While others sit at home and watch TV Monday evenings, three generations of handbell ringers make mesmerizing sounds at North Main Street Church of God in Butler. The church bell choir is preparing for Mother's Day.

Karen Wehr of Butler started playing in the choir nearly 20 years ago.

“I had a little musical background and wanted to learn,” says Wehr. “I just like the sound.”

Wehr's daughter, Elaine Weaver of Renfrew, followed her mother's lead and has been playing for about 12 years.

Weaver said, “I played handbells at my church in West Virginia. I like the sheer joy of it.”

Elaine Weaver recently recruited her son, Lawrence Weaver, a student at Butler High School, to join his family in bell ringing.

Lawrence's sisters, Nicole Weaver, a student at Edinboro University, and Becky Weaver, a student at Westminster College, also play in the bell choir when they are available.

“It's an honor to have my children and grandchildren play,” said Wehr. “Families nowadays are not close. This is something we do together.”

The church purchased the bells and started a youth bell choir more than 30 years ago. The current 13-member adult bell choir plays three or four times a year. For Mother's Day, the group will play arrangements of “In Christ Alone” and “Allelujah, Amen.”

Carol Raisley, a teacher at Chicora Elementary School, is the director of the bell choir and part of the music ministry staff at the church. She is also Weaver's cousin.

“I'm playing and directing,” said Raisley. “I have been playing handbells for 25 years, at least.”

Brandon Lenhart, senior pastor at the church, believes handbells enrich the service.

“It adds a different facet,” said Lenhart. “It adds a depth of worship and adds to the mix.”

Wearing the extra-large white gloves, Lawrence Weaver is learning quickly to manage the largest bells. One of Lawrence's bells has a diameter of 8 1/8 inches.

The church's four-octave set came from what is now Malmark in Plumsteadville, Pa.

According to Tim Schuback of Malmark, traditionally, men play the larger, heavier, lower-toned bells. Although the largest bell at the church weighs just four pounds, Lawrence's job starts to become heavy lifting as a rehearsal or performance progresses.

“It's not about the weight, it's control of the weight,” said Schuback. “Imagine writing with a pen that weighs four pounds. Your penmanship starts looking like a doctor's. It's precision and timing and dynamic. And normally people don't just play one bell.”

He said the weight becomes cumulative, and even the small bells weighing several ounces each can become heavy.

“People may play four bells in one hand,” said Schuback.

While ringing the bells, players use different techniques including hitting bells with mallets, silencing them against the table and ringing them in the “tower swing.”

The bell gains momentum and a sensation of greater weight in the tower swing because the arm holding the bell is more fully extended. This makes an echo effect.

“It is up to the players to work their magic and invoke their creative spirit,” said Schuback.

“I think it's awesome that they are still playing handbells,” said Raisley about her relatives. “Everyone is scattered. We come together for the Lord.”

It takes incredible coordination and concentration to master handbells. On top of that, Raisley sometimes has the players sing in harmony and play handbells at the same time.

Representing three generations, Karen Wehr, Elaine Weaver and Lawrence Weaver are up to the challenge.

“I haven't heard a wrong note yet,” said Lenhart.