Homecoming Sunday ~ Sunday, October 12, 2009

This Sunday was our "Homecoming Sunday". We had a wonderful and large group to help celebrate, Our guest of honor was Reverend and Mrs. Ron Crouch, Reverend Crouch was a former Pastor at Groveville United Methodist and it was an honor to have him with us once again. I think he also enjoyed seeing some old friends and meeting some new ones.. He enjoyed seeing the church again, also the Parsonage, Cemetery, and Fellowship Hall. I am sure he enjoyed the wonderful "Covered Dish" Brunch we provided. It was a nice occasion.

Reverend and Mrs. Ron Crouch

When we plan a covered dish we never are at a loss for food, we have a church full of good cooks. For a meat course we had Roast Beef and Meat Loaf, after that it was salads, vegetable dishes, deserts, rolls and Butter and a variety of beverages. There is never a shortage of food.

Our group of friends enjoying the fellowship of others

Everyone filling their plates

Reverend Fran Ballenger and Friends

Reverend and Mrs Crouch and our Homecoming Cake

The cutting of our Homecoming Cake

Scout Sunday

Sunday, October 4, was our Sunday to honor our Scouts, we have two groups of Boy Scouts we Sponsor, this Sunday was our chance to show our appreciation to them for selecting us as thier sponsors, only a handful stayed for food and cake afterward.

Travis Chapel United Methodist Church, Oyster, Virginia

Every summer we vacation at least one week a year at Cherrystone Campground, Cheriton Virginia. We were invited by good friends and originally from this area, Charlie and Marlene Donnell to attend Sunday Service at their church, Travis Chapel United Methodist Church, located in Oyster, Virginia, where Charlie and Marlene now live and have for several years.

Oyster is fishing village on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, about six miles from Cherrystone on the Chesapeake Bay side. Oyster is a safe harbor, protected by a series of barrier islands. Oyster is a perfect place to retire, quiet and peaceful and a lot like Groveville, with the central portion of Oyster consisting of three streets, Sunnyside Road, Broadwater Circle and Bell Street. With Crumb Hill Road, leading to the opposite side of he harbor.

Nancy, Kati and I arrived at church about the same time as Marlene and her Mother, as others arrived we were introduced, the people were very friendly, we all chatted, most asked where we were from, and were quite pleased that we had decided to join them at church.

Marlene introduced us to their pastor, Reverend Lynda Moore, Who shares her ministry with the Cheriton United Methodist Church, about four miles away, she had only been there a short time when we were there, but was most welcoming, as everyone was. It was a very nice service, very casual, just as we are used to at Groveville United Methodist. After the service we stood around talking with our new friends, like we had known them for years, it is so nice to be so welcomed by new friends.

There seems to be a lot of history with Travis Chapel UMC and the town of Oyster, you know that interested me, but we were only there a week. If I ever leave Groveville, this is where you will find me.

I asked Marlene about the History of Travis Chapel, here is what she told me;

Travis Chapel was started in 1906. It was named for the family whose home they first met for Sunday School. First built on Seaside Rd, the chapel was moved to its present location in Oyster in 1925. Later in 1940, many people were moving off one of the barrier islands called Hog Island. This was due to the damage sustained on the islands from the storms in the 1930's. The islands were "washing away" then and continue to do so now.
Pullen's Chapel was the church on Hog Island and it was floated to Oyster and became the Sunday School/fellowship hall for Travis Chapel. Many homes from Hog Island were also floated to Oyster and the families became members of Travis Chapel.

Now this is the stuff that peaks my interest, these are the stories, that if not passed on to future generations they will be lost forever.

Travis Chapel United Methodist Church Sanctuary, small but very well maintained,

Service here is very personal, especially with the size of the Sanctuary.

Travis Chapel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall and Sunday School is attached to the rear of the Sanctuary. It is a very nice hall with a serving window to the kitchen. They do hold small functions here, a soup sale, and do some catered events for local organizations.

The church kitchen, small and neat, but very functional

Groveville UMC Vacation Bible School ~ 2009

Pam and Jeanette and those that design and create our Vacation Bible School, do such a wonderful job, those that volunteer, as helpers, Characters, and Story tellers, make this something that all the children look forward to. Then there are those of us that just show up and do what we can to help and enjoy seeing the children have such a good time, learning the Bible.

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Story Time



Reverend Fran finds someone to listen to her stories
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Story time on "Crazy Hat Night"

Stories from the Bible, by Dave Bergeron

Stories from the bible as told by Bonnie Adams

Everyone Helps

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Even the adults have fun, I think

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We were fortunate to have Rev. Shellie Pinner who is Chaplin for Pet Pals. She also is part of Mt Ephraim UMC. She told wonderful stories using her two dogs as helpers in telling these stories.

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Every one's favorite "Snack Time"

My only hope is that the Children had as much fun as we adults.

