2013 Christmas Conference

The GKLM Christmas Conference was a resounding success. The program went beautifully, the meal was scrumptious, and the group caroling and activities were festive and delightful. It all happened December 23rd in Louisville, at the Louisville Stake Center on Hurstbourne Parkway. 283 were in attendance, 278 missionaries and five guests, plus a sizable team of members who were working on the food for the event. All were gathered to celebrate the birth of the Savior and share in the joy of the season.

The formal program was as follows:

Prelude – Sister Baldwin

Pre-Program

The GKLM Missionary Medley" - directed by Sister Woodbury,

accompanied by Elder Thomas

Opening Prayer:

Tune-Ups and Christmas Message President Woodbury

2013 GKLM Christmas Program

Narrators: President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Behling, Elder Moon

Chorister for Congregational Hymns - Sister Moskot

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – Elder Kibler

Congregational Hymn:” Joy to the World” pg. 201

Sister Baldwin - piano

Congregational Hymn: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” pg. 208

Elder Hathaway - piano

“Still, Still. Still” – Sister Thorne – piano

“Born is the Light of the World” – Sister Munk

accompanied by Elder J. Johnson

“When Joseph Went to Bethlehem” – Elder Holt

accompanied by Sister Byers

“Mary’s Lullaby” – Sister Gates

accompanied by Sister Thorne

“Angels We Have Heard on High” – Sister Thorne and Sister LeFevre

Congregation joins in last/third Gloria chorus

“Sing We Glad Noel” – Elder Burdge and Elder Butcher

accompanied by Elder Beale

Congregational Hymn -“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” pg.209

“Silent Night” – Sister Pisciotta and SisterTripp

accompanied by Sister Byers

“Where You There On That Christmas Night?” – Sister Jensen, Sister Munk,

Hermana Christensen, Hermana Davis, Hermana Bunkall

accompanied by Elder J. Johnson

“We Three Kings of Orient Are” – Sister Sperry – violin

“Mary Did You Know?” - Elder Thomas

accompanied by Elder Adams – piano

“What Child Is This?” - Elder Inga, Elder Aranda, Elder Jacobson,

Elder Skousen, Elder Larsen,

accompanied by Elder Thomas

“O, Holy Night” – Sister Vikari

accompanied by Elder Thomas

Congregational Hymn: “O Come All Ye Faithful “ –g. 202

Sister Thorne– piano

Closing prayer:

Caroling until meal is ready

Postlude – Elder Hathaway

After the program we all went in to the gym where everyone got through the four lines,

filled their plates with holiday cherry ham, potatoes au gratin, Southern green beans with bacon, salad, and Christmas decorated brownies,

and sat down to enjoy the delicious meal with each other.

Taking down the tables and splitting the chairs into two circles enabled the singing of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" while passing wrapped Sisters' scarves or accessories, and Elders' passing ugly ties.

Combining then into one giant circle, double-deep, it was time for singing fun Christmas songs, like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman,"

and Kentucky Bluegrass versions of "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Jingle Bells," courtesy of Elder Benson on the banjo and Sister Benson on the tambourine. They were assisted by Elder and Sister Reynolds.

Elder and Sister Benson, Elder and Sister Reynolds

The action song, "Christmas is Upon Us" was next, part of which you will be able to see in a few days as the video clip on the right side bar of this blog,

and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" which was led by Sister Vikari.

A partridge in a pear tree...
Sister McInnis, Sister Minson, Sister Reeder, Sister Smith,
Sister Austin, Hermana Penman, Hermana DeLaVega

Six geese a laying...
Featuring Elder Jonas and Elder Tracy
and Hermana McDonald, Hermana Kearsley, Hermana Navarro,
Hermana Rice, Hermana Luke, Hermana Christensen, Hermana Davis,
Hermana Bailey, Hermana Hansen

Eight maids a milkin'
Featuring Elder Seal, Elder LeFevre, Elder L. Davis,
Elder Spencer, Elder Garmon, Elder Wallace

An all-mission photo was taken by the Woodbury's son, Danny, atop a very tall ladder. It can be seen at the end of this post. And it all ended with lots of Merry Christmas wishes, hugs, pictures taken, picking up copies of the Trumpet and the Christmas gift from President and Sister Woodbury, and all the packages and mail that had been delivered to the Mission Office in the last week.

A daring Christmas elf and her daddy
aka Josie and Danny Woodbury

Hermana Davis and Hermana Meek

Sister Saunders, Sister Neser, Sister Lewis, Sister Ray

Elder LeFevre and Sister LeFevre
Not married, not even related, (that they know of)

Sister Briggs, Sister Williams, Sister Jensen, Sister Munk

Elder Tracy, Elder Jonas

Elder Cs Crook, Elder Spaulding

Elder Frisby, Elder Meisel, Elder Caldwell, Elder Gallagher,
Elder Beale, Elder Clarke Elder Butcher

Hermana Christensen, Sister Tripp

Elder Potter, Elder Cs Crook, Elder Spaulding

Danny, Jessica, and Josie Woodbury
visiting from Boston where Danny is getting his MBA at Harvard
(following in his dad's footsteps)

Hermana Bailey, Sister Myler, Sister Webster,
Sister L. Peterson, Sister Smith

Elder Black, Elder Hawes, Elder Huff, Elder C. Larsen

Elder Faudree, Elder J. Larsen, Elder K. Jensen, Elder S. Evans,
Elder Jones, Elder Butterfield

Sister Brian, Sister Ct Hall, Elder C. Johnson, Elder Naylor

President and Sister Woodbury, Elder and Sister Hiatt

Sister Child, Sister Clark

Sister Egbert, Sister Lewis, Sister Ray, Sister Heywood, Sister Bradley

Sister Rickords, Sister Gates

Elder Fackrell, Elder Wood, Elder Benham, Elder Seal,
Elder Van Beekum, Elder Leany

Sister Atkin, Sister Short

Hermana Arancibia, Hermana Carnahan

Elder Spencer, Elder Garmon, Elder L. Davis, Elder R. Evans, Elder Ham

Hermana Hansen, Hermana Binks, Hermana Adams, Hermana Luke

Elder Tg Johnson, Elder Bc Allen

Elder Crichton, Elder Burdge

Elder Ty Johnson, Elder Clarke, Elder Denton

Elder Carly, Elder Hicken

Sister Halvorsen, Josie Woodbury, Danny Woodbury, Jessica Woodbury

Hermana Wadley, Hermana DeLa Vega,
Hermana McDonald, Hermana Penman

Elder Souza, Elder J. Johnson

Elder C Larson, Elder Hawes

Elder Hathaway, Elder Holt, Elder Martin, Elder Gaither,
Elder Lynch, Elder Cs Johnson, Elder Arnold

The Evans Contingent
Elder Z. Evans, Elder S. Evans, Elder R. Evans,
Elder S. Evans, Hermana Evans

Elder Sainsbury, Elder S. Evans, Elder C. Anderson

President and Sister Woodbury

Elder Hill, Elder Holt, Elder Thomas
Elder Hathaway, Elder Kidd, Elder Shelley, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Wood

Elder Hill, Elder Holt, Elder Thomas
Elder Geary, Elder Hathaway, Elder Rasmussen, Elder Kidd,
Elder Shelley, Elder Wallace, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Wood, Elder Newbold
Elder Dopp

Elder Eastin, Elder Cd Crook
in the Evansville Zone shirts

Sister Baldwin, Sister Brown, Sister Briggs

Sister Oliverson, Sister Williams, SIster McInnis

Alta High Alumni
Elder Jensen, Elder Kidd, Elder Fackrell, Elder Wood
Sister Tripp, Elder Hawes, Elder Stohel, Elder Moon

Elder Crichton, Elder Carson

Elder Hawes' posterity
Elder Shelley, Elder Jacobsen, Elder Butler, Elder Chambers,
Elder Hawes, Elder C. Larson, Elder Seymore

If there had been an ugly Christmas sweater contest,
Elder Jonas and Elder Kidd would have won!

Elder Behling, Hermana Lawrence, Hermana Porter

Elder Spaulding, Elder Cd Johnson, Elder Behling

Evansille Zone in their Evansille Zone shirts
Elder Jones, Elder D. Davis, Elder Lower, Elder R. Evans, Elder Ham, Elder Eastin, Hermana Meek, Elder Z. Evans, Hermana Wilbur, Elder Cd Crook, Sister Hall, Elder Naylor, Elder Gaither, Sister Newton, Sister Loveless, Elder Stohel, Elder Ch Johnson, Sister S. Goodrich, Elder Martin, Sister Priebe, Elder Hathaway, Sister Reeder, Elder Lynch, Sister Austin, Elder White, Sister Child