The preacher unharnessed the horses, rubbed and bedded them down for the night and left the barn. As he stepped out into the darkness, he drew his cape around his tired body to protect himself from the cold drizzling rain which had begun to fall. As he walked to the parsonage he fought over the day that was now closing, a fatiguing day of travel, preaching and service to God. It was a hard day. But listen to an early preacher of the Zeon Methodist Episcopal Church of Lydia tell his own probable story.

“ As the dawn began to melt away the darkness, I knew it was close to 5:30 AM. Another Sunday had arrived, and that meant a full day of work for me. Today I had to preach at Lydia in the morning and at New Prague in the afternoon. I do not preach at Lydia and New Prague every Sunday, but only twice a month. On the other two Sundays I preach at the Jordan and Swiss churches. In my absence on one Sunday a month a lay preacher conducts the service, while on the other Sunday the congregation holds a class meeting.

Having no time to waste I hopped out of my warm bed and dressed in my old clothes to feed and prepare the horses. As I left the house, the fresh air of the cool morning sent a chill through my body, and it felt good to get into the warm barn. Old Prince and Flossy were faithfully awake as if they sensed that this was their special day of work. I fed them well, and curried them. Then I harnessed them for the journey. After completing this job, I knew it was time for breakfast so I left the barn and made my way to the house.

As I enter the house I can hear my wife in the kitchen busily preparing the