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Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.

Philippians 4:23 (The Message)

~~~

Amazing grace it is!

 

 

 

Worship in a Barn

Today, August 13

 

 

Our congregation (White Oak Church of the Brethren) always holds Harvest Meeting on the second Saturday afternoon in August.

During a winter business meeting, it was decided to hold the service in a barn this year, because many people no longer see the inside of a working barn

 

 

 

 

This farm belongs to our good friends Gerald and Joanne, along with his brother, Marlin, and his wife Marcella.

 

 

I went early to capture pictures of people arriving.

 

 

The pulpit was made of straw bales and plywood. The steps were also made with straw bales.

 

 

 

 

A few ministers checked our congregation’s history, and could not find that Harvest Meeting had ever been held in a barn – at least not since 1881 when meeting houses were built.

 

 

Harvest Meeting is an afternoon set aside to praise God for the summer harvest – whether it is a good or poor harvest.

 

 

It was eleven-day-old Ethan Wade Cassel’s first time in church.

 

 

Nevin and Glenn are probably discussing the sound system, which came from auctioneer John Stauffer. They run the sound system at church.

 

 

I missed my dad today. He would have enjoyed going to church in a barn.

 

 

Our speaker, Wayne, talking to Dave Wenger (one of our ministers).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald (center, and owner of the farm) was directing traffic.

 

 

 

 

John Myer led singing

 

 

Ron Copenhaver (minister) opened the service with devotions.

 

 

During the early part of the service, we were challenged to think about the joy of the simple things in life.

 

 

Our speaker, Wayne Hawbaker. If I did not leave my seat to take a photo, those in the pulpit were silhouetted due to the lighting from the window.

 

 

We are not used to hearing birds chirping during a worship service, nor smelling the scent of hay, straw, and cattle. There was a wonderful breeze because there was “rain in the air.”

 

 

Closing prayer.

 

 

It was good to be challenged that:

Rejoicing in the Lord is a choice.

God is our anchor.

His reward is peace.

It takes discipline to think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely.

 

 

Ron Copenhaver and our guest speaker, Wayne Hawbaker.

 

 

Marvin Shenk (Our moderating minister) and Ken Leininger. Ken is our guest speaker for Bible Conference which will begin tonight.

 

 

Visiting following the service.

 

 

Emma and Aubrey Cassel checking out the heifers below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I left by their back lane, which faces our house – about a mile across the valley – behind the tree in the center of the picture.

If you heard about the Greyhound bus accident on the Pennsylvania turnpike this morning, it was also across the valley – about two miles – just beyond that tree. We heard the sirens and saw the traffic backup it caused.

Cerwin took the chapel to a truck show today, so was unable to be at this service.

 

 

 

Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own. (Jesus)

Luke 12:15 (New Living Translation)

~~~

A great reminder

 

 

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

We sang it three times on Sunday, July 31

 

 

Hannah wanted to plan a twenty-first birthday party for Josiah, and when she asked him about it, he agreed if we included Diana as she was turning thirteen the same day. I said we should include Jordan, because he will be twenty a few days later.

 

 

So we asked each birthday person to invite their friends.

 

 

Cerwin grilled link sausage and hamburgers, and when they were about gone, he added hot dogs.

 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful evening.

 

 

The gift and card table.

 

 

It suited almost everyone who was invited.

 

 

With eight at every table – times six tables, there were at least forty-eight under the pavilion.

 

 

…and several who chose to eat at their lawn chairs.

 

~~~

 

Earlier in the week I called Lititz Family Cupboard and told them I needed a cake for fifty people.

To give them an idea for decorating I said the one common denominator was camouflage. Then I said Josiah rides a Harley, and Jordan and Diana are avid hunters. I asked that each name and birth date be somewhere on the cake.

They did an awesome job! 

 

 

We sang Happy Birthday three times.

 

 

The cake was not only decorated beautifully, it was delicious. Half was vanilla, the other half chocolate, and both were filled with raspberry mousse.

 

 

Since ice cream is a bit difficult to keep at a picnic, I ordered tapioca and decorated it with fresh raspberries because the cake was raspberry filled.

 

 

The younger ones were more impressed with the sand.

 

 

…and making sand cakes.

 

 

Ian was pleased with his sand cakes.

 

 

Time to open presents.

 

 

A camouflage hat trimmed in pink. Perfect for Diana.

 

 

And a matching shirt.

 

 

 

 

She looked at Jana to ask, “What is this?”

 

 

Jana said, “The outside is just candy and stuff, the real gift is inside.”

Finding the inside meant unwrapping lots of duct tape.

 

 

 

 

Jana enjoyed watching the process.

 

 

Josiah was next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drawn by his youngest sister, Lydia, who was at home in Maine.

 

 

A card from his parents (also in Maine).

 

 

Jordan began opening his gifts before I started taking pictures of him – trying to not be photographed.

 

 

So these are the only two pictures I have of him.

 

 

Mark and Diane, this picture is for you – Your three Maine children who are currently in Pennsylvania. (Abigail, Josiah, and Hannah.)

 

 

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

Colossians 3:23 (Good News Translation)

~~~

That should make a difference in our productivity today.

 

 

 

A Wonderful Evening

Friday, July 29

Rain & Butterflies

 

 

We were honored to be invited to the home of Morris and Audrey (Cerwin’s cousin) along with others who have supported them in prayer and with finances during their years of serving the Lord in the United Kingdom, and now in the States. Their heart and ministry is to strengthen Christian homes around the world.

It was fun connecting with people we had never met, and discovering common friends and relatives.

 

 

Following a series of dry days, we have had several welcome rainy days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am pleased that the Crepe Myrtle I purchased a year ago is blooming beautifully.

 

 

 

 

Our butterfly bush is also in full bloom, attracting many butterflies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is much summer beauty all around us.

 

 

 

Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are.

Psalm 89:1 (The Message)

~~~

I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

 

 

Home From Canada

July 25

Selling Memories

July 28

 

 

We began the day on Monday at Fort Erie Truck Stop, not far from the USA border (Canadian side), and before long were approaching a favorite restaurant for brunch.

 

 

This is beautiful, western New York, farm country.

 

 

 

 

New grain bins

 

 

Greigsville, oh, yeah! Now we are getting close.

 

 

 

 

 

The Barn is a mom and pop kind of restaurant where many locals can be found discussing the weather and their farms.

 

~~~

Selling Memories

~~~

 

A few days after arriving home, and getting things caught up in the office and shop, we went to the household and property sale at Kristen’s mother’s house. She and Jere had spent many hours at the house preparing for this day. (She has a brother who is not well, so was not able to help.) Her mom, Betty Buch, died suddenly sometime during the early morning of April 12 – here.

 

 

Cerwin (second from left) and our daughter Deb (black shirt) look over the box lots, while Jere (white & black shirt) tells someone about a boxes contents.

 

 

Jesse, Kristen, Ian, Jared, and a nephew in the background.

 

 

Nothing quite prepares anyone to sell memories. Nothing.

 

 

 

 

Jere and Kristen’s friends Darvin and Angie took care of the food stand, along with their daughter, Cierra, and Jere and Kristen’s daughter, Jana.

 

 

 

 

Jared and Ian watch from a distance.

 

~~~

Keep Jere and Kristen in your prayers. They have been through a roller coaster of emotions for the past few months.

~~~

 

 

 

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23 (Good News Translation)

~~~

That is a good reason to examine my thought pattern.

 

 

 

You Might Be a Redneck

If You Enjoy a Demolition Derby

July 24

The closing event of the Fergus Truck Show

 

 

You know the event you are attending is with a certain amount of risk when there is an ambulance or two on standby.

 

 

Honoring officials and EMTs while singing Canada’s national anthem, Oh Canada.

 

 

The winner of the best decorated vehicle.

 

 

It is never quite muddy enough for a demolition derby, so the water wagon goes through every now and then.

 

 

I had never seen a demolition derby, so found their techniques quite fascinating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the water wagon was finished on the track, it went by the spectator fence causing lots of children to run toward the water.

 

 

 

 

This one moved the large cement guard block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This caused the front row of spectators to jump and run! I was glad to be in the back row of the bleachers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was a bit concerned when fire started coming out of the hood – but nobody else seemed worried. They just let it burn out.

 

 

The car and stuffed animals were done for the day.

 

~~~

We said our goodbyes to Len and Sue – they headed southwest toward Woodstock and we headed southeast to the border at Fort Erie.

~~~