A wooden church filled with country saints..............

Our goal was double figures.  For Sunday attendance that is.  In this historic wooden church built in the late 1700's and obviously updated many times since, in a farming community where no one farmed anymore and all the new neighbors were Amish (limiting evangelism success), our goal was to have at least 10 in worship on a Sunday morning.  Since the organist and I both had to be there, and we counted, only 8 others had to roll out of bed and into the parking lot by 9:10 (we always counted a bit late since several of our members were also a bit late).  One year we reported 11 in average worship attendance.  I think they counted creatively that year.

Their history went back to 1729.  They were some of the first settlers in this area known today as Palatine Bridge by the  post office, but Stone Arabia by the locals.  The parking lot was crushed stone and the water was turned off in November otherwise the water pipes would freeze.  The indoor toilet was an improvement in the 1980's but, of course, during the winter there was no toilet at all.

The organ was purchased in the late 1800's; a pipe organ that was later fitted with a vacuum cleaner motor so the 14 year old organist didn't have to pump away in order to get air to the pipes.  There was room for a choir of about 7, if you pushed the chairs close together.  None of the chancel furniture really matched each other and we used lovely seasonal silk flowers on the altar all except Christmas and Easter.  We always had a real Christmas tree and about 75 for the service on Christmas Eve.

For 17 generations, a Nellis was a member at Trinity,  Stone Arabia.  From the very beginning right through their 275th anniversary when the matriarch, Helen Nellis stood with her great-grandson, just months old, and we celebrated together a long and faithful history.

Bishop Lee Miller once told me that the synod had been of the opinion that this congregation should close for about 50 years.....and two bishops later they continue to worship together, a symbol of steadfastness there on the Stone Arabia hill. Most of the members are related through 3 extended families, so even though they can probably count only 45 sometime attendees, when the call goes out, support comes from back roads and long lost folk.  As the 'neighborhood' has changed, filled with hard working Amish families, Trinity stands strong.

This tiny congregation does ministry in partnership with St. John-St. Marks Lutheran Church in Canajoharie, just down the hill.  They share a pastor and do many things together.  Trinity can only continue because of this longstanding partnership, but do not fool yourself, this non-descript building on a windblown hill is church.

They contribute to the support of the wider church every year through their benevolence support of synod.  They feed folks in their community and through the World Hunger Appeal.  Every Christmas baskets are sent to folks who are never seen, often live alone, and who need to know they are not forgotten.  Worship is Christ centered and folks are generous.  As more and more Amish purchased farms, and fields long dormant sprouted crops once again, the people of Trinity rejoiced and gave thanks.  They reached out and made friends.  They prayed for families when tragedy struck and were advocates for them when others in the community had complaints.

How do they hold it all together?  First, they are clear that Christ is the center of what they do....and what they do is love and care  for their neighbors, both near and far.  They are generous and hard working.  The Ladies Aid (yup, they still call it that) annually puts on one craft sale and one rummage sale.  Two events known in the community.  I once called them the "3 Elderly Ladies Fund Raising Machine" but it is the support of far flung relatives and 'members' unseen for a year or two who cook up a large pan of baked beans, or make some fine butternut squash soup, or bake those unbelievable cookies that both pulls the community together and raises enough money to heat the building (very sparingly) and care for those in need.  You'd be embarrassed by how successful they are.

Sure, they bicker and trust me, memories are long....for they are sinners in need of a merciful God like us all.  But they are also saints of the living God, living out their baptismal promises in a town with high unemployment and pockets of poverty hidden behind every turn of a back country road.

For these, and for all the saints, I give thanks.