Monday October 13, 2008

 

 

Trip Home from Western New York

Sunday

 

We left the motel at 5:30 a.m., so it was a few hours before we could see the beautiful, colored leaves.  The morning fog made them even more beautiful.

 

 

 

 

The reason we got up so early, was to attend this church in Morris, Pennsylvania.

 

 

We were not familiar with the church, but knew the group that was bringing the morning worship service.  Eunice Landis (red top) is Sam Rittenhouse’s daughter.  (Sam was traveling with us.)

 

 

Playing Harmonica

 

 

Playing Piano

 

 

While listening to the group practice, I joined the others for coffee and pastry in the fellowship hall – an extension to the sanctuary, and an overflow area.  While sitting at the table, I noticed all the quilted pieces that decorated the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When talking to the lady in the kitchen, I noticed the quilt drop that closed the kitchen from the fellowship hall.

 

 

She offered to drop it so I could take a photo.

 

 

 

 

 I continued finding quilted pieces in the hallway and Sunday school rooms.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the pastor’s wife noticed my interest in the quilts, she asked if I ever heard of an “Ugly Quilt.”  I had not (nor had the ladies in the background whose spouses were practicing for the musical part of the program) so she proceeded to show us.

 

 

These knotted comforts are made into sleeping bags for homeless people, and are called Ugly Quilts because they are dark and fairly unattractive so the homeless will not steal each others bag. 

 

 

Men’s ties are attached and used to tie the quilt in a roll.

 

 

The interior is made of a warm flannel, or flannel-like material.

 

 

Each bag includes a sweatshirt and devotional book or Christian magazine.

 

 

 

 

She also showed us their closet full of knotted comforters.  Most are given to needy families.  She told us about seven or eight that went to a family whose home was destroyed by fire.

~~~

By this time the service was about ready to begin, so I found a seat, and Cerwin and Sam soon joined me.  A minute or two later, I noticed two ladies enter the sanctuary.  I looked at the older woman a second time, and thought, “I know her from Xanga!” 

 

 

I thought that I may make a fool of myself, but went to where she was sitting and said, “I think I know you.”  She looked at me slightly puzzled, but when I asked if I know her from Xanga, she said, “You are Doris!”  So I knew I had the right person.

She is Buckeyegirlie’s mother and PollythePatchworker’s mother-in-law!

 

 

 With her daughter-in-law

 

 

 With her son

 

 

 It was the highlight of my day to meet SweetMama.  She doesn’t post many entries, but I was aware that she reads my blog, and I have seen her photo on her family’s posts.

 

 

 Sam Rittenhouse and Lowell Moyer

It was fun to surprise Lowell and Elaine Moyer – friends who live in the area.  They do not attend this church, but we thought they may be here this morning, because several in the music group are friends of theirs.

 

 

 Cerwin with Elaine Moyer

 

 

Morning worship service

 

 

 Leroy – group leader – told a children’s story using a recent fishing experience.  In this photo he is talking about the weight of a fishing line.

 

 

 The fish he caught during this fishing trip was a forty-pound shark.

 

 

 Following the service we stayed for lunch, which included shark nuggets.  It was delicious.

 

 

We would have liked to visit longer, but still had several hours of driving.

 

 

 

 

 It was a beautiful day.