Sunday Evenings of Song in Amish Country

Warm greetings from our Amish community here in the Heartland. As June draws to a close, the families have been grateful for another week of gentle Summer weather. The rains have continued to fall in a way that feels almost perfectly timed, giving everyone enough dry hours to work the soil and pull the weeds before the next soft shower moves through. Temperatures have stayed in the mid-to-upper seventies, and many here have said this Summer feels as close to perfect as they can remember. The steady moisture and mild days have kept the gardens growing well, and the fields look healthy and full of promise.

Sunday evenings in this community often carry a special feeling, especially when the young people gather for singing. These gatherings have been part of Amish life for generations, and they continue to shape friendships, faith, and a sense of belonging. The first song at many gatherings is usually a German praise song, one that has been sung for so long that even the youngest voices recognize its steady rise and fall. When everyone sings together, the room often grows warm and a little stuffy, yet no one seems to mind. The sound of many voices blending together has a way of filling the space with a sense of peace.

Some songs bring comfort, especially the slower tunes that settle the heart after a long week of work. Others bring joy, like the song called Flowers In Spring, which always seems to lift the voices a little higher. There comes a moment for many young people when they realize singing is more than music. It becomes a way to feel connected to the people around them and to God. That realization often arrives quietly, sometimes during a familiar hymn or while listening to the older voices carry the tune with steady confidence.

One young woman remembers the first time the bishop asked her to lead a song. She had learned to carry a tune only after years of listening carefully. Before that, she had been much like her father, who once joked that when he was young he preferred to sing to the farm animals because they never minded if he missed a note. When she finally felt confident enough to lead, it became a moment she still remembers with gratitude.

Sunday evenings hold more than singing. The buggy rides to and from the gatherings are often just as memorable. Some of the youth recall playfully racing their horses home through the dark, which may not have been the most responsible choice, yet those memories still bring a smile. There were peaceful evenings, too, especially those spent at home when the rest of the family was away. Those quiet nights offered a different kind of rest, one that allowed time for reflection.

Different families have their own ways of singing. Some sing together often, and their voices blend easily. Others sing less frequently, yet their voices still join the group with sincerity. A song that often brings everyone together is Bind Us Together, a reminder of the ties that hold a community close.

The hope among the older generation is simple. They want the younger ones to feel the same connection they once felt during these gatherings. They hope the songs help them feel close to one another and to God, and that the memories made on these Sunday evenings stay with them as they grow older.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

Here are a few of the most notable moments from the families who weave the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com, shared with us this week.

The Swarey Family

Mary and the oldest Swarey daughter spent Tuesday at their cousins' home for a Ladies Day planned to honor an eighty-year-old widow on her birthday and another woman celebrating her seventieth birthday. Thirty-nine ladies arrived, along with many girls who came to help or simply enjoy the gathering. The men who brought them stayed in the barn and dowdy house, visiting quietly while the women filled the kitchen with conversation. The potluck line moved steadily for nearly an hour as everyone dished their plates. Some worked on a quilt loaded into a frame, while others brought sewing, nut-picking, or small hand projects. By afternoon, two birthday baskets had been filled with thoughtful gifts, and the house carried the pleasant feeling that comes from a day spent together.

The Yoder Family

The black raspberries ripened this week, and the Yoder children were eager to begin picking in their timber. On two mornings they set out around six in the morning, enjoying the cool air and the quiet of the woods before the day grew warm. Their pails filled quickly, and by Saturday they had gathered enough to send several pounds with a family friend who sells at the local farmers' market. She sold about six pounds for them, and Rebecca canned seven quarts from what returned home. The children also made a hand-drawn sign for the end of the lane, and their happiest moment came when a customer drove in to buy berries and added five extra dollars as a kindness. That small gesture made them smile for the rest of the day and convinced them that early mornings in the timber are worth the effort.

"A little sin will add to your troubles, subtract from energy, and multiply your difficulties."

- Amish Wisdom Overheard in the Community.