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Chapter News

Chapter does second annual mass Mills Music Mission
By Andrew Owen

Over the weekend of March 21, the chapter participated in a large Mills Music Mission around the Northwest Mississippi region, including Southaven, Hernando, Memphis, Batesville, and Grenada. Similar to the Mills Music Mission of the previous year, the chapter did not just sing in one place, but in several.

Traveling in a large caravan, the chapter began Saturday morning by singing along with the Theta Rho Colony at the University of Memphis at a horn festival that their university was holding. Once that was over, the chapter sang some familiar songs for fun with the Sinfonians and friends that were assembled there. After that, the chapter drove to the Golden Living Center in Southaven, where it sang familiar songs to and with the residents there, then visited with them for a while. After that visit, the chapter drove to the Landmark Desoto Retirement Home, where it did the same thing. The chapter then drove to Wesley Meadows, a large retirement community, to sing to residents gathered in the dining hall, then walking down the halls to sing to residents who would open their doors and joyfully welcome the chapter’s music. After spending about an hour and a half at Wesley Meadows, the chapter drove to the home of Brother Daniel Payne, where it enjoyed a great supper and an evening of fraternal interaction, including a discussion about the Mission and a jam session.

The next morning, much of the chapter sang in the choir of Asbury United Methodist Church for their morning worship. After this, the caravan traveled to Batesville to sing at the Fairfield Personal Care Home, where it sang and visited for about an hour. The chapter then sang at the Grenada Living Center, going from room to room, sharing the power of music with those who were suffering through difficult times. On a whim, the chapter decided to go to the grandmother of one of its brothers and sing to her in her home near Grenada. The chapter spent some time with her then reflected on the mission outside her home, reminding each other of the powerful experience that everyone had had during the weekend.

Many brothers admitted that it was the most moving musical experience of their lives. The Mills Music Mission will continue to be a beloved activity of the chapter, and it hopes that the mission brought as much joy to the residents as it did to the chapter.