Everett church opens doors for hymn singalong

Published 12:19 pm Saturday, October 23, 2010

EVERETT — Pastor Al Baunsgard is ready to sing.

On Sunday he’ll welcome others to the Hymn Sing at Bethany Christian Assembly and warm up his vocal cords singing several old gospel hymns.

The communitywide hymn singalong is the first at Bethany Christian Assembly, 2715 Everett Ave. It won’t be the last. A Hymn Sing will be scheduled four times throughout 2010, beginning in January.

Hymn Sing is open to anyone, regardless of singing talent or church affiliation, Baunsgard said. But event attendees are usually those who grew up singing the hymns.

“Many of our churches have shifted quite a bit in the music scene particularly, and we have many of our seniors who love the old hymns, so that’s where we got the Hymn Sing from,” he said.

Special guest musicians and vocals at Hymn Sing include Leyden Ingebrigtsen and Vision 3, The Foster Sisters, Bryan and Jan Apps, Jim Arneson, Julianne Anderson, Bob Iverson, Bethany Trumpet Trio, and the Tutmarc Brothers.

Pastor Terry Ollar started Hymn Sing at Marysville First Assembly of God four years ago when he was the worship pastor.

Word about the quarterly event spread throughout the Western Washington area and soon 86 churches were represented.

The last Hymn Sing at the Marysville location was in September 2008.

Ollar was asked to help start the tradition in Everett when Bethany Christian Assembly decided to inherit the Hymn Sing.

He’ll help introduce musicians and lead the congregational singing at Sunday’s event.

“What we’ll do is start out with three upbeat hymns, and then a special group or soloist, and from there go right back into congregational singing — and then another group, and we’ll spend the whole night bouncing back and fourth,” he said.

The Hymn Sing begins at 6 p.m., but Ollar expects a crowd and recommends that people arrive early.

“We haven’t done one in a while and people are looking forward to it,” he said.

Ollar said he will announce the date and time of the next Hymn Sing at the end of every event so people can mark their calendars and keep Hymn Sing going.

A fellowship time for people to greet one another is typically scheduled after the singing ends.

“It’s just a wonderful time to get together,” Baunsgard said. “There will be some great old hymns that people remember and that have probably had some influence on their lives.”

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491, adaybert@heraldnet.com.

You’re invited

The Bethany Christian Assembly hosts Hymn Sing at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Worship Center at 2715 Everett Ave., Everett.