Five years after the 1992 tape, a newer crop of staff (with Marcus Shantz as Director, championing the project) wanted to share their voices. This time the recording was done right after camp at Waterloo North Mennonite Church. It emulated a campfire on side one and staff pieces on side two.

Side One

Love the Lord Your God – Staff

Rise and Shine – Staff

I Like Bananas (Mudcheck) – Staff

Senzenina/When I Survey (African trad./Watts) – Staff

Here I am Lord (Scutte) – Staff

Hymn For the Russian Earth (Zaritsky,Friesen) – Staff

Wade in the Water (Trad.) – Staff

O Freedom (Trad.) – Staff

Tallis’ Canon (Tallis) – Staff

Unity (Derstine) – Staff

Kyrie Eleison – Staff

O Silver Lake – Staff

Side Two

The Coal Town Road (The Bourne McLeods) – Darren Brunk (solo), Laura Shantz, Justin Martin, Ben Janzen, Norm Kaethler, Matt Waltner-Toews

Carley’s Song (Vadala) – Carol Hunsberger, Christina Reimer, Laura Shantz

Lakes of Silver (Janzen) – Ben Janzen

Goodbye Until Hello (Lobach) – Jenny Enns, Natalia Lobach, Adrian Moss

Perhaps Love (Denver) – Luke Snider, Jenn Bechtel

The Kesh and the Blackthorn Stick (Traditional) – Ben Janzen, Norm Kaethler, Matt Waltner-Toews

In Remembrance (Daley) – Jenny Enns, Natalia Lobach, Carol Hunsberger, Jenn Bechtel, Ben Janzen, Marcus Shantz, Luke Snider, Mike Shantz

O Sacred Head Now Wounded (Hassler, Bach) – 20 voice choir

Ubi Caritas (Durufle) – 20 voice choir

This Joyful Eastertide (arr. Parker) – 20 voice choir

Bonus

Amen (Traditional) – Staff

Silver Lake Staff 1997 Jenn Bechtel*, Matthew Brubacher*, Darren Brunk, Elizabeth Cameron, Amy Chatterson, Jen Code, Jon Cressman, Andrew Dyck*, Cara Dyck, Jenny Enns*, Dave Erb, Jackie Graham, Sarah Hastings*, Carol Hunsberger*, Ben Janzen*, Paul Janzen, Christina Jutzi, Norm Kaethler*, Laurel Koop, Natalia Lobach*, Dave Lobe, Joanna Martin, Justin Martin*, Jeremy Neufeld, Joanna Nicol, Kathy Procter, Christina Reimer*, Peter Rempel, Katharine Sawatsky, Kara Schmidt, Laura Shantz*, Lisa Shantz, Marcus Shantz*, Michael Shantz*, Luke Snider*, Chad Spaulding, Tara Swanson, Chris Tiessen, Matthew Tiessen*, Matthew Waltner-Toews, Rebecca Waltner-Toews, Janelle Weber, Sara Weber*, Jim Wilkins, Jamie Yantzi
* 20 voice choir

CILT IIs Heather Bergen, Hilary Blair, Krista Driedger, Michael Erb, Meaghan Feduck, Cory Hill, Dan Jutzi, Erin MacKimmie, Adriann Moss, Ricki Oltean-Lepp, Steven Oltean-Lepp, Heidi Pauls, Joseph Pauls, Katie Pauls, Thomas Reimer, Jill Romagnoli, Andrea Shantz, Hannah Snider, Chris Steingart, Suzanne Stockie, Samantha Taus, Justin Wikerd, Jesse Wilkinson, David Wood

Production credits
Production manager, mastering – Joel Brubacher
Recording manager, choral conducting – Tim Shantz
Cover design – Norm Kaethler
J-card Design – Matt Regehr
Good Advice – Jeff Cowell
“Campfire” song conducting – Ben Janzen
Recording steering committee – Jenn Bechtel, Jenny Enns, Carol Hunsberger, Ben Janzen, Norm Kaethler, Marcus Shantz

Director’s Note

Evening campfire is probably the most imprtant thing we do at Silver Lake. Campfire is our time for worship, prayer, entertainment, storytelling – and music. It’s holy space. Many children first begin to love singing while sitting close to a crackling fire. The songs they learn enter the memory, and nourish faith and hope for years to come.

It’s a tall order to capture the feel of a Silver Lake campfire on tape. We’ve done our best. All songs were recorded live, with no effects or overdubbing. Some songs arose spontaneously; others were honed carefully over many takes. “Traditional” camp songs appear on side one (you’re supposed to sing along), choral and folk music on side two.

Our hope is that this recording will help teach the music of our faith to the next generation. May it also evoke memories of star-filled skies, lasting friendship, and warm fire light.

Marcus Shantz