We are a joyful congregation of believers nestled in a valley in the grand hills of Allegany County, NY. In 1956, Seventh Day Baptists (SDBs) who built the meetinghouse we now use asked Mennonites from Lancaster County, who had settled in the area, to run a summer Bible School in the building, as they could no longer staff such a venture. The participating families enjoyed working and worshipping together, so they arranged with the SDBs for the Mennonites to use the meetinghouse on Sundays, while the SDBs continued their gatherings on Saturday (their Sabbath). Eventually, the SDBs numbers dwindled and they ceded the building to the Mennonites and left the valley.
Today, because we all travel a distance to gather, we bring lunch dishes to share every Sunday, thereby extending our fellowship time. Our meetings are informal with participation by everyone, including children. One member calls us a “do-it-yourself” church. Services are available by Zoom, a blessing from the recent pandemic. Outside Sunday mornings, we keep in touch by phone, email, mail, text, and visits. When someone’s birthday falls on a Sunday, we celebrate with a beautiful cake and much merriment. Over about seven years, we will celebrate each person.
We keep a coin jar at the front of the sanctuary, adding to it throughout the year. The contents are weighed and counted and the proceeds are sent to Mennonite Central Committee. We have a competition of who can guess the weight of the jar, and winners are awarded prizes and bragging rights. In 2024 the weight was 66.2 pounds and the total sent to MCC was $459.05.
Our excellent basement social space is the scene of community meals. We do not fundraise at all, but rather depend on members’ contributions to operate, so these meals are a priceless opportunity to serve our community and enjoy fellowship with many who don’t regularly attend.
A few times a year, Souper Group women meet to produce delicious, nutritious soup meals which we store in the freezer to be taken to those who could use a hug and a welcome meal. We add cookies and rolls to round it out. Two or three times a year, we take a wood-fired pizza oven to a festival and make and sell individual pizzas, the proceeds of which are sent to Mennonite Central Committee.
In many ways, members of Chenunda Creek Fellowship use their diverse gifts to serve the community and one another.