OAKLAND HERITAGE CHURCH OF GOD: Sunday update

The Little White Church On The Hill

THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH ON THE HILL

The old oak tree still stands on the hill, it’s branches spreading wide;
The cedar trees with their perfume, lined up, still stand beside
The cemetery, with tombstones old, so peaceful and so still,
But the centerpiece of this rural scene is the little white church on the hill.

Since 1883 it has stood there, a lighthouse to show the way,
A haven for the weary, a place for the burdened to pray.
Jacob Blickensderfer designed it, but God set the dream in his heart.
Oakland needed a churchhouse, where people could draw apart

And come to a place of worship when they needed sweet peace and rest;
A place where they felt God’s presence, when they needed to be blessed;
A place where they sought His healing when the physical body was ill;
Jacob built them this House of Worship, this little white church on the hill.

The bell tower guards the southern side, the bell rings loud and clear
Proclaiming the time of worship has come, as it’s done for many a year;
And the little white church with its doors open wide still welcomes God’s people in
Where the music rings out and the gospel is preached that you can be saved from your sin.

Weathered stones now compose the old library walls where ivy has grown through the years -
A memorial built more than a century ago in honor of one held so dear
Who wrote in his diary that family and business meant so much to him, but still
He was leaving a legacy for others to use– the little white church on the hill.

The old wooden cross which was hand made with love still beckons the weary to come;
It’s the first thing you see when you enter the church and you know that at last you are home
In the little white church which was built long ago for families who wanted to pray,
Where the altar is blessed and stained with the tears of those who were seeking the Way.

Sometimes in the silence of this sanctuary - I sit and it seems I can hear
The laughter of children from days long ago, the memories that now seem so near
Of Jacob, Louisa, and their children, too, who worshiped in this very place.
These walls heard their songs and echoed their prayers as they came to partake of His grace.

And then I can see their caskets, draped with sadness and flowers of mourning
Being carried away from this chapel outside to await the final dawning.
When their graves on this hillside will open and this building will be no more,
But the church will all be together on that happy golden shore.

And we will all share our precious memories of the times we gathered here
As we sang and prayed and worshipped in this place we all hold dear;
And I think even heaven will listen, and the angels will all be still
As we remember the blessings of Oakland, and the little white church on the hill.

Written by Pastor Joan Hart on July 26, 2002 in honor of the Oakland Heritage Church of God, formerly the Oakland United Methodist Church, and originally the Oakland Moravian Church, and in memory of Jacob Blickensderfer, who designed and built the church in 1883. Copyright 2002

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Sunday update

We had a good service today - 50 in attendance. Specials were by Mike Feryo and Luke Lewis. We sang the Birthday song to Don and to Dorothy. We sang the anniversary song to Feryos and Rowdens. Mike played "You Are My Sunshine" to Helen as his anniversary gift to her. So sweet. My sermon was taken from assorted scriptures, dealing with God's GPS system for us - Guidance, Protection, and Security. Ed's mom was a first time guest, visiting here from CA. It was good to have Toni Morris with us, too.

Milan attended the singspiration last night along with Lois and my mom, Judy and Don, Jewel and girls,, Luke and Pauline, Dale and Brenda, Kenneth and Byna, the Rojas family, Brenda and Lynn and the Taylors. I really appreciate your making that effort. My absence was not due to having the girls here. I would have loved to have dressed them up and had them sing, and show them off. (You all know what a proud grandmother I am just like the rest of you grandparents.)

However, last night was as bad as it gets painwise. I could not have had Bible study had that been on the agenda. Very bad night, Milan was up with me some. Meds have been working today so I sent Milan and girls on down to Hartville to do some "real fishing" at a big pay and fish area there. They stock big fish, including catfish, and Mikayla takes this fishing business seriously so she's hoping for a lunker. At first he didn't want to leave me and be that far away in case I needed him, but I have other family closeby of course and since this was Mikayla's birthday present from us, I wanted them to make a big day of it.

I've been working on Camp Sharon paperwork all day. Ed has dropped by to leave his paperwork. As soon as Mary comes by with the pre-registration check and I can find somebody to drive it all to the P.O. (Milan had to take my car to Hartville), then I will try to sleep some the rest of the day and let the pain pills work. The fishermen won't be back in until 5 or so.

Those of you who know me can only imagine the panic I experience knowing my car may have some stray fishing worms in it the next time I open the door. Oh, my, the sacrifices we made for our grandkids.