Going to Harlem!

After an early breakfast this morning, we loaded everyone up and headed back into the city. We had three cars and a van with 22 of us. We drove for two hours into New York City to Infinity Mennonite Church right in the midst of Harlem. I don't know if you can just do it on Sundays, but for blocks around the area, the streets were full of double-parked cars! The church pastor came out and showed the guys where to double- park the van. We parked there until after seven o'clock tonight without being ticketed!

We were at Infinity in time for Sunday School led by Bishop Yoder. We had all been seated on the left side of this storefront church, but before services started, Pastor Alfred Taylor decided he wanted to "mix things up," and had the ushers move everyone around so that we were well interspersed with his congregation. Surprisingly enough, while there were women there with all stages of dressiness, there were no hats!

The  worship music was incredible -- it was loud and enthusiastic. There were four women and one man on the music team, plus a drummer and a keyboard player. No hymn books here! (But I did notice some well worn blue hymnals in the chair backs,,,) Mennonite Church USA CEO Ervin Stutzman gave the sermon -- I'm not sure what his Amish ancestors might have said, but I told him afterwards he'd make a good Southern Baptist preacher...

This is the congregation my good friend Addy Banks has been serving at. It was so good to see her, exchange hugs, and bring her greetings from our Menno Church group.  More and more people kept showing up, they put out more chairs in the  aisle and then put out more until there was barely a trail from the back to the front!

After the service, there was lunch served to everyone, then we settled in the sanctuary for Session One of our Board meeting. Mid-afternoon, we snacked on slices of watermelon one of the Board Members bought  from a vendor across the street. Then at six o'clock, they fed us again! We had a lovely chicken dinner before we once again loaded up the vehicles and began the two hour trek back to Camp Deerpark and bed!