Christmas Eve ~ 2008

These are photos of our Christmas Eve, 7:00 PM Family Service. At 11:00 PM we have our Traditional Christmas Eve Service.

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The Family Service is quite nice, it is a more casual atmosphere, where the children of the church and the community are not only invited, bur are encouraged to participate in the service.

Here members of the congregation read portions of the Christmas story.

Janis Jutie-Presseau

Kati Lippincott

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This is our Youth Choir, they performed two songs during the service.

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Reverend Fran gathers the children around to hear a story. Each child was encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal to the service, these animals were used and included in the story.

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In the beginning of the service the children are given crayons and pictures of animals to color, during the service, these pictures are used during the story time.

At the close of the service we all gathered around the perimeter of the Sanctuary illuminated only by candles. Carla Muench sang Silent Night (Stille Nacht) in German, followed by the entire congregation singing Silent Night in English

This is a lovely service, just to see the children participate and enjoy the service, is worth coming to the Family Service.

Dedication of Stained Glass Windows

The afternoon Sunlight that filters through

our Stained Glass windows

and casts a beautiful

light.

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November 2, 2008, today was the re dedication of our stained glass windows.

In 1995, the Trustees of the church were faced with a problem, an expensive problem, all of the windows in the church were in need of some type of repair or restoration, some necessary and most preventive maintenance, but it was decided that the time was now. All of the windows are stained glass, all 30 windows, all with small and intricate designs.

In 1996 the trustees embarked on the task of having all of the windows completely restored. A gentleman, John Ratazak, was contracted to remove and restore all of the windows that could not be restored in place, the windows that were in dire need of repair would be done first. This task was spear headed by Ed Shelton, after Ed's passing this task was carried to its completion, in 2007 By George Goldy.

As necessary as this restoration was it was extremely costly, more than our small budget could handle. To help, financially, with this restoration the trustees devised a plan where as the windows would be restored one or two at a time, the next window to be done as the previous was completed. They also set up a process where donations were taken and could be marked to go specifically to the ‘Window Restoration Fund” and this money were used expressly for the Window Restoration.

Restoring a widow this old is a very meticulous process, and the gentleman that restored these windows is a very meticulous person, he is very caring in his work and speaks fondly of old neglected stained glass windows, especially those that sit in old abandoned churches, such as some in Trenton, most of these windows have a meaning to those that created and designed them, and memories to those that looked at them each Sunday of their lives, this is the type of person you need to care for a 100+ year old window.

We were fortunate to have Joe Ratajaczak, and his company, Plowman Stained Glass and Sand Carving, of Chesterfield, New Jersey, to care for these windows

Some of these windows would be removed and not completed and returned for months; this is the type of careful work that was done. When they were returned they would still look 100 years old, but would be reconstructed, better than new. Some of these windows required complete rebuilding, while disassembling some of these windows; Joe found that rather than pegs or nails, some of the windows were held together with actual tree branches, driven in as dowels.

As the windows were completed and reinstalled each widow was covered and vented with heavy, clear, Lexan Plastic, to protect the windows from weather, wind, accidents, and vandalism. As long as these windows have been in the Groveville United Methodist Church, no one can remember any acts of vandalism being committed upon these windows. We have had small pieces of glass that have fallen out and I am sure more than one disoriented pigeon has crashed into the windows and yes, there was an incident where a lawnmower “Kicked” up a stone and it has gone through a window, but this only happened once, and these were all isolated incidents, nothing purposeful.

These are the windows at the rear of the Sanctuary, above the "Amen" pew

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These are the windows on the left of the Sanctuary,

which is the front of the church.

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Reverend Fran spoke of the beauty of this window, we should also remember that Jesus was from Africa and the window behind the pulpit should serve as a reminder that Jesus was a meager Shepherd.

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Reverend Fran also commented on the two round stained glass windows at the top sides of the church sanctuary containing “The Star of David”, that is a reminding tribute that Jesus was Jewish.

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George Goldy spoke of how the window restoration was carried out and explained the intricate process. George also gave a Little history of the windows. George Goldy thanked all those involved in the process of the restoration and described to the congregation just what an intricate and time consuming job this was.
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When Reverend Fran Ballinger, spoke about the windows, she said “ You may come to church and not like the song the choir might sing, you may come to church and not like way Sallie plays the piano or prefer her to play the organ. You may also come to church and not like the “Message” that Sunday, but there is no way you can come to church and not like these beautiful windows.
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The Beauty of these windows as

seen from the outside on

a cool Fall Night.


Just a lovely on the outside as it is on the inside.
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Reverend Fran continued; “The light that passes through these windows casts a lovely light on the interior of this church and if you think it is beautiful on the inside, it is only surpassed by being on the outside, at night, when the church is lit inside and seeing the beautiful light that is seen by those outside.”
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Our Church casts a feeling of warmth and
hope over our small community.
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This door has said "Welcome" since 1887.
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These windows cast an erie, but watchful
light over our cemetery.
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