Sunday Meetin’ Time
The Little Church on the Hill
by
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Prologue
As the new world in America was being founded, one of the first things the immigrants did was build their church – the building that is. They brought with them their church, which is the body of Christ, and their faith, and their beliefs.
Introduction: The Little Church on the Hill
In days gone by, old folks referred to services at the church as "Meetin's."
"Hey Joe, you gonna be at Meetin' Wednesday night?"
"Sally, did you see Susie’s new baby, she had him at Meetin' last Sunday. Cute little fella."
"Howdy, Mr. and Mrs. Honea, we’ve been ah missing yor family at Sunday Meetin' – you folks over them bad colds? Been a cold winter, huh?"
This story will take you back to days gone by where you will find the Alrod family; their friends and neighbors.
Chapter Snippets
Chapter One: The Worn Out Church
"I don’t care what you think, George. It has got to come down."
"But Mr. Cunningham, do you know what that church has meant to this community for nearly 150 years? Do you know that it dates back to before the Civil War? "
"Yeah…it looks like it."
"It should be made into a historic landmark and not turned into a shopping mall,” said George with deep emotion in his voice."
Chapter Two: Gone But not Forgotten
On Memorial Day Sunday, the family members placed wreaths on their loved one’s graves, and afterward they had dinner on the grounds. They also made sure the cemetery was in tip-top shape before their annual Homecoming Day held once every year in the late spring or early summer.
The first grave that George pointed out was that of the little infant child; who was the very first one to be buried there. Her marker read:
Martha Sue Higgins
Precious little Angel
Daughter of Joel and
Martha Ann Higgins
"Budded on earth to bloom
in Heaven"
Born 1850- Died 1850
Chapter Three: The Preacher's Wife
Mama had been rushing around all morning trying to put the finishing touches on Sunday dinner, getting little James dressed, and then herself. If there was one thing she didn’t like, it was people coming into church late.
Chapter Five: God Will Take Care of You
James Alrod, also known as, "Grandpa" had attended as many of Herman's services as he was able after his son took over the pastorate. Mama suspected the doctor was right again, and perhaps he may have had another light stroke. She prayed not, but she suspected it just the same. He seemed to be having trouble buttoning his shirts, and he was not whittling as much as he had been.
Chapter Six: Mama, Do You Think I Am Purdy?
Mama and Sarah Louise were working in the kitchen together, and as they often did, they chatted while doing the cooking and the chores.
They had been talking about various things for a while when Sarah Louise had this far away look in her eyes and asked, "Mama, do you think I am purdy?"
"Sarah Louise, why do you ask that?"
"I don’t know, Mama. It just seems all the boys at school like Thelma Ruth more than they do me!"
Chapter Seven: Fishing, Lies, and Pennies
"Papa, why did God put fish in the water," soon to be five-year-old little LeRoy asked while he squirmed around on the creek bank.
"Cause, He wanted to, I guess Leroy."
"But Papa; puttin' them in the water makes them too hard to ketch."
"Well, son, chickens are just as hard to ketch, but we like fried chicken don’t we?"
"Papa is it true that you can ketch a bird if you slip up on it and put salt on its tail?"
"Dunno – son, I never tried it – but I wouldn’t be ah wastin' no salt to find out either."
Chapter Ten: Momma's Episode
Sarah Louise heard her and came running outside to check on her. She put Baby James down on the porch and tucked the tail of his gown underneath the heavy churn to keep him from crawling off. He began to cry. He felt that something was just not right in his world. She helped Mama to Grandma’s old rocking chair.
Chapter Fifteen: The Twins Velma and Verna
"Papa, did you ever want to be somebody else?"
Looking hard into her face, he said, "Well….uh….uh, Velma, I don’t rightly recollect ever being unhappy with the way God made me; so I guess I wouldn’t. Why do you ask?"
"Cause I want to be different, I don’t like to be called, “One of the twins."
Chapter Sixteen: The Election
Mama watched Billy Joe scratching his head with his yellow No. 2 pencil while resting his elbow on the table. He had just about whittled the pencil away sharpening it with a kitchen knife. She had watched him for quite some time while she was standing at the stove stirring the black-eyed peas.
Sunday Meetin' Time
That next Sunday, Preacher Alrod stood to his feet and welcomed the little congregation to the Sunday Meetin'.
"Give the Lord a handclap 'cause you were able to be here rather than stove up in some sick bed." The small group acknowledged their good health with a robust handclap.
"Lord, hear us as we pray." They all knew that was Pastor Alrod"s way of calling them to worship.
"Thank You, Lord, for all You've done for us, and all that You done provided for us, and all that You are gonna do for us in the future." Amen
"This morning I want to talk about prayin' - done that I reckon. And then -testifying."
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About the Book
Sunday Meetin’ Time is a compelling story written in the same vein as I’d Climb the Highest Mountain or The Waltons. It is adapted from the widely read online series of short stories written by Ms. Walston several years ago, Sunday Meetin’ Time.
Nestled in a low valley beneath the foothills of a small mountain range, you will find life happening everywhere. An intimate, riveting story of a bygone era set in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Sunday Meetin’ Time reveals the lives of the Alrod family, their church, and their friends.
An immigrant grandfather from Ireland settled the farm that would remain for over 150 years. The side effects of this book will cause you to sob at the family’s losses and laugh at their antics as they praise God through it all in the “little church on the hill.” Herman Alrod is a corn farmer by heritage and inheritance. He becomes the reluctant pastor of the “little church on the hill.”
This book is a remembrance to those who have fond memories of this era. It will enlighten those who come behind them with the history, poems, songs, scripture, romance, mystery, and adventure of bygone days. America was made strong by families who worshiped in small rural churches, honored God, loved their families, and respected their country. Could America be saved by the same?
You will love and laugh at five-year-old LeRoy and his hijinks.
About the Author
Atlanta native Patricia Walston is a freelance writer, historian, genealogist, teacher, parent, and grandparent. She is all about family. She has written award-winning articles published locally and worldwide. Her mentoring on family life is based on wisdom, experience, faith, and biblical principles. Patricia is a storyteller.