Some Random Comments, Page 2
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

With their first grandchild on the way, the thought of the child growing up Methodist must have been too much for Rosemary's parents. One weekend they appeared at our door and escorted us to a brick school building in Ewing, which we quickly learned was a brand new mission church congregation. The thought of participating as a member of a mission church was all Rosemary needed. We had found a church home.
 
The group was quite small. For most of the year, we met for Sunday service in the Laning Avenue Elementary School (Route 31, Ewing). We would arrive early, move the chairs and the altar from their store room for set up. After the service, we would then return everything to storage and, if necessary, sweep the floor. There was only a single service, no need for a second service.
 
During the summer, we would hold Sunday service at the Fisher Elementary School on Lower Ferry Road in Ewing. I believe we were allowed to leave the chairs and altar set up over the week. One benefit of being in Fisher School was that we were allowed to use their gym in the evenings to play basketball. I do not know why we moved between schools. I suppose the ACLU would go crazy if this happened now (year 2006), but it seemed reasonable at the time.
 
Most of the members were rather similar to Rosemary and myself, young and dumb, married, hard working, moved here from some other place, usually as part of their job. We found support in each other in learning how to adapt to our new homes, our new surroundings, our new children, our new jobs.
 
There were some older couples who had lots of church experience. The Oshmans, Ann and Bill, were among the steadfast founders of the congregation. Their daughter Carol played the piano on Sundays and their son sang many solos. Others, notably Mrs. Naus, were important in establishing the direction of the new mission church. Her husband had been pastor at a Trenton church, and after his death, she moved out to the suburbs of Ewing and lobbied the Synod to start a mission congregation in that area. Mrs. Harbat, who owned a farm outside of Pennington, was the baking queen of the church. She contributed piles of donuts for any event, and no one ever visited her home without bringing back a sack of goodies.
 
These older members of the congregation offered guidance and we younger folk responded to them with great respect. After all, they had been there, done that - and we appreciated their advice. They were the substitute parents and grandparents for those of us who had moved away from home and families of our own.