Harris Hill Happenings
Harris Hill United Methodist Church
This
year Vacation Bible School will take place from
Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 15.
We are
blessed to have Donalyn chair the event once again.
Volunteers are needed in all areas; set-up, teachers, etc., so please
mark the dates on your calendar. Further
details will be coming soon in the bulletins.
The Bowmansville United Men’s Society will be hosting a Ham Dinner on Saturday, May 17 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. The cost is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under 12. Presale tickets are available at a cost of $7.50. The church is located at 5344 Genesee St., Bowmansville. For more information please call the church office at 683-5298.
OPPORTUNITY
TO SUPPORT GATEWAY LONGVIEW WITH YOUR VOTE!
What’s the key to a healthy family?
A Family Room! Join
us in building a
Family Room where children and families can find hope.
Simply stop by
the Ethan Allen Interior Design Center, located at 3875 Sheridan Drive, in
Amherst, New York, and vote for Gateway-Longview, everyday during the month of
May.
Gateway-Longview is a proud participant
in the 2nd Annual Ethan Allen Community
Challenge. Your vote could help secure a $10,000 make-over of our Family
Room foster care visitation and community
center located inside
our Family Resource Center in the City of Buffalo. Gateway-Longview’s Family
Room will serve as a home away from home
where children placed in foster care can reunite for supervised therapeutic
visits with their natural families. Our
Family Room will also serve a safe haven where
positive change will
occur. Civic groups will gather in our family room. Students
will receive help with their homework in our Family
Room. Children will escape the social
ills plaguing our communities in our Family
Room. Please
stop by the Ethan Allen Interior Design Center everyday between May 1st
and May 31st
and vote for Gateway-Longview. Thank you
for your support.
Beechwood Service Guild
Meetings:
May 7 - 10:30 a.m. Program and installation of officers
June 4- 2:00-3:30 p.m. - Spring Tea
June 11-Executive Board Meeting
As I continue to keep you informed of activities at Beechwood and remind you of
our mission "to serve the Beechwood Homes and its residents in all possible
ways", please be reminded that you can support the Guild through your membership dues - either
as a new member or by renewing your
membership for $3.00 per year.
Forms are at the welcome center or
please see me.
Please note other ways to help include donations of lap robes and/or walker
bags.
As always, thanks for your continued
support !!
Cora
Sunday School Mission Projects
The Sunday School has been raising money for
the support of the 2008 Children’s Mission projects selected by the UM Church.
Thank you for your support with the fundraisers.
2008 United Methodist
Children’s Fund for Christian Mission
This fund helps children to learn about and
make contributions to a select group of mission projects that are chosen for
their value in helping children understand what it means to “be in mission”.
The policy of the Children’s
Fund is first to educate children about mission and second to provide a way for
children to give to mission beyond their local church.
This year the HHUMC Sunday School’s
fundraisers will benefit the following four mission projects:
~Summer Camp-North Rampart Community Center,
New Orleans, LA
~White Swan Children’s Program,
Wilbur-Memorial UM Church, White Swan, WA
~Four Homes of Mercy, Bethany, Palestine
~My Daughter’s Place, Camphor UM Mission
Station, Liberia, West Africa
Canned goods and non-perishable food items for Primera Iglesia are collected on the first Sunday of the month. They can be placed in the box in the foyer.
Please save your Campbell’s labels and General Mills Box Tops for Education for the church.The collection box is in the foyer.
ABITIBI
PAPER RECYCLING: We need ALL your
NewspaperMagazines - Shopping catalogs - Mail - Office & school
papers. Please place all paper in the recycle bin in the parking lot.
All proceeds go to the
Building Improvement Fund.
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day.
And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you
have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late
night shows and get more sleep.
4.
When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose
is to _________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6.
Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They
provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured
in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water.. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and
flowing energy into your life.
14.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past,
negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in
the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are
simply part of the curriculum that
appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will
last a lifetime.
16.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with
a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18.
Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
24.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will
this matter?'
26.
Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28.
GOD heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in
touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36.
Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38.
Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this
is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only
have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40.
Pray.
The
Food & Fellowship Coffee/Lunch Hour has resumed.
These
are held monthly immediately following worship service and all are encouraged to
participate and enjoy.
If you
are interested in participating by hosting one of these please sign up on the
sheet on the welcome center wall.
Your
menu can be anything you choose, from simple to not-so-simple.
It’s the fellowship that’s important.
You will be reimbursed for expenses.
If you have any questions please contact Sue.
THE FOLLOWING BRIEF HISTORY OF “HARRIS HILL EUB CHURCH” WAS WRITTEN BY EMANUEL FRICK FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH. (IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1912 OR 1914.) I have left the grammar and spelling as were written by Mr. Frick.
When a novelist is looking for material to
form a plot, he seldom goes to large cities, but selects little hamlets.
Rather not unlike our own little Harris Hill.
Because every little place has it’s history, it’s joys, and it’s
sorrows, It’s romances, it’s dreams, yes and it’s tragedies, And I imagine
our little hamlet here has had it’s share of all of these.
Closely associated with the history of a place
are some of the preminent characters, who have figures in it’s formation and
development, as closely identified with the history of our country, the names of
Washington, Lincoln, Webster, Garfield, etc. stand prominently forth,
The same holds true with States, Cities and little Hamlets like this.
One of the first settlers in this locality was
a man by the name of Harris, from whom the place derived it’s name.
He lived on the farm now occupied by Mr. Krehbiel.
There being a little elevation or hill on the site where the old Harris
Hill house formerly stood probably gave rise to the name Harris Hill.
I know nothing about the man, as he lived before my day, but the name has
been handed down from generation to generation even unto the present time and
Harris Hill it will remain, I think even unto the end of time.
Some of the other early settlers identified
with the history of the place we might mention the names of Stevens, Woodward,
Snyder, Longnecker, Summey, Frick, Mr. Samuel Frick and Mr. Henry Frick were
born in this vicinity, and lived here nearly all their lives.
Mr. Henry Frick being closely identified with the history of the church
from it’s foundation nearly to the present time.
In the social and spiritual life of a little place like this, the church
is the most important factor, second in importance is the school, take away the
church and the school and there is not much left to it.
And the influence that a little church like this exerts on society at
large is more than one might at first imagine.
When we realize all the conversions that have
taken place in this little church, and the spiritual atmosphere that has
influenced so many lives that have gone out into the world and influenced other
lives, the number would run into the thousands and extend from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. There is perhaps not a
state in the Union that does not contain some one that was made better through
the influence of this little church. And
I imagine there are many who first learned their ABC’s in the little school
house yonder, and get the first rudements of religion in this little church.
Although they may have wondered far from home and traveled the wide world
over, yet in their dreams they come back to this little spot, and some of their
dearest recollections are the impressions received here in this little church.
But my mission is to give the history of the church, not to indulge in
reminisses.
The church was built in the year 1862, just 52
years ago. What a momentous year
that was, not only for our nation, but for so many lives.
When the war cloud loomed high in the heavens, even as it does today in
Europe. How well I remember some of
the events that transpired that spring. Even
as a little boy I seemed to realize the military spirit in the air, the soldiers
in their bright uniforms marching to the war.
The departure of my own father for the war, the greif of mother and the
days of weeping and waiting that followed. All
portended to my young mind that some great and awful events were taking place.
Yes and I can remember the workmen as they toiled mixing the mortar and
laying the brick, I believe that there is one man still living {Ed note:
remember this is 1912 or 1914], who assisted in the work Mr. Wallace
Woodward and his brother Jekiel were two of the men that assisted in the work.
The brick was made by Mr. Peter Shiesley [perhaps Sheasley?].
Mr. John Gotwalt did the carpenter work and
one John Wright did the brick work. So
much for the building of the Church. I
suppose with sufficient data I could give some more details, in regard to it,
but that is sufficient.
Several years prior to this a young missionary
from pennsylvania landed here, One JOHN HILL.
What ever induced him to tarry on this rock bound spot I am unable to
tell, But I believe it was through the influence of a Mr Smith, Christopher
Smith who lived on the farm now known as the Shrader farm (home of Mr. Driscoll)
When he came he landed at Clarence Center on what is known as the Peanut
Railroad [Ed note: now the walking
path south of Clarence Center going east and west], that being the only means of
transportation in those days. There
were no trolleys in those days and no telephone to herald his coming,
No one at the depot to meet him. It
was dark and it was raining and he made his way on foot from the depot at
Clarence Center to the residence of Mr. Smith, on the Main Road through the
woods as that interval was still as nature had left it.
Well he finally reached his destination.
Home sick and discouraged. I
have it from good authority that he actually shed tears, as he wended his way
through the forest that night.
Nothing daunted however, he soon started a
campaign against sin the influence of which is felt even to the present day.
Soon after his arrival he started a series of meetings in the old Stone
Church on the farm now occupied by Mr. Sherman Longnecker (Sheridan Drive and
Main Street south side) Afterwards
he was joined by his brother George and they continued to preach in the old
church and the stone school house here for several years prior to the building
of the church.
The wonderful eloquence of the men attracted
people from far and wide. And the
work they did here in these first years was the nucleus to the building of the
church. Of George Hill I have but a
faint remembrance, but of the masterful eloquence of his brother John, I have a
very vivid recollection. How he
would lean over the high old fashioned pulpit, at the close of his sermon and
plead with sinners in his rich resonant voice, and made a lasting impression on
my young mind. Well after those
first years of labor and the following was so strong that the old stone school
house was found inadequate, so the church was built in 1862.
Of the ministers that labored here between the
building of the church and the conference year, I remember three Rev. Bagley,
Hager and Snyder. I remember Snyder
as a great revivalist OH, what revivals there were during his ministry.
Although only a child these stirring times mad a great impression on my
mind. I recall some of the converts
of these days that have remained faithful all these years and are faithful yet.
Others that have gone on before faithful to the end.
During the Conference Rev. J. Holmes was
pastor of this place. He organized a
singing class, while he was with us, which he conducted with great success
several seasons. In many of our
homes there is still a relic of those old times, an old song book “The
Victory”
I think the minister to follow Mr. Peckham was
the Rev. Holmes who was here during the conference year.
But before going any farther with this history, I wish to mention a few
facts in regard to the lay members of this early period.
The first class when the church was organized numbered 46 members.
Mr. Henry Frick being the first class leader.
As time will not permit I will not mention the names of all these
members, except those that were active workers in the upbuilding of the church
for any length of time.
A few of these early members died, others
withdrew or removed to other fields. But
of those who remained in active service for any length of time I might mention
Mr. Henry Frick, Mrs. Frick, Peter Blocher, Mary Blocher, Eunice Woodward,
Elizabeth Lehme, J. G. Erb, Gideon Solomon Summey, John Patrick, Abram Blocher,
Fanny Metz, John Shisler, Mrs. Elizabeth Frick (Shisler), Amelia Blocher (Longnecker)
But the one that labored the longest and did
the most for the church was Mr. Henry Frick.
He worked here all his life time from early manhood until declining age
and disease prevented him from doing any more.
Brother Frick was not a fair weather Christian, but he
was always at his post winter and summer, rain or shine.
Not to see him at his post was almost a paradox.
Not only was he engaged in church work and the Sunday School, but his
labors extended into the social and educational field.
Being many years a teacher in our school here.
One of the very first immpressions that
I can remember at the very dawn of my life, When I was perhaps 4 or 5 years old
was standing at his knee trying to understand the mysteries of A B C The good
that Mr. Frick does in a community is almost inestemable . (beyond estimating).
The influence which he has goes much farther than the community in which
he lives. When we consider the minds
of all the boys and girls he helps to mold in all these years, and the moral a
spiritual influence which they exert in other communities, the truth of this
statement becomes apparant. For
isn’t it the country bred youth that is continually migrating to the cities?
That is leavening the society of those places and keeping them from going
entirely to the bad.
Of course there were many others, workers in
the church during all these years, who did much good, but time and space forbids
me from mentioning them. There is
one however whom I wish to mention as a worty competitor of Mr. Frick, and that
is Mr. Smith Kissinger I will not put Rev. on in this connection, as all the
years I have know him and associated with him, he was just a common lay man
raising potatoes and cabbage with the rest of us.
So I will just call him Brother Smith.
In point of service, except for length of time, he did just as good work
as brother Frick did. and if he
hadn’t been called to other fields he probably would have labored on here
indefinately. I remember brother
Smith when he first came into our midst, a mere boy, but he wasn’t here long
before he became interested in the church and Sunday School.
Sunday School work being his hobby. For
many years he was superintendant, I don’t know just how many, but I think
about 30.
About the first active work I remember him
doing in the Sunday School was organizing a Young Men’s Bible Class of which I
had the honor of being a member. There
were ten young men in that class. Perhaps
it would be interesting to some of you to know just who these young men were, so
I will mention their names, Solomon Henry, and Elias Wiser, Benjamin and Eli
Shisler, Milton Steward, Orlando, Oliver, and William Frick, and myself.
I have a portrait photo of these young men at home which I prize very
highly. These events happened about
36 years ago when brother Smith was engaged in Sunday School work.
Ever since until he was called to the ministry about 14 years ago.
There are other workers that have done good
work here who are actively engaged yet; of whom I might mention sister Maggie
Metz, Miss Edith Beach, brother Fred Schultz, and Frank Sheasley who is a worthy
successor of brother Smith; is the present superintendant of the Sunday School.
But to return to the ministry with one or two exceptions I
can remember all the ministers that have even labored, as with the exception of
5 or 6 years I have lived here all my life time.
And I suppose I could give some incidents of the church during each one
of their pastorates, but as that would make this paper too long , I will make
mention of but a few of them. Prior
to brother Starkey’s pastorate, we had no resident preacher as there was no
parsonage here. The minister resided
in Bowmansville prior to that. Of
some of the ministers I have but a passing recollection, of others I became more
intemately aquainted, notably Rev. Benehof, Rev. Ed Smith, Meeker, and Post. of
the Smith family Of the Smith’s we
have had 4, first Ed Smith then Rufus. Following
Rufus was Jerome, then Perry, I might add that Rev. Post organized our first
Christian Endeavor Society. Other
ministers Mr. McIntyre, Meeker, Rev. Fullum, I remember Mrs Fullum singing.
Post, Rev. Markman, Bennett, Jerome Smith, Perry Smith, J.L. Strong,
Dunbar. The Christian Endeavor, Zobo
band. C.D. Knapp, under whose
leadership, we have added our new addition, and are celebrating the results
today. What the future holds for us
I will leave for my able successor to reveal.
Worship
in the Park
Sunday,
June 8
10:30am