Seven Floyd County churches, one message: Familiar hymns in festive harmony

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Singers from many Floyd County churches gathered for an afternoon and an evening of song and holiday harmony Sunday to present “Good News From Home,” a Christmas cantata.

More than 30 people were involved as singers, speakers, prayer leaders and the director for the event that began as a discussion by just a couple of people wanting to get together to sing Christmas music.

Rhonda Higby said the performances were originally the idea of Pastor Chan Kim from the Rockford and Marble Rock United Methodist Churches.

The original plan was that Kim, his wife, and four church members would share some musical Christmas spirit with the Rockford congregation, but that idea quickly expanded as more people heard about and wanted to become involved or suggested others who should also be part of it.

“As an idea that’s time had come, it exploded into the current size rapidly,” said Higby, who had sung in religious holiday cantatas before but was in her inaugural role as director.

In the end the ecumenical effort included singers from seven churches in the county:

• Floyd Grace United Methodist Church.
• Holy Name Catholic Church in Rockford.
• Nora Springs United Methodist Church.
• Osage United Methodist Church.
• Rockford First United Methodist Church.
• West St. Charles United Methodist Church.
• Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford.

The performances were Sunday afternoon at Floyd Grace UMC and Sunday evening at Rockford First UMC.

Singers taking part at one or both performances were:

• Sopranos: Barb Brown, Cassidy Staudt, Deb Bauer, Diane Jones, Doris Williams, Jennifer Grimm, Joy Kim, Justyn Heard, Sherry Fischer and Micaela Heit.
• Tenors: Bob Schuerer, Chan Kim, John Walker and Liam Abbott.
• Altos: Angie Johnson, Ann Walker, Carolyn Ewen, Gayle Hoy, Janet Fullerton, Julie Andersen, Kathy Koch, Kristi Fullerton, Lisa Kapler and Penney Morse.
• Basses: Brad Williams, Dave Andersen, Dave Hill, Erwin Johnson and Rick Heit.

Among that group, Liam Abbott, Kathy Koch, Penney Morse, Barb Brown, Justyn Heard, Angie Johnson, Lisa Kapler and Carolyn Ewen had solos.

Several of the singers also had speaking roles, along with prayers offered by Pastor Bob Schuerer and Pastor Kim.

According to the event program, “‘Good News From Home’ combines festive original songs and beloved Christmas carols to provide a down-home family Christmas celebration for the whole church family. Created by Russell Mauldin and Sue C. Smith, this timeless musical brings joy to the reality of our true home – at home with our Savior.”