In years past, (so I have been told, being as young as I am), people set aside a day to celebrate a bountiful harvest - a thanksgiving day of sorts. Our forefathers and foremothers (?) worked incredibly hard and reaped more food than they needed. Indeed, they never forgot to thank God for His abundant blessings (2 Cor. 9: 6, 11). It wasn’t until the Civil War that our nation established a national day of Thanksgiving.

In keeping with that day of celebration, Blake’s Chapel will have a Harvest Day. This year it will be held on October 28th at the church on Sloop Point Road, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and running until 1:30 p.m.

The whole concept of Harvest Day may be solemn, but in practice, it’s quite joyous, bordering on rowdy. If church groups are going to get together, they might as well have fun. We have found, by trial and error, that we have a very talented congregation. There are some that are artists, others with a creative hand at scrapbooking, and others who can take everyday objects and turn them into one of a kind artistic treasures.

In fact, there are such a variety of talents that I am hard pressed to find the words to describe them, (would you believe that!). We won’t even know for sure what will be available for purchase until Saturday morning.

I have heard there will be hand made articles of clothing, (your guess is as good as mine), antiques, framed art, both new and antique, crafts wooden creations, and who knows what else. If I spilled the beans, (or black eyed peas), you’d have all the information you need. The fun is in the anticipation, the search, the hunt!

Last year we also discovered that many in our congregation have professional talents that they are willing to donate. So there is a wide range of items to consider.

Last year we tried a new idea - a silent auction. It was a great success and people were pleased with its outcome. So this year, we will be having another silent auction. With the spectrum of items up for bid, the day should be interesting. Remember, bidding starts at 10:30 am and will be over at 1:30 pm, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Keep in mind there are always people who try to get a peek before we are ready to open, so you might want to be here a bit early. All of the proceeds from this sale will go to the youth group at Blake’s Chapel, specifically for next summer’s Vacation Bible School or VBS.

Most people take VBS for granted and have no idea how much preparation goes into it, nor the costs associated with it. It can be expensive, but it is certainly worth it when it comes to educating our young people and getting them involved in church affairs. After all, we’re not "spring chickens" anymore! Our youth are the future of the church and we should never lose sight of that. Check out Pro. 22: 6, Luke 18: 16 and Col. 3: 20. They all emphasize how important our children are to the church body and the Lord.

We’re easy to find. Just turn onto Sloop Point Road at Hilltop and drive, (bike ride, stroll or whatever), about 1/8th of a mile and turn right. We’re down that long driveway. I’m sure you’ll hear us from afar. See you Saturday!

Come on over to Blake’s Chapel Advent Christian Church where we are trying to apply God’s word to all aspects of our lives. Our church is located at 248 Sloop Point Road in Hampstead, North Carolina.