Homecoming 2009

Yesterday we celebrated homecoming at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Mark has been the interim there just a little over a year. The church has a rich history that begins in the early 1800's. The Civil War began during it's history and there are lots of interesting graves in the cemetery. We are not the biggest church, but they have a big heart. They have loved Mark and I since we have been there. Our crowd this year was a little off, but we had a great time of hearing the gospel, gospel singing, food and fellowship.

Bethlehem Baptist Church. It is a very picturesque little white church nestled in between towering oaks with tags of moss hanging from the limbs. The black wrought iron fence around the cemetery adds to the charm of this historical church.

The church has some beautiful stain glass windows. I included a few of my favorites in this blog. I love this window.

The sun was really shining through this window. It reminds me that He is the Great Shepherd.

The full stain glass window. I just think that they are so elegant looking in a church.

The crowd begin to fill their plates with good home cooking. Mr. Sonny Parker of Parker's Barbecue provided barbecue, chicken, slaw and hush puppies.

Pile those plates high with fried chicken, pot roast, butter beans, okra, corn, chicken and pastry, deviled eggs and lots of desserts. I fixed 2 pot roasts with carrots and potatoes, broccoli salad, grape salad, deviled eggs and snicker bar brownies. My grape salad is never eaten because no one knows what the heck it is in that bowl....looks like eye balls. It is delicious though, and very easy to make. Several ladies at our church love it, so they are glad no one else will eat it. I will do the recipe at the end.

Mark talks with a 91 year old lady who once came to this church. She was such a delight to talk to yesterday.

Mrs. Nita Brown reads the rich history of the church during the service. She only starts with 1835 because the other records are so brittle and they are put away. It is so nice to know how things got started and how they have progressed all these years.

We had a great group to come and sing for us this year. They are The Gospel Lites. They were such a delight.

Some of the congregation looks on as The Gospel Lites sing.

More of the congregation.

And more of the congregation.

And more!!!

The Gospel Lites were a fantastic group. They are a true Southern Gospel group. They not only could sing great, but they had great personalities with a genuine love for the Lord. You can check them out at their website www.gospellites.com They were really a blessing to us.

We had a great time at Homecoming 2009 at Bethlehem Baptist Church. The message was straight to the point. You have to have a personal relationship with Christ....there is NO other way to heaven. The music kept driving that point home....Jesus is the way. The food and fellowship was great as always.

Grape Salad

3 lbs seedless grapes (can be green or red, I use both)

8 oz Sour Cream

1 carton Cream Cheese

1/4 c. Sugar

Mix sour cream, cream cheese and sugar together, then add grapes and mix. Sprinkle brown sugar and walnuts on top.