BIG NEWS! THE GREAT VALLEY FOOD CUPBOARD!

We are so pleased to announce that we have begun a new initiative. In these difficult economic times, there are local families that struggle to put food on their tables each day. The Chester County Food Bank supports a number of food pantries in the county, but there has been only one in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships until now. For a number of years, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Berwyn (Easttown) has hosted the Caring Cupboard, as part of the official Chester County Food Bank program. Now the Baptist Church in the Great Valley (Tredyffrin) will be hosting one as well.

The Great Valley Food Cupboard, located at 945 North Valley Forge Road in Devon, will provide food to local families needing an extra supply each month. These hours may adjust in the future, but at this time it will be open each Tuesday from 11am-2pm and the second Wednesday of each month, from 6pm-8pm. Any T/E or Great Valley families needing support should contact the church office at 610-688-5445 for more details on signing up.

As you can imagine – filling the shelves for a food cupboard is a challenge! Donations from the community are critical to the success of any food cupboard. Hillside Elementary School recently made up “Valentine Breakfast Bags” containing cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, etc. All types of non-perishable foods are needed. If you are involved with a group or neighborhood that would be willing to run an occasional food drive, or if you are just someone wanting to help out, please contact the Great Valley Food Cupboard through the church office at 610-688-5445. All offers of support would be appreciated.

PHOTOS of our recent 300th Anniversary Events

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the Colonial Fair a success!

Thanks to the Berley brothers (of Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia) and their family for the delicious pumpkin ice cream.

Thanks to Jack Ansley for coming to photograph the events.

Thanks to State Senator Andy Dinniman and Tredyffrin Supervisor Paul Olson for representing democracy on Constitution Day.

Thanks to the wonderful company of historical characters and crafters from HistoryFirstHand. You were superstars today. Thanks Cynthia.

Thanks to all our supporter, businesses, professionals, and church members for buying ads in the Coloring Program Book so we could afford to host the community.

Thanks to all the members and our sexton, Arnie, who worked so hard grooming the cemetery, setting up and tearing down, parking cars and doing craft projects with the children. We made some friends in the community today and reminded them that we are a vital, caring Christian community that wants to be of service to them and to our larger community.

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

More News - Scroll down for Photos of our Historic Characters and June 5th Cemetery Tours.

Recent Events: Our celebration on Sunday, May 1, 2011 the Special Worship Service and the Luncheon, was a huge success.

The children dressed in colonial costumes and sang along with the adult choir, brass, handbells and Charlie Confer at the organ.

The Berkshire Brass joined the adult choir in the loft and Pastor Loring preached a fine sermon.

The newly renovated Scott Room looked great.

The Reverend David Jones, Revolutionary War Chaplain and our third pastor, brought greetings from Valley Forge and news about an alliance with the French.

Ray Hoffman took the cake back to Clay's so they could add a zero to make the inscription accurate. They thought it was our 30th anniversary!

About 190 people enjoyed a meatloaf luncheon prepared by Aquilante's Gourmet Buffets.

The model of the original 1722 Log Meeting House was on display.

State Senator Andy Dinniman brought words of inspiration and also a proclamation.

A group of happy members on their way home after a wonderful morning of festivities, stopped to have a photo by Jack Ansley.

Photos of the Cemetery Tours

and Lecture

On June 5th, 2011, we sponsored a lecture by Seth Hinshaw, noted Chester County specialist in historic property research, on Colonial Baptist Architecture. Afterwards, church members served as guides as visitors were invited to tour the cemetery where they encountered first-person interpreters costumed as historic members of our church.

On our tours, we met Rev. Hugh David, Welsh immigrant and the first pastor of the church;

Rev. David Jones, the third pastor and a Revolutionary War Chaplain;

Rev. Leonard Fletcher, a revivalist preacher and early member of the abolitionist Wilburforce Society;

Phyllis Burr, an African woman rescued from a slave ship and indentured to an ironmaster;

and Rachel Cleaver, a missionary along with her husband and other church members to the Cherokee population at Valley Town, NC.

Church members toured at 1 PM, followed by the lecture and the public tours at 2:30 p.m. A good time was had by all!

Thanks to Karen Marshall at Chester County Town Tours and Village Walks and to Cynthia Janzen at History First Hand for helping us to organize the events. Thanks also to Seth Hinshaw for his talk and slides.

Finally, thanks to our first-person interpreters, Martin Jones as Hugh David, John Lopes as David Jones, Stephen Harkins as Leonard Fletcher, Diane Johnson as Phyllis Ganges Burr and Sarah Robinson (an actual member of the church) as Rachel Cleaver. We thoroughly enjoyed your presentations.

For photos of the Colonial Fair in September 2011, click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/7dow8hn Newsletters

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