Ringing Together  

What started as a six-week experiment has become an anchor in the Kain family’s week. 

This past fall, the music ministry began a new venture: an intergenerational handbell ensemble. Comprised of youth and adults, this group was originally slated to be short-term, ending before Christmas. Instead, the ringers leaned in and created a permanent ensemble with weekly rehearsals and worship leadership periodically throughout the year.  

Madison Kain joined that handbell choir with her dad, Matt. Later in the year, they were joined by Madison’s twin sister, Hannah. Now their Wednesday nights are spent coming to choir, having dinner, and ending their evening ringing handbells together.  

“I had seen people ring handbells and always thought it was cool. Then my mom told me Christ Church was starting a handbell choir. It sounded super fun so I signed up,” said 13-year-old Madison.  

Madison plays the flute and sings in the choir. Hannah has played piano in the past, but this was the family’s first time trying handbells. They quickly discovered that handbells required far more than simply ringing a bell at the right moment.  

“Handbells take skill,” Hannah says. “I find myself having to focus and be fully involved.” 

“There are so many techniques,” Matt adds. 

Yet the challenge has become part of the joy. 

“When you get to the end of a song and you’ve played it together, there is such a sense of fulfillment,” Madison says. “It feels so good to share it.” 

One surprising joy of handbells, beyond the music, has been the gift of relationship with people from across generations, creating connections that might never happen otherwise. “You get to interact with adults that you don’t normally talk with,” Madison says. “Now we wave to each other and say ‘hi’ at church.”  

Hannah agrees, “It is interesting to talk with the adults and hear their experiences.” As a dad, Matt is particularly grateful that his kids are “known, seen, and supported by other people in the church.”   

The girls are especially glad that their dad is one of those adults in the handbell choir. Although Matt played the piano as a kid, he has not been part of a music ensemble like this. “It was so nice when we started something new and didn’t know anyone else that our dad was there with us and spending time with us,” says Hannah. For Matt, the ‘yes’ to handbells has meant that he can do something together with his girls and he says, “It being here at church is particularly meaningful.”   

Madison, Hannah, and Matt all agree that being part of the handbell choir has been a gift to their family.  They are enjoying the ringing and friendships. “It is so fun to make such a beautiful thing together,” Madison says.  

Hannah nods in agreement, “It takes work, but you get so much from it. You get music; you get a community; you get a place to be.”  

+++  When they aren’t playing handbells, these twin sisters are busy running cross-country, jumping hurdles, and singing in the choir. Madison plays the flute and Hannah is a year-round swimmer. Both girls are rising 8th-graders at Trinity Episcopal School.