Out of the house!

Since getting COVID, I have not been out of the house until yesterday afternoon. Ellen decided that it would do my spirits good if we made the trip to Grandma Miller's bakery, and got some Morning Glory Muffins and chocolate eclairs. That sounded good to me, so we did it, mid-afternoon on Friday. It was a nice afternoon, and the drive was very pleasant. I decided to pay attention to churches we pass by on the round trip which took us up Rte. 30 through Newfane, Townshend and Jamaica to Rte. 100 north, then to Grandma Miller's, which is just south of Londonderry, VT., and then on through Londonderry, over Rte 11 to Rte 121, then down WIndham Hill to West Townshend, where we rejoined Rte 30, and back through Townshend, Newfane amd home. That trip took us past 5 churches that a few decades ago were all active Congregational Churches: Newfane, Townshend, Jamaica, Londonderry and Windham. I have preached in all five of those churches at one time or another during the past 50-60 years, some several times. Today, only two of those churches are still members of the Vermont Conference of the UCC: Newfane and Londonderry. Townshend was taken over by a fundamentalist group decades ago, and I don't know if they are still helding services or not. Jamaica was a Federated Church and I think it pulled out of the Conference at least ten years ago. Windham, where I have preached many times, closed its doors a few years ago. Newfane and Londonderry have small congregations but can still afford to have pastors, though I'm not sure they are full-time. The route also went by two other churches in West Townshend and South Windham which have never been Congregational. Seven churches on a 40-mile trip or so. It is ironic, because Vermont is considered one of the most "unchurched" states in the nation! But most of these churches are inactive. We also went by two defunct ski areas - Maple Valley and Magic Mountain. We went through South Londonderry - there is a church there too, uncertain what the denomination is, but you can't see it from the road. We also went off Rte 30 to South Newfane where a bridge is being rebuilt. That has been going on for ages - since Spring - and there seems to be quite a ways to go before it will be finished.

The Townshend Church.

West Townshend Bible Church.

Jamaica Federated Church.

Londonderry Congregational Church,U.C.C.

An early touch of fall color.

Newfane Congregational Church, U.C.C.

Windham Congregational Church - no longer active.

South Windham Church - uncertain status and denomination.

Grandma Miller's bakery.

My chocolate eclair - Yum!

Going through South Londonderry.

Magic Mountain Ski Area in Londonderry - defunct.

Maple Valley Ski Area - has been defunct for years. This is just a couple of miles from our house.

Bridge under construction in South Newfane