chocolate chip cookies, cake assortment, brownies with peppermint, and peanut butter FUDGE.

So, until next month, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and above all, remember HE is the reason for the Season. Happy Birthday, Jesus.