The genuine laughter blended together in true friendship in the hall at Sycamore Presbyterian Church on Coalfield Road in Midlothian, VA. Four local moms have been on an amazing vocal journey since meeting in 2006 during a women’s retreat through the church. Three of the ladies are members of the church.

Since then, Jeanne Patton, Candice McGarvey, Beth Webb and Leslie Brewer formed One Voice and committed 18 months to compiling a CD, juggling recording sessions in a Mechanicsville studio while maintaining the usual frenzied routine of family life as a working mom. “It took a life of its own,” Patton said. “We’re amazed.”

Audible refuge is one way to describe the four voices intertwined with piano accompaniment provided by church piano player Jean Weir on the group’s CD called “Glimpses of Truth.” The CD sold out within the first week of its release in November and has almost sold out of its second release. “We learned a lot,” Patton said. “The biggest thing is how much God has blessed us when we made it about Him.”

All agreed the positive feedback from the community has reflected the give-and-take of the vocals within the songs. “I have to say—and my degree was in opera so blending is not my forte—when we sang for the first time, my goodness, we blended immediately. The timbre, the quality of voices, was amazing,” Patton said.

“I had my first solo in ninth grade, and have sang in big mega churches, and have been singing all my life, and I’ve never been in an ensemble where the voices blend like this,” Brewer said. “My mom noticed it’s singing with taffy. There is a dynamic.”

They added that Weir was the “unsung” hero in highlighting the smooth transitions among the four voices. “She’s been here since the beginning of the project,” Patton said.

“A project like this reflects the efforts of many people, and we’re grateful for all of them,” McGarvey added. The group also appreciates Associate Music Director at Third Presbyterian Church, and studio owner Kim Taulbee for his direction and additional vocals on several songs.

Their appreciation extends to Shawn Allen for his coaching and Melissa Prior for her help on designing the CD jacket as well as to the many other church members who provided encouragement.

“There were plenty of times when we had to meet during the workday, so we needed help with the younger kids. As the only local grandmother in the group, Beth’s mom graciously has taken care of every one of the under-12 kids at some point or another. And then there are some crucial ‘adopted’ grandmothers who have been so helpful along the way,” McGarvey said.

Most of all, the group appreciates the support of their husbands Tom Patton, Greg Brewer, Neal Webb, and Stephen McGarvey and the four families’ nine children ranging in age from 2 to 18, with only one older than 12.

“Our husbands have been amazing supporters, and not just because every hour we spent in rehearsal or at the studio that someone had to take care of all our children,” McGarvey said. “They have been valuable sounding boards as we made decisions along the way. We’re married to some great guys!”

The experience has brought a lot of laughter for the women. “There is such a joy in hearing the sound,” Brewer said.

The CD offers a dozen songs that speak of faith and spirituality. “All the songs have different meanings for us,” Patton said. For McGarvey, her solo “He’s Always Been Faithful” was a challenge to perform. “It’s become a life song for me. The line ‘I can’t remember a trial or a pain he did not recycle to bring me gain,’ the message is so powerful sometimes I completely believe it, and sometimes I need the reminder,” she said.

When she first recorded the lyrics she didn’t think the song fit her voice. “I was against the word sheet [in studio] so no one could see me reliving the trials and pains. It was a very emotional song,” McGarvey said.

Webb concurred that each song has a special meaning for those who listen as well. “With each song on the CD, it’s not the song, but the message,” Webb said. “We think that is why it resonates with so many. The amount of men that have come up to us and have told us they have cried to the CD. I think it is because it has a religious message … Jesus is faithful in the hard times; it hits on those points.”

The group has received many written notes that share how the CD has been a comforting ministry for family members going through illnesses or tough times as well as an inspiring gift of faith to others. “A friend of mine Facebooked me; she had bought a couple and wanted more,” Brewer said. “She said she wanted to thank me and that ‘I love to be able to give a gift I love.’”

The group will be performing at the Friday night, January 22nd service in the Sycamore Church Mid-Winter Meetings series, “Living In Grace”, featuring the Reverend Paul Koistra, retired coordinate of the PCA Mission To The World Committee. Concert will begin at 7:00PM and the worship service will start at about 7:30PM.

To learn more about One Voice or hear several songs, visit them on Facebook.com at Onevoicequartet.

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