This is the week we have the Revival at church…The tradition was :
As told to me thru the years by my Grandpa Astor J. Delk
his Daddy was Frank Delk and his Mother Essie Skeen Delk
Preachers would come together and hold revival under a brush arbor built for the occasion on the hill around the church. The arbor gave shade and some shelter in case of rain. The 4th Sunday of each August would be the beginning of the revival. There would be a big home coming meal. Afterwards preachers would start preaching that afternoon and there would be much singing by all…
Singers would come in (on horse or in a buggy and some walked) as did the families that attended…and the preachers. This could go on for up to TWO weeks and usually lasted at least from Sunday to Sunday! It was big event…The length depended on the moving of the Holy Spirit. If many were being saved, healed and such the revival lasted until the preachers were sure the Spirit’s work was complete!
Families would come and camp at church or stay with relatives near by. Attending services thru the day and into the night. Boys and girls would play ball and hop scotch and tag… and other games as was common to the times…It was a big event in this small farming community.
In my mind I can see the horses all tied up with tails swishing the flies away…I can hear boys and girls voices laughing softly and a squeal as a frog was presented for effect:-) and the voice of the preacher calling all to repent and know the Lord… I can hear the sweet singing of Amazing Grace! I can smell the fried chicken…and I can see the big Pound Cakes cooked in wood stove ovens! The ladies dressed in their Sunday Clothes and yes the men dressed in their best and spitting their tobacco!
Tonight we heard a moving sermon on our heart. That guilt cannot stand up to the light…and that by Wednesday night the end of the revival we know the condition of our hearts!
The Oak Tree Boys treated us to some beautiful string music..I could not help but think of all the string music that has been played in this church…and I smiled as I remembered Grandpa’s fondness of it…I like it to a lot!
It caused me to remember the revivals I attended as a child…I remember sleeping on a hard bench and it was hot (no AC back then) the windows were open…You could smell the sweet smell of hay…and hear an occasional rumble of thunder…And Mrs. Ruby Arnold , Wan and Fred Hunt and the rest of the choir singing to Ruby Delk’s beautiful piano playing…Grandpa sitting over on the left side of the church my Grandma was in the choir…I can still hear the preacher’s voice loud sometimes and low other times… also I can still see many going to the alter.. Tears and happiness…freedom!
This heart sermon series will change us I am sure of that…
Blessings!
Kay Delk
daughter of Alton J Delk (son of Astor J. and Lyde Nance Delk)
and Betty Sue Rogers Delk (daughter of Ralph Rogers and Edith Hunt Rogers)
(oh my roots run deep here)
PHOTOS:
The Wagon Box my Great Grandma Delk used to take her cakes to church in…The basket made by my Grandma Delk and is a hearth basket I use to gather flowers in…
The names of all the folks that have been members of Piney Grove UMC from 1871 to 1982…made by Juanita Loflin Hunt Winslow
