100 year celebration

I debated about not even posting anything about the significance of this past weekend. I am not a gifted writer, wasn't sure I would be able to do it justice. But I decided to forget about it and just write what it meant to me.

The main reason the boys and I went to my parents' this particular weekend was because the congregation I grew up in, Lockport Mennonite Church, was celebrating it's 100th Anniversary. It was an amazing weekend. Saturday evening there was a cookout followed by a worship service. During the service the choir sang. This choir was for anyone who had previously or presently sings in the choir, probably 50-60+ people. The choir was conducted by William Eash who is on the music faculty at Bethel College in Newton, KS. The choir had about an hour and a half to rehearse and they sounded great! William Eash spent some of his childhood years at Lockport and his father and my grandfather sang in a gospel quartet together at one time. He was amazing! Conducted with such energy and passion. He also led the congregational songs. The church was packed with people who currently attend Lockport as well as many who attended at one time or another. So many wonderful voices singing these beautiful accupela hymns. Just unbelievable! Music is something I really miss at the church we are currently attending. Carson loved the music and would "conduct" during the songs as well. The Sat. service also had a slide show and some skits telling some of Lockport's history. The boys and I had to miss some of this service, bed was calling.

Sunday morning had some great congregational singing. The first two hymns, Come, Thou Font and Breath on me Breath of God, were ironicly the same two I had helped lead at our church the Sunday before, but oh my goodness, how different they sounded!! Our church with maybe 50 people where often all you hear is the melody (I really miss the great 4 part harmony!) and me leading with two other people; I enjoy singing but I'm not a song leader and at Lockport with probably 3-400(?) people and William Eash leading; really no comparison. There was also a children's lesson by "Bert & Ernie" - something the two pastors (Allen Rutter & Jim Groeneweg) often did when I was a child and an introduction of former pastors. The Sunday school hour was filled with a number of people telling how Lockport shaped their life; two of which were my cousins - Joel & Jackie, and my great Aunt Sarah. I really enjoyed hearing their memories of Lockport, some were memories of mine as well.

There was a potluck meal after church. I. Love. Mennonite potluck meals! So many wonderful things to chose from. Dad, Mom, Tricia, the boys and I ate our lunch in one of the children's Sunday school rooms. We ate at small tables sitting on small wooden chairs that I had many years ago sat on for Sunday school. We did this mainly so it would be easier for the boys to eat.

After the potluck was a service filled with singing. Nine different singing groups that originated out of Lockport at one time or another each sang two songs. The Good News Quartet my Dad and Uncle LaVon sang in for 20+ years sang. It was great to hear them sing again. They always have so much fun singing together. Made me remember all those times traveling in the bus with the quartet. This group of men and their families were (and still are) very special to me.

On Sunday, we were at church from approximatley 9:15 - 3:30. That was a lot of church time for the boys. But they really did pretty well. With the help of Mom, Dad, Tricia, the women in the nursery, the MYF (youth group) which Andrew played outside with during the Sunday school hour, we made it through this time! During the afternoon service, Carson fell asleep in my Mom's arms. She looked over at me and said "When was the last time he slept in your arms for a nap?" I really don't know. But before I knew it, Andrew was asleep in my arms! I really don't know when that happened last!

I think the impact of this 100 year celebration didn't really hit me until I was driving home Monday morning. Carson was sleeping, Andrew watching a show on his DVD player, and I had some quiet time with the road ahead of me. I became really emotional thinking about the weekend and the years I spent at Lockport. Many of my extended family attended Lockport, infact only 1 out of my 7 Aunts and Uncles attend a different church. The people that attend Lockport also became my extended family so to speak. I really appreciate the emphasis on family and community there. I love coming home to Lockport. The singing at Lockport is always wonderful and truly magnificent this past weekend. We had several terrific pastors during the time I spent there; one of which was my great Uncle Walter Stuckey and Allen Rutter was there the majority of the time I spent there and married Chad & I. So thankful for my christian family in which I was raised and this great group of people.

Perhaps the reason I felt so emotional during my drive is because I just don't get those same feelings at the church we attend now. Granted we have only been attending there a little over a year, in comparison with my 18+ years that I actually regularly attended Lockport. But this weekend really made me want something more.