We've Got The County Covered
The Silver Anniversary of the Montana Country Poets and Pickers Western Heritage Roundup culminated on Sunday, April 14, with a Cowboy Church Service. Held at the Chinook Motor Inn, the service was a festive one filled with prayers and poems, dancing and clapping, pictures and music.
Ken Overcast opened the service with a prayer, asking the Creator to "be with every heart here today because we all come from a different place. Some are dealing with health issues, others have financial challenges, and some may be experiencing emotional pain. . . . Open our hearts so that we may know your peace."
That prayer was followed by the country song "Wings in the Morning," sung by Conrad Sandberg from Canada. Sandberg, who also played guitar, was accompanied by Overcast and fellow Canadian Brian Anderson in the performance of Johnny Cash's 1979 release about God's heavenly promise: "What could be greater than God's guarantee / That we can have heaven for eternity?"
More music and poetry recitations followed, and when Rhondella Berger and Elle Morgan could no longer resist the toe tapping rhythm, they got up and danced. Others joined in.
In keeping with the religious theme with which he opened the service, Overcast talked about how we all come from different beginnings but have one thing in common: none of us is getting out of here alive and heaven is our reward.
As the service continued, other musicians took the stage to sing and celebrate.