Church Services

From our very first reunion, our family has always had a simple church service sometime during the gathering. Attendance was required. The patriarch of our family led the service, and he always included the importance of a loving family and staying together as a close knit unit. Although he led the service, other members of the family led the singing, read a scripture, asked for thoughts or concerns, always ended in prayer and was always an uplifting, calming experience after such a hectic busy weekend. We always included the children, either by having them perform a song, or with someone reading a story to them at the front of the room. The children always seem to be happy to be included and are enthralled by the stories. Sometimes they were read a biblical type story, but one member of the family wrote a special story about our family and our roots and they are absolutely rapt as they listen to the story of how our "Pop" and "Mom" met and fell in love and had a family. Some members of our family are more musically inclined than others (to say the least) and we always seem to impose on them to help us with the music. We have had many a wonderful hour listening to them play or sing and just can't seem to get enough. After our "Pop" and "Mom" went to heaven, other members of the family stepped up to the plate to continue our traditions and would help with the different parts of the service. Now days, we include a memorial section within the regular service to remember and honor those of our family who are already in heaven. Many of the younger generation didn't get to know "Pop" and "Mom" and some of the others who are gone, and this is a good way to pass on the history of our family and connect them with their past. The church service is mandatory, but it need not take up a large chunk of time or effort. It just seems to come together each year and is a wonderful way to end our reunions.