WEYBURN (Qu’A) — In February 1990, Rev. Ken Buchan, then priest at All Saints, asked Weneen Georgeson if she would cover for their current organist. Georgeson replied, “I can only give you three weeks.”
She was already an experienced organist, having started in her home parish at Govan when she was just 12 years old.
As often happens, the three-week commitment stretched, in Georgeson’s case, to about 35 years. “Weneen became a major part of our congregation,” says Deacon Debbie Hubick. “It’s not a job for her; it’s a ministry. She led our group of song leaders, and practised with the group, having already practised the music by herself.”
Hubick recalls that Georgeson would always bring a special devotion to pray before the practice. “She helped get our minds and spirits ready to address the Lord in music.” Hubick says it was important to her to be “properly prepared, and her heart and soul were in it.”
Georgeson says that through the years she has played for more than 100 funerals. She said she “felt honoured to be asked to play at funerals,” and often helped the families choose appropriate music.
She said that her love of gospel music brought her to the church. Of her music, she said, “I hope it spoke to people and resonated in their soul.” One parishioner commented, “When I hear her playing, it makes my soul sing.”
When speaking of her 35 years as organist at All Saints, Georgeson says, “I enjoyed every moment, but it’s time to wind down.” She wants to be able to spend more time with her family, which often came second to church commitments while she was organist.
She and her husband, Yegori, moved around quite a lot in the early years of their marriage, and eventually settled in Turtleford before moving to Weyburn. She often played the church organ in the towns where they lived.
Last summer, All Saints held a party and celebration to mark Georgeson’s retirement. There was special music during the service, including a duet with her granddaughter, Katia Georgeson, on saxophone, and another with Rev. Brian Buydens on cello. The song leaders and occasional organist/pianist sang Georgeson’s favourite hymn, To God be the Glory, at her retirement party.
Before she officially retired, Georgeson recorded some songs for the parish to use during services, so her music continues to be heard in All Saints. Hubick concludes, “Weneen fulfilled a ministry that gave her — and gave all of us — joy in worshipping.” The true gift of her ministry is that she helped people to worship.
