I wanted to share some photos from my visit to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania last month. Starting Saturday night and into Sunday morning, we got a nice solid snow, which left the area blanketed in a beautiful white fluffy layer.
The next morning, church service was conveniently being held at the home of friends where I was staying, so it was a great chance to attend.
This snow-frosted buggy gives you an idea of how much snow fell. Chores and last preparations for the church members’ arrival are ongoing, as the light from the barn casts a warm glow upon the early morning scene.
The church district’s bench wagon. This is used to transport benches and other things needed for the gathering, including the stands that are used to turn church benches into tables (see below), and cups and utensils and so on used for the after-church fellowship meal.
Below you see the basement, prior to service starting. The benches, chairs and Ausbund hymnals were all set out and ready to go. Most everything is prepared and set up and cleaned up on the day, or days, prior (here’s a more in-depth explanation of how Amish families prepare their homes for church).
I ended up sitting in the chair to the right of the nearer pole in the photo. This is the seating area for ministers, older folks, guests, and anyone who might have a health issue such as a bad back and might need the support of a chair.
Men sit on one side, women on the opposite side. The preachers mostly stand on the left in this photo, in the general area between the two sides and below the hanging yellow battery light…