Sunday, August 28, 2011

Azotus Annual Homecoming

The old church sits by a dusty gravel road, in a remote part of southern Pope County, Illinois.  In its earlier days, it was a beacon of Christ in a vibrant community for many years, after its founding in 1848. 

But today, those who once had a connection to Azotus Baptist Church gather just once a year to reminisce, take care of cemetery business and worship once again in the old church. 

The old upright piano has a good number of keys that no longer work.  But it still provides enough music, beautiful in its own way, that the gathering congregation can still sing along to the old hymns of the faith. 

The coal or wood-burning stove no longer is present to heat the room.  But that's no longer necessary anyway, in the hot months of August.  The pews are unpadded, and the unscreened windows make welcome wasps and other insects who sometime join the congregation.  Electricity is no longer present, but the guest minister doesn't need a sound system in the little building anyway.

But God is still present in that little, plain building.  He dwells in the hearts of those faithful people who still gather once a year to worship Him in this place.

And the Echoes count it a honor to be a small part of this yearly service for the last 39 years.  These days, everyone gathers under the old maple tree that very likely was there at the beginning in 1848.  We all eat a delicious pot-luck lunch, and the Echoes then sing.  Today, that old maple tree is showing its age, the results of ice storms, winds, and just old age in general.

But God is still present.  And He always will be -- even after that little old church building beside of the road is no more.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Gospel Mission Tabernacle

We enjoyed another great Sunday afternoon of Gospel singing and worship with our friends at the Gospel Mission Tabernacle, in Golconda, Illinois.  Pastor Tim Green and his congregation made us feel at home, as always. 

Actually, we'd feel at home anyway, since we have been singing from time to time at the Gospel Mission since the mid-70's, when it was located across the street from the courthouse in Golconda.  And the Gospel Mission is the home church for our own Sharon and Dorris Thomas.

We began the afternoon with a delicious potluck dinner, even though it was not a homecoming-type event.  And, as usually is the case, it's too easy to eat too much, which makes it hard for the Echoes to sing afterward, and somewhat a challenge for the congregation to keep the eyelids from drooping.

But the Holy Spirit took care of those issues by being present in our midst, and we were able to worship in a great way, by letting the words of the songs remind us of God's Grace, His Healing Power, and His never-failing Promises. 

Yes, it was a great afternoon to enjoy the goodness of God with our friends at Gospel Mission Tabernacle.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Brownfield Baptist Church Homecoming

The Echoes were privileged to be a part of Brownfield Baptist Church's 151st Anniversary Homecoming.  As Pastor Monte Reed said in his bulletin article, when the church began, people were still having gunfights in the streets."  (They still are, but we know what he meant -- it was a long time ago).  Look at it another way:  In 1860, the Civil War had not yet begun; the church was lit by lantern and heated by wood (or maybe coal); the only air conditioning was an open window. 

But while much has drastically changed since that first service 151 years ago, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly the same as then.  We gathered to worship the same God as was worshipped in that first service.

After a traditional, and delicious, pot luck lunch, the Echoes began with "I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now," one of the older songs in our repertoire, and ending with one of our newest songs, "It Pays To Pray."

A good-sized, receptive congregation made it easy to sing, as they obviously were keying in on the message of each song.  That's what it's all about -- each person receiving a personal message from God as each song is sung.

We've been singing at Brownfield periodically for the last 40 or so years, and it's always good to return once again.  It was also good to see Billy Green, and his daughter, Theresa, in attendance.  Billy was one of the founders of the Echoes from Calvary, back in 1970, so he has shared in some of those Brownfield singings in the past.

Pastor Reed ended the afternoon of worship with the observation that Brownfield Church might not make it to their 200th Anniversary, not that the church closed, but that Jesus may be coming back before then. 

But until then, Brownfield Baptist plans to continue being a beacon for Christ in that little part of Pope County, Illinois, America, and the World.  And the Echoes will plan to continue to visit with an encouraging Southern Gospel song every once in a while.