Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Installation of Officers  

The service was held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville. The Director of Music Ministries, Barry Oliver, the Grace Covenant Choir, Chamber Choir and Covenant Ringers (Kyle Ritter assisting at the organ) presented a Choral Evensong for the occasion. Music included an Organ Voluntary, Adagio in E major by Frank Bridge, a setting of Psalm 46 by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Canticles set by Herbert Sumsionm, Prayers sung to a setting by Kenneth Leighton, Anthems: Surgens Jesus, by Peter Philips; O quam amabilis es, bone Jesu by Paul Villette; and, O clap your hands by Orlando Gibbons. Barry concluded with an Organ Voluntary, Miriam's Dance, by Joel Martinson. The music was extremely well performed, the readings excellently delivered and The Reverend Mark Ramsey's homily interesting and appropriate to the season.

Members of the Western NC Chapter AGO provided refreshments for a reception afterward, where we met and greeted new and old friends, catching up on our situations and sharing the usual anecdotes about our work. It was fun putting faces together with the names of people we have communicated with many times throughout the years.

When our appetites were satisfied, Members returned to the nave for a brief ceremony. Kevin Bryant, soon to be our Past-Dean, opened with words of thanks to the Membership and especially to the Board for making this past year the success it was. He also had high praise for the Nominations Committee which worked diligently through considerable hardship to bring us the Slate of Candidates to be elected. Nominations Committee Chairman, Bev Ward, explained what they had to work through, then read the Slate to the members present: Dean - Eric Wall; Sub-Dean - Michael Barker; Corresponding Secretary - Rebecca Smith; Membership Secretary - Steven Williams; Treasurer - Beverly Ward; Webmaster - William Smith; Past-Dean - Kevin Bryant; three Members-at-Large - Barry Oliver, Kyle Ritter and Timothy Sloan. Bill Smith moved to accept the Slate of Candidates as presented, Lorraine Seger seconded, and the motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Ceremony itself was brief. The Professional Standards were reviewed, the Membership was charged with executing their responsibilities prudently and faithfully. The Candidates were charged to accept their respective offices and responsibilities and support the standards and purposes of the AGO, to which we all assented. The Membership was then asked to affirm their support for the Candidates in the duties to which they were nominated, and all members present assented. We mutually agreed to encourage, support and cooperate with one another in the work of this Chapter, and one final charge was issued, to support and encourage each other to exercise the leadership committed to each member. With the words, "Grow not weary in well doing!" the new Board was congratulated, and we were dismissed.