Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Perhaps World War II opened up the migration of many folks to the cities where jobs were quite available. As a result, the dynamics of the church changed, leaving the older generation to keep the church attendance intact. Oftentimes, priorities changed, funerals were attended, and the church attendance became smaller and smaller. In time, churches closed the doors.
There was a time when attending church in Appalachia often involved deep faith, a strong sense of community, and a variety of Christian denominations. Many churches remain vital to the community life, serving as a gathering place for neighbors and family, hosting social events and providing support services; while others have characteristics unique to that of loose structures or specific rituals like foot-washing. Some include revivals, with baptisms being performed in the river.
While Christianity is dominant, denominations are diverse, including Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Pentecostal, providing assistance with food services and various other projects, within the community.
Understandably so, the aging populations and lower incomes, affect the welfare of churches in the rural section of West Virginia. Oftentimes, it is difficult to attract and retain pastoral leaders.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- Learn to say “No.”
- Take a deep breath.
- Read good books.
- Avoid dangerous drugs.
In Sugar Grove, things have been as peaceful, as water in a spoon. The mornings have felt crisp in temperature with the days warming up. The drought conditions have resulted in dishwater leaf colors. Sunday, blustery winds brought some showers of rain. Still, the “happy face” keeps smiling for those motoring towards Sugar Grove.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Bittersweet October, the mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.” — Carol Bishop Hipps
“Rice is great if you’re really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something.” — Mitchell Hedberg
“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.” — A.A. Milne, “Winnie-the-Pooh”
“You pray for rain, you’ve gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.” — Denzel Washington
Sitting in a lounge chair is the best place to read about the “Talk of the Grove.”
Charles and Pidge’s grandsons, James and Charles Anderson, came in Thursday for a visit. On Monday, they returned to Princeton, Kentucky, to work.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- A single dragonfly can consume up to 100 mosquitoes per day.
- No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
- All the ants in Africa weigh more than all the elephants.
- Women blink twice as much as men.
- Winston Churchill was born in a ladies’ room during a dance.
Concerns are for Mike Adams, Charles Anderson, Alfred Armstrong, Joan Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Kim Davis, Steve Durham, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Sharon Harr, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Julia Homan, Keith Hoover, Delbert Olin Hoover, the Roxann Hoover family, Debbie Horst, the family of Anna Gae Hughes, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Ruth Kile, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Carroll and Dottie Mitchell, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Sherri Moyers, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dominique Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Virginia Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Vesta Ruckman, Bernie Sasscer, the Eric Shockey family, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Bruce Smith, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle and Don Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Amby Waybright, Jr., Mike Waybright, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Patty Willis and Ann and Ed Wimer.
