When Lisa Rucker was a student at Lakeland High School, she was chosen to play the timpani. The reason? She was the only member of the band who had the ability to tune the drum during a performance.
“You don’t have to have perfect pitch,” Lisa explained, just the ability to block out the sounds made by the instruments around you and listen to yours.
Lisa is now Lisa Gurley, and the vocal music teacher at Lakeland Schools for kindergarten through 12th grades. On Tuesday, June 17, she will be the speaker at the Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon at First Assembly of God church.
Lisa’s topic: tuning your life to the voice of God.
Raised in a Christian home surrounded by music, Lisa learned how to take care of her spirit, and to be aware of the spiritual warfare that has to be fought on your knees.
“I learned how prayer moves the hand of God,” she said.
The timpani is actually tuned by foot, using a pedal that adjusts the tension of the drumhead to change the sound of the drum. To tune it during a performance requires an ability to shut out the sounds of the other instruments around you, and hear only the voice of the drum.
In addition to drums, Lisa plays the piano, bass guitar, guitar and tenor sax. She attended State Fair Community College and has an elementary education degree from the University of Central Missouri. She attends Ohio Christian Church in Lowry City, where she plays the piano and organ.
For 35 years, Lisa sang at fairs and funerals in a gospel trio, the Jubilee Singers, with her mother, Carol Rucker, and Jackie Stinnett. Jackie passed away in March of 2024. Lisa also displayed versatile skills on the family farm, where she helped raise hogs and cattle.
“I worked in the fields, driving a combine, and farrowed horses,” she said.
The June CWC luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall, with check-in at 11:30 a.m. Park in back and use the back door of the church, 1506 E. Ohio, Clinton, Mo. 64735. June is also a celebration of birthdays, with the tables decorated with balloons and birthday cakes made by Brianna Swartz. The cakes will be given away as door prizes, so sit at the table with the cake you’d like to win.
The luncheon is catered by Melinda Dehn. Cost is $14, which includes hot entree, side dish and/or salad, roll, dessert and beverage. Make your reservation by Friday, June 13, by calling Shirley Rucker, 417-321-0013.
Christian Women’s Connection is a local group of women who meet for lunch and a program on the third Tuesday of the month, February through December. All women are welcome, and the luncheons make a perfect break from work or home routine, or a place to invite a new neighbor or an old friend.
The program ends by 1 p.m., followed by announcements and the drawings for door prizes.
Child care is available with prior notice.
If you make a reservation for lunch, and then find you can’t make it, please call Shirley and let her know.
