Sundays - A Time for Rest and Reflection

We hope this note finds you well as September settles in here in the Heartland. The week ended with some scattered showers that brought a welcome break from the heat, making it easier to enjoy the first hints of Autumn that have been lingering for a couple of weeks now. You can see them in the fields and along the tree lines, a refreshing contrast to the lingering warmth of late Summer. This gentler weather seems to invite a slower pace, the kind that makes you pause and take in the beauty around you. In our Amish community, this time of year feels especially fitting for the quiet, unhurried Sundays that are such a cherished part of life.

Sundays in the Amish way of life are set apart from the rest of the week. They begin with early morning preparations for church, which is held in a neighbor's home or barn. The service is unhurried, often lasting several hours, with slow German hymns sung in harmony and a sermon that invites reflection. After church, families return home or visit with others, carrying the message of the morning into the rest of the day. Some will write the sermon's key points in a journal, discuss it together over a simple meal, or share thoughts in letters to friends and relatives.

The afternoon is a time for rest and simple pleasures. Many Amish families prepare for it the day before, going to bed early on Saturday night and making sure the house is tidy so there is little work to do. The porch or the shade of a backyard tree becomes a favorite spot to sit, read, or write. The sound of birds in the treetops, the creak of a swing, and the smell of popcorn drifting from the kitchen are familiar comforts. Children might play a game of catch or "Bible Trivia," while adults enjoy conversation or quiet moments together.

Nature plays a gentle role in these afternoons. Some families take a walk back into the timber, where they might see deer, turkeys, or rabbits. Others linger to watch the sunset, a sight that holds special meaning for many Amish. There are even stories from years past of horses that seemed to know when it was Sunday morning, making themselves scarce when it was time to be hitched for church. These days, most families pen them in on Saturday evening to avoid the chase.

Books and writing are common companions on a Sunday. While the Bible is central, many enjoy uplifting collections like "Chicken Soup for the Soul" or family journals filled with memories from parents and grandparents. Letter writing is a favorite way to keep in touch, and it is not unusual for someone to spend part of the afternoon catching up on correspondence they have been meaning to send.

Sundays are also a time for visiting, especially when someone in the community is ill or in need of encouragement. Neighbors and extended family will stop by, sometimes bringing food or simply offering company. These visits are not hurried; they are a way of showing care and strengthening the bonds that hold the community together.

For someone from outside the Amish way of life, joining in on a Sunday afternoon would feel noticeably different from the pace they are used to. There is a calmness that comes from the absence of noise and hurry, a sense that the day is meant for being present with one another. Whether it is a family gathered in the backyard, a group singing hymns together, or friends sharing a quiet conversation, the focus is on connection and gratitude.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

A New Way to Share Our Amish Friends' Stories Over the years, it has been our joy to bring you little glimpses into the lives of the Amish families who weave the baskets available on our website. Until now, we have shared updates from all of them each week. We are blessed to now be working with four families, which means we can help even more households support themselves through their basket‑making craft.

This growth is possible because of the generous support of our customers. Two new families, who until now have only been able to sell their baskets locally, will now be able to share their work far beyond our local community. With four families, there is more to tell than ever before. At the same time, not every family has big news each week. To keep our updates meaningful and enjoyable, going forward, we will focus on two or possibly three families each Sunday, sharing the most engaging and heartfelt happenings.

We are excited for you to get to know the new Amish families in the weeks ahead. Their stories will join those of the families you have already come to know, creating a richer picture of the people whose hands craft each basket.

Here are a few of the most notable moments from the families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com, which were shared with us this week.

The Mast Family

This week found the Mast men and boys hard at work in the hayfield, stacking neat rows of small square bales under a bright late‑Summer sky. Their first cutting was delayed earlier in the season due to their daughter's wedding and the challenge of dodging frequent rains that have been a theme all Summer. The late start meant they missed the chance for a third cutting, and on some local farms even a fourth, but there was satisfaction in finally getting the second cutting safely into the barn. The sweet scent of fresh hay filled the air around their farm this week, a sure sign of a job well done.

The Yoder Family

At the Yoder home, the week began with a bit of excitement and a lesson in sisterly love. During a backyard ball game last weekend, the Yoders' eight‑year‑old daughter took a bat to the face while helping her younger sister at the plate. She arrived at school on Monday with a bandaged cheek and a smile, choosing to spend recess indoors to give herself time to heal. The extra quiet moments at her desk have been put to good use, as she works on a homemade coloring book that she and her classmates began during the first week of school. Her careful drawings are already becoming a treasured keepsake.

"Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills."

— Amish Wisdom