Sinton, Texas, is the tiny town where Glenn grew up and one of Glenn's goals was to attend a church service at the Church of Christ in Sinton where his family, including grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins, attended for many years.
When we arrived, the usher who greeted us told us that Jo Anne and James were there (all the way from Spring), as well, so it was an unexpected treat to find that we were not on our own as unknown visitors. After the service, Glenn asked if he could say a few words to the congregation. He told them the occasion that brought him to Texas (50th class reunion from Sinton High, the only high school in town) and related some of the stories he had heard from his classmates about their lives and how they valued their childhood in the community, schools and churches of Sinton. "It was a good place to grow up," they had all agreed at the reunion the night before, and Glenn took the Sunday morning service as an opportunity to thank the people of that congregation and town for the time they had invested in young people, including himself. Here we are after the service in front of the church.
After the service we found the only restaurant open on Sundays, "The Butter Churn" and had a homestyle meal that would not be good for the waistline if you went there too often. Yum! Afterwards, we spent the afternoon driving around the neighborhoods, James, Jo Anne and Glenn revisiting memories and acquainting me (Nancy) with their childhood haunts. A highlight was the visit to the Sinton Cemetery where Glenn, Jo Anne and Dillie's parents and grandparents on both sides of the family are buried. For nearly 20 years, Jo Anne and James have come here 2 or 3 times a year to put flowers on the graves. Jo Anne came prepared with an armload of beautiful fall flowers and leaves.
It was a joy for me to go through the cemetery with these three, seeing the graves and listening to the memories. We are visiting Sinton again with Dillie this week to see more family members. We will do another "Sinton" posting with more pictures and detail later.
When we arrived, the usher who greeted us told us that Jo Anne and James were there (all the way from Spring), as well, so it was an unexpected treat to find that we were not on our own as unknown visitors. After the service, Glenn asked if he could say a few words to the congregation. He told them the occasion that brought him to Texas (50th class reunion from Sinton High, the only high school in town) and related some of the stories he had heard from his classmates about their lives and how they valued their childhood in the community, schools and churches of Sinton. "It was a good place to grow up," they had all agreed at the reunion the night before, and Glenn took the Sunday morning service as an opportunity to thank the people of that congregation and town for the time they had invested in young people, including himself. Here we are after the service in front of the church.
After the service we found the only restaurant open on Sundays, "The Butter Churn" and had a homestyle meal that would not be good for the waistline if you went there too often. Yum! Afterwards, we spent the afternoon driving around the neighborhoods, James, Jo Anne and Glenn revisiting memories and acquainting me (Nancy) with their childhood haunts. A highlight was the visit to the Sinton Cemetery where Glenn, Jo Anne and Dillie's parents and grandparents on both sides of the family are buried. For nearly 20 years, Jo Anne and James have come here 2 or 3 times a year to put flowers on the graves. Jo Anne came prepared with an armload of beautiful fall flowers and leaves.
It was a joy for me to go through the cemetery with these three, seeing the graves and listening to the memories. We are visiting Sinton again with Dillie this week to see more family members. We will do another "Sinton" posting with more pictures and detail later.
4 comments:
Yes, this Lord's Day was indeed quite a day! What a surprise to find out that James and Jo Anne had driven down the day before and spent the night in a motel in Sinton. More surprising was to hear about their regular visits to the graves in the Sinton Cemetery, usually each spring and fall. The privilege of talking to the CofChrist congregation was really another step in the forgiveness/healing process for me. I left in 1958, and it's taken me 50 years to have the heart to stand before that congregation, where I was baptized at the age of 13 and from which I fled at 18, and speak now with calm acceptance, in open gratitude. It was a release. What I said to them was really a message to my Mother and Daddy--thank you again for a good childhood built on good values for a good purpose. "Every life has a turn and a return," wrote E.M. Forester.
Indeed what a special moment for you. What a great experience that so many don't have the opportunity to have; thank you for sharing. And it was really cool that James and Jo Anne made it to the service!
Yes, Janelle, it was a special moment on a special day of opportunity.
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