Oh what fun it is to go to a church bake sale! And so the tradition had been for 68 years with the congregation of the New Hope Presbyterian Church. And so it was on December 3 as the friendly ladies of New Hope welcomed patrons and parishioners into their cozy little church home for their annual Christmas sale.
Linda with her angels and bread conversing with the ladies
Linda and I were planning to go to Mount Shasta to take some pictures of the snow-covered peak, but before leaving town, we stopped in at New Hope to peruse the fare.
We were cheerfully greeted in the foyer by a trio of women, one of whom, Kathy, I had met at their Tuesday night Bible study conducted by retired Pastor Alex Munro. We went into the main room, which was beautifully decorated and laden with cakes, cookies, pies and gifts. Linda seized upon a loaf of zucchini bread. I found a delicious tray of ginger bread.
Linda Perusing the Sale with a loaf of zucchini bread in hand.
In the back room, one of the long-time members, Marie Conley, and her daughter, Kristi Waller, were serving pie by the piece and coffee. Kristi had been raised in Burney and since moved to Shasta Lake. However, she came up on this weekend to be a part of the church’s holiday tradition.
Marie Conley and her daughter Kristi Waller serving pie and coffee
Beautiufl Christmas gift items
In addition to all of the goodies, there were also beautiful Christmas gift items. Linda selected two golden angels.
We had found our daily bread, but more than that we found spiritual fellowship. Bobby Lindgren told me that a man had come just because he wanted to give a donation. But he brought not only his donation, he brought his testimony. He had had a difficult childhood and gotten off on the wrong track, even been to prison. But now he had found God and his life had turned around. He does not attend any one church regularly but he tapped his heart and said, “He is in here.” On this day the Lord moved him to come here to show his gratitude.
The Holy Spirt is moving in the land. Abraham’s tree has many branches. We are all children of one God being nurtured by the Tree of Life.
Following our uplifted conversations, Linda and I got into our jeep and headed toward Mount Shasta where I was able to share some of my ginger bread with friends.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121 verses 1-2
Pit River Country 