Garden Spot townlively.com
AUGUST 9, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 33
Three centuries of worship Weaverland celebrates with bus tours and more BY ANN MEAD ASH
n the back of the church where the Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community meets at 210 Weaverland Valley Road, East Earl, there is a hallway decorated with historical plaques dedicated to the faith story of Weaverland. “There is a tremendous history and story of God’s faithfulness even through World War I and World War II,” said Brian Martin, lead pastor and bishop, who recounted how pacifists were jailed during World War I, but during World War II lent their talents to the community in work camps due in part to the farm furlough plan, which was written by Weaverland members Israel B. Good and Ben Weaver, working with Congressman William Griest. “We have a copy of a handwritten letter from Woodrow Wilson (dated Nov. 19, 1917), noting I.B. Good and Ben Weaver and calling the bill a good thing,” said Brian. On Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, the church will celebrate “300 Years of God’s Faithfulness”
I
with an event that will include bus tours, worship, a fellowship meal and presentation, and cemetery tours. The celebration is based on the arrival of the three Weber brothers from Switzerland on the 3,000 acres they were granted by William Penn in 1723 in what is now called the Weaverland Valley. Weaver is the anglicized version of the German Weber. On Oct. 7, bus tours will leave the church at 9 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Tour guide Ken Sensenig, known for his historical knowledge and storytelling abilities, will lead tour takers to more than a dozen sites, including early homes along Weaverland Road, the Peter Martin Cabin, the Pike Meetinghouse, the Groffdale Mennonite Church, and several cemeteries, including the Old Weberthal Cemetery. Lunch will be included with both tours. Individuals interested in taking part may visit www.weaverland.org and click on “Anniversary Weekend Events” to register. There is a cost to take a tour. On Oct. 8, worship services at 8 and
Members of the Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community 300th anniversary committee are (from left) Earl Weaver, Ken Martin, Lamar Zimmerman, Brian Martin, and Ken Sensenig.
10:30 a.m. will include “Remembering Our Story,” with Keith Weaver, retired LMC - a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches - moderator and bishop, followed by “Pressing Forward in Christ” with Rodney Martin, member of the LMC bishop elder team, and “Inviting Our Story to Be My Story,” by Brian. A fellowship meal following the second service will feature author
and historian John Ruth presenting “This Very Ground, This Crooked Affair.” “In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of the two cemeteries here (at the church),” said Brian, who noted the tours will be led by Sensenig. Brian, who, like many church members, can trace his family heritage back to early settlers in the area,
noted that the first church, a log cabin, was built at the present location in 1733. A stone building was constructed in 1766. “There have been a number of builds over the years,” said Brian, with the present building dating to 1926. “We have expanded at least three times since it was built,” said Brian, who added that the church was See Weaverland pg 3
A peachy tradition
Sisters in deed Ministry helps women around the world
BY ANN MEAD ASH
GDN
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Members of Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church are organizing the annual Peach Fest, which includes food, a flea market, and a silent auction.
Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Route 322 and Route 897 in East Earl, has held a peach festival each August for many years. During COVID-19 restrictions, the event was toned down to include only church members and church attendees, but in 2022, the public festival returned. For 2023, the Peach Fest, as it is now called, will be held at the church on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. As in the past, the event will feature a flea market, book sale, silent auction,
Kathy Baker, who oversees the LuoPad ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New Holland, has an unusual request. “We are asking the community to donate gently used towels,” said Baker, who has already asked parish members for donations. “They can be any size towels, hand towels, or washcloths,” she continued. “We can’t use bathmats because they are too thick.” Baker is seeking the towels for a group of about a dozen women who meet at the church, 150 Water St., New Holland, the last three
Thursdays of each month in the morning. The group creates LuoPads, washable, reusable feminine hygiene pads, for Unto, an organization that provides humanitarian aid to developing countries. Unto has a Global Logistics Center in Mount Joy. “This is our little workshop,” said Baker, gesturing around the room at the church where volunteers were hard at work creating the pads. Baker explained that the kits the women complete include about six finished pads, a washcloth, two pairs of underwear, and more in a bag. Pads come in large, medium,
See Cedar Grove pg 4
WATERPROOF
PRICE DROP
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
JULY 27 - SEPTEMBER 2 martinsflooring.com
See Ministry pg 2
SAVE BIG 20 % AALL
*
LUXURY VINYL CARPET HARDWOOD TILE
OFF IN-STOCK PRODUCTS ZERO IN INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 36 MONTHS CLEAN TWO ROOMS AND GET ONE FREE
6HH VWRUH IRU VDOH RႇHU DQG ¿QDQFH GHWDLOV PA00591
R097631
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER AUG. 9, 2023
Postal Patron