An enjoyable Association meeting

This afternoon, we attended a Windham-Union Association meeting in Newfane, VT. I was concerned that no one would be there because several had sent out emails saying they could not come. It had been announced as a "mask optional" gathering, and I think some folks decided that was risky. We are experiencing an Omicron sub-variant surge in Vermont. But it was a respectable turn-out: ten churches were represented, and maybe thirty people. The windows were open, fans going, and people were separated in the pews. The "program" was a potpourri of music, provided by various churches. Churches had been invited to provide something from their musical talent, but Peter Amidon had been very sick with the flu (not COVID) and had decided not to come, so there was nothing from Guilford. But Newfane, the host church, had a bell choir, two soloists, and a very talented pianist; Springfield and Dummerston had guitar-playing pastors who sang; Grafton had a remarkable pianist. So it was actually quite nice, and just the right length program. About 45-50 minutes of music and a little "business." There was a magnificent spread of food afterward, but we didn't stay - John and Cynthia were coming for supper. So we got back home to prepare for their coming. It was quite warm today - about 86 degrees - but about the time J&C arrived, it started to rain, and it cooled down. So we were comfortable, and had a good visit.

Rev. Robert Hamm, pastor of the Newfane Church and Moderator of the Association, welcoming the group.

The Newfane Bell Choir************************************************* Earlier in the day, we went to church in Guilford and sang in the choir. We sang. "Jehovah Sabaoth," one of the gospel pieces we did with Kathy Bullock in the River Singers concert a week ago, Saturday. It's a beautiful piece, but we didn't really have time to learn it - some of us knew it well, but others were seeing it for the first time this morning. And there were two other anthems this morning as well. So it was no more than "o.k." We'll have to do it again, and do it justice. Our pianist this morning in Guilford was Franz Robert, a prodigiously talented young African-American man who was the organist in Dummerston for several years back when he was just a teen-ager and I was directing the choir. I hadn't seen him for years and it was great both seeing and hearing him again.

Franz Robert. ******************************************************** After church, we went up the road a bit to the Christ Church cemetery. A former member of the Guilford Church when Shirley and I were pastors - 25 years ago - who had long since moved to North Carolina, had called me a few days ago and asked if I could visit her husband's grave in the Christ Church cemetery and say a prayer. He died a couple of years ago and wanted to be buried in Guilford, and his wife, Linda, had hoped to visit his grave this month. But she was not able to make the trip. So she called me, and I said I would do that for her. So today, I did, and Ellen came with me and we cleaned the gravestone a bit - the lawn mower had left a lot of grass stuck onto the surface - I prayed, and we took some pictures to send to Linda.

By Cliff's grave