The Hands of Joy Sign Language Choir was started at the request of a deaf couple who began attending St Matthew United Methodist Church in 1985. Diana Williams began interpreting the church services for them and started a beginner's sign language class so church members could learn to communicate with the couple. Numerous members of that class began to meet as a choir, then 3 months later the choir signed Silent Night at their first Christmas Eve service. The rest, as they say, is history.
The choir has been made up of hearing, hard of hearing and deaf members. Some have been interpreters and others have learned to sign just from being in the choir. Some have had deaf children or partners while others have learned to sign for the joy and beauty of interpreting songs. Several have decided to become interpreters and have completed their training at Phoenix College and continue to work in the deaf community. Students from PC have come to observe the choir practicing and even joined the choir for a semester or two.
Hands of Joy has signed all over the state of AZ from Flagstaff to Green Valley, from the eastern border of the state to Blythe, CA. They have performed numerous times for the City of Phoenix's MLK Celebration, opened Diamondback baseball games with the National Anthem, presented concerts at the Salvation Army, UMOM Day Center, Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church, various denominational churches throughout the valley and many RV parks and assisted living facilities. They have taped several segments for Sign Out, a TV show produced by KAET that gave notice of city and state activities for the deaf community. All of the presentations are done at no charge but with the mission statement in heart and mind - to spread the awareness of deafness and the love of sign language, and to share the love of Jesus Christ. The choir is an ecumenical group meaning various denominations are represented in the choir and no one is excluded.
The choir is available for concerts throughout the year and can be scheduled by contacting the director, Gail Hahn, at aghahn79@outlook.com. Programs are tailored to the requestor's need.
"I invited 4 friends and they were blown away by the concert. I've been trying to get them to come for the last 2 years.
One said it was the best service he has attended in several years, and meant it whole heartedly. All 4 said after the fourth song, they all had tears in their eyes. They were so full of feeling and emotion.
They also said that David (soloist) showed so much emotion on his face you could really "feel" his song and his signs. They thought he was incredible.
They are now looking forward to Christmas."
Comments from attendees Spring 2024
"I enjoyed the entire concert and was brought to tears by the beautiful way the soloist signed "O Holy Night."
"We all really enjoyed it! It made our weekend!"
"GREAT concert this year...Congratulations."
"What a great job all of you did with the concert! I absolutely loved every part of it!"
"The concert was fabulous. I am so glad I came."
"Perfect song selection."
"You all did an awesome job! Beautiful! Thank you for performing it."
"What a fabulous concert today!"
Comments from attendees Christmas 2023
"It was absolutely beautiful!! ...GREAT JOB! TWO THUMBS UP! It is gratifying to see how everyone keeps progressing more with their sign clarity and crispness and with their expression every year. This year, especially, it seemed that choir members are allowing their emotions to shine through on their faces as they sign the songs, which in turn moves the audience. I was moved to tears a couple of times as a result of watching facial expressions of the choir. BUT also, for much of the time while watching, I had a big smile on my face, as did so many others in the audience.
It was so nice that the newer members were brave enough to get up there. They all did so well, too! Some told me they were nervous, but I saw no indication of nervousness. It was a lovely, inspiring concert. Beautiful!"
Long time HOJ Supporter
"Wonderful, uplifting concert"
"It has prepared my heart for Christmas."
"That was an absolutely fabulous concert! Thank you for coordinating and all the signers could not have been better."
"...the concert this afternoon was wonderful...beautiful songs, lovely choir members. I am so glad I was able to attend today."
"It was truly phenomenal."
Comments from attendees Christmas 2022
On Sunday afternoon I had the privilege of sitting in the back of the sanctuary (like any good Lutheran) and watching and listening to the Hands of Joy Sign Language Choir.
The theme of the worship concert was the Fruit of the Spirit. We find the Fruit of the Spirit in the letter to the Galatians and they are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (you can find a similar list in Colossians 3:12-13). The choir director Gail asked us to listen to the songs and see if we could match the songs to one or more of the Fruit of the Spirit, so it was fun to listen to the music, watch the choir sign, and think about how each song had a link to each of the ‘fruit’.
It was nice to listen to and really meditate on the Fruit of the Spirit. I think we all know in general what the Fruit of the Spirit are, yet I don’t think we think about them necessarily as often as we could or in context in what the letter is trying to convey. Just before we get the fruits we are encouraged to live by the Spirit and to avoid the desires of the flesh. The reason for that is that the author says is that they are opposed to each other. Here is what is opposite of the fruits of the Spirit (coming from the Common English Bible translation): The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that.
So, we are not only to try our best to follow the fruits, but we are also called to avoid the things of the flesh. That’s not to say that we won’t do those fleshy things, but it is a good reminder to have them both in mind to know that part of doing the Fruit of the Spirit ALSO means avoiding those things of the flesh. It is also a reminder and a call to be loving and forgiving of one another because we know that we do and will fall on either side of these lines at different times in our lives, even daily. In fact, Galatians continues by telling us that very thing: that we should restore people who are doing wrong, and we are supposed to do it with a spirit of gentleness and that we should all carry one another’s burdens.
These are powerful words and I pray that you see them as words of hope and reconciliation and not as a word of judgement. They are meant to help us in our spiritual walk and in our mutual growth, so that we may be healthier as individuals and as communities of faith.
I was certainly uplifted and encouraged by the music, the signing, and by all those who came and were also positively influenced by the work of the Spirit through this wonderful choir. We thank Hands of Joy and their director, Gail, for a blessed worship experience.
Easter Blessings,
Pastor B
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