After all the smiles, tears and applause, Dale Peterson started getting ready for next Sunday.
But for well over an hour May 25, he relished in the 1,750 Sundays prior. The service ran long but no one cared because this day was something special — a reunion celebrating 35 years of college choir at Auburn First Baptist Church.
The reunion doubled as a commemoration of Peterson’s 35 years of service as college choir director and minister of music at Auburn First.
The college choir reunions have been held at the church every five years since the first reunion in 1993, which marked 20 years.
This reunion followed the same pattern as years past with a service filled almost entirely with songs of worship, including a song specially adapted for the occasion by Peterson — a reunion tradition.
More than 100 former college choir members returned to Auburn to sing under Peterson’s direction in front of a nearly capacity crowd.
For Jan Kennamer, a ministry associate at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, the trip is always worth it.
She was a member of the college choir from 1981 until 1985 and has attended each of the four reunions.
"The one we just shared … was special for me because I was able to spend time with some close friends who had not been able to attend any of the previous reunions," Kennamer said. "The reunions are inspirational in so many ways. Singing under Dale’s direction with friends I love dearly in the beautiful sanctuary at Auburn First Baptist is an experience that defies explanation." (TAB)
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