The Hallelujah Handbell Choir is a group of dedicated members who love music, God, and being with each other.

The past two years have been rebuilding years for us, as members have left and new ones have joined us. Most significantly, we bade farewell to Becky, our co-director for the past seven years. We miss her, and appreciate the many contributions she made to our group. We were happy to welcome new members Marilyn L., and Marilyn N. this fall. I am grateful for the continuing members Sue, Coleen, Ruth, Judy, Cheryl, Marcia, Toddy and Brenda. Ours is a 3-octave handbell choir, and when we gain one more member, we will be at full-strength again.

Handbell ringers need to be able to read music, but it is a different and in some ways more challenging task than that of singing or playing an instrument. A handbell choir is much like a 'living keyboard." Each ringer is responsible for two notes and the sharps or flats that go with them. Our music looks similar to piano music. Each ringer must watch for her notes to appear and then ring them. This is different from instrumental music, which has only the notes to be played by that instrument. It is also unlike a vocal choir which has several voices singing the same part. With handbells, since only one person rings each specific note, mulitple practices are necessary before a piece is ready to be played in church.

The coming summer brings an opportunity to increase our handbell knowledge and skills by attending the regional handbell festival in St. Charles, Mo. The biennial event offers workshops for all experience-levels of players and the opportunity to play under the directorship of nationall-known directors. I personally am looking forward to the directors' seminar, which should help me become a better director and will therefor benefit the choir.

It is a joy to be a part of this group, and our hope and prayer is that our music enhances he worship services at First Presbyterian. We are grateful for the moral and financial support of our congreation provides.

Carol, Director