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Readers:

Gannon Greene YES Andrew Hill YES Luke Crawford YES Don Rhoads YES Jeremy Beard YES Melissa Mueller YES Cindy Crawford YES Drew Snodgrass YES

They've asked me to put together another Easter sunrise service, whether or not the sun comes up this Easter. I think we'll do something similar to what we've done the last two years, gleaning memories from our local congregation. The theme: The Faith of My Grandparents.

To you folks...Would you mind scanning your memory banks with the following questions... ---What does the faith of my grandparents mean to me today? ---What memories do I have of my grandparents in church or perhaps going to church with my grandparents if this implies. Don't avoid the humorous! ---What do you remember about the faith of your grandparents? Please be specific...an audience likes specifics.

I realize that some of us may not have known our grandparents, not known them well, or perhaps knew them but knew nothing of their faith. If that's the case, I don't mean to embarrass you by asking...but if you could please think on these things and some time shoot me an email with your thoughts...or send them to me some other way. Let these sweet memories warm you in this dog-freezing weather. In Christ... Ken p.s. And please...if you have the email address of anyone else in our church, please pass this along. I don't have that many and I want to include as many folks as possible.

Melissa Mueller: From me:  sadly I know even less about my Grandma Green, she may have been a very devoted Christian but "she never let on"
 
From Delbert:  His Grandma & Grandpa Mueller were proud to have been Charter Members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Bluffs.  They left the local Missouri Synod Church at Neeleyville to found this sweet little church in town.  As children they attended the Neeleyville Lutheran School where only German was spoken, grew up there and were married there.  For whatever reason they joined the exodus at a time when you could build an entire new church for $2800.00 and remained members there for the rest of their lives.
 
Delbert's Grandma Hamilton attended the Chapin Christian Church.  After his grandpa died Grandma lived with his family and he preferred her minister, the Rev. Wilson, to the one in Bluffs so he liked to take her to her church.  
 
One of my favorite stories is about Delbert's father.  
 
Good Luck, God Bless and Thank You for The Spirit of Lincoln...you and your company were brilliant  
 
Melissa Mueller

My grandparents always lived a long way from me.  I never knew my maternal grandparents but my mother spoke  of her parents and their traditions and experiences.

Since I didn't spend much time, on a daily basis with any of my grandparents, the way I really know about their faith is through the faith of their children, my parents.  I had parents who made sure that the family was in church and Sunday School EVERY Sunday. When I was about 5 years old, we lived within walking distance of the church.  We only had one car. I remember walking to Sunday School, with my dad.  My brother was still very small and so my mom would stay at home with him until it was time for church and then drive over. My dad would go to the adult class and I would go to mine.  The church we attended, the Episcopal Church, was a very small one. Like the Arenzville UMC. At one point, I was the only child in the Sunday School class.  One lady, Elizabeth George, would show up, faithfully, each Sunday, just for me.  She had her flannel board with the paper cut outs and she would give me a lesson. My parents were active in their church, always.  Singing in the choir, and my dad was a lay leader. If there was something going on at the church, we were involved, we were there. More than that, though, was the everyday faith. Thanking God at each meal. My mother would remind me that I should always let go of my troubles and give them to God. That He would carry them for me. When my dad would be preparing to give a sermon, he would practice it with my mom, and she always listened and encouraged him.

Grandpa said this was true. There was a revival in town and our neighbor Bob was quite a drinker, but he went to the revival. The preacher was really wound up shouting about the evils of booze. He said, “We must take all that evil liquor and throw it in the river!” At the end of the sermon he asked if anyone had a song they wanted the congregation to sing. Bob stood up and said, “Yeah! Shall we gather at the river?”

Hi Ken,  The faith of my, parents, and Grandparents means everything to me. I notice it 
becoming more important as I age.  Think that is pretty normal for many folks.

Both of my Grandpa's died when I was 5 and 6, so I don't seem to have a clear memory of 
their faith, other than to say my Paternal Grandpa always prayed before we ate a meal 
when we were in their home.

My Paternal Grandma,  

My father's name was Ernest Vincent 
Strickler.  Most people called him Ernie or E.V.  However, Grandma always said Ernest.


My Maternal Grandfather died when I was 5.  I remember him being loving to me, but I do 
not remember him being a Church person.  His wife, and my Grandma Always went to Grace 
Chapel Church, which was a Country Church located in the Arcadia area.

Years later Grandma lived in Arenzville,  moved her Church membership, and always 
worshipped in the Arenzville Methodist Church.  She lived where Gene and Sue farmer do 
today.  I was privileged to know her, while I was a young adult, and she helped a lot 
while John & I were rearing our children.  On days when I would mow the yard, she would 
stay in the house while our children napped.  She also helped, as did my Mother can 
vegetables from our garden.   Hull peas, snap beans etc.


I treasure those years I had with her when I was a young adult, and she would share with 
me her faith, and how her strength came from the Lord.  I have read several testimonies', 
in her own hand writing, to her faith, I found in her Bible which has almost 
disintegrated.  There was no doubt she was sustained by her Lord.  All these memories are 
very dear, and precious to me.

Grandma, Ellen Elizabeth Goodpasture Wiswell, told me often of her parents faith, trust, 
and obedience in Jesus Christ.  So you see I have a very deep rich heritage of faith in 
Christ, and I'm grateful.  It put me on the path to my own personal relationship with 
Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior.  I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.  
Sorry this is much longer than I expected.  Hope some of it will be helpful to you.

Thanks again for all you do, in Christ's Name, for Arenzville United Methodist.  Maxine

Tim Rhoads: