It began as a favor for a local Sunday School teacher and soon expanded into a full-length professional recording. Former Windham Chamber Singer Matthew Blake Small has teamed up with the choir's producer Roy A.Clark to record a benefit album for Pilgrim Lodge.

The album "Gathered in Song" will feature former campers from Pilgrim Lodge. Gorham Chamber Singers' alumni Rachel LaChance and Sarah Morrow, as well as Jon Mellen, a former member of Farmington's popular a cappella group The Bovines, have agreed to perform on the album along with Small. The CD will also feature current campers Mike Lennox and Laura Toppi, both members of the Children's Musical Note Choir at North Windham Union United Church of Christ.

A Sunday School teacher at North Windham Union approached Small over a year ago and asked if he would sing some songs into a tape recorder to provide a learning tool for her class. Small felt the quality would not be very beneficial to the youngsters, so he investigated making a low-budget cassette for the church. Conversations began last fall with Clark, known for producing "A Holiday Portrait" and "Inspired" with the Windham Chamber Singers, as well as for his work with Rick Charette. Clark and Small decided they might as well record a quality compact disc instead. They set a budget and presented it to the Maine Conference's Outdoor Ministries Committee. The members of the group praised the idea, but could offer no funds for such an undertaking.

Later in the year, an anonymous friend of Pilgrim Lodge generously offered to underwrite the entire project. With financial woes behind him, Small moved forward with the project endorsed by the Maine Conference UCC. The performers recorded the album during the summer at Pine Point Studios in Otisfield, Maine. The album features many of the campers' favorite tunes.  See the side bar for a complete play list.   While many of these songs are standards at Christian camps nationwide, Small hopes that the album he co-produces with Clark will add a new spark to the timeless melodies.

"Our goal is to  provide a resource for Christian educators, as well as an album that people of all ages will want to play again and again. We are employing basic instrumentation such as acoustic piano and guitar and then fusing them with a contemporary sound only a studio recording can provide. The finished product will be exciting for listeners young and old," said Small, now a junior at The University of Maine in Orono.

It is through this goal that Small feels "Gathered In Song" will gain acceptance not only with Pilgrim Lodge campers, but throughout the Christian community.  Small has been active with the Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, as well as the National Youth and Young Adult Substance Abuse Task Force for the UCC. A past delegate to General Synods 21 and 22, he also served as president of the Maine State Youth Council during high school.

Featuring Matthew Blake Small and Rachel Lachance

Produced by Roy A. Clark and Matthew Blake Small

Executive Producer: Rev. Bryan S. Breault

Recorded and Mixed by: Roy A. Clark

Arrangements by: Roy A. Clark

Additional Arrangement by: Benjamin Bigney

Mastered by: Jon Stuart

Lead Vocals: Matthew Blake Small, Rachel Lachance

Back-up Vocals: Jon Mellen, Sarah Morrow,
M.B. Small, R. Lachance

Children's Vocals: Mike Lennox, Laura Toppi

Keyboards: Roy A. Clark

Guitar: Gil Donatelli

Recorded during July and August, 2000,
at Pine Point Studios in Otisfield, Maine.

Photography by Sueli Gaewsky, Eric C. Smith and Bryan S. Breault

Graphic Design by Eric C. Smith

This project was made possible
 by the generosity of a friend of Pilgrim Lodge.

 All vocalists on this album have been campers at Pilgrim Lodge
 and donated their talent to the project.

Proceeds support the ministry of Pilgrim Lodge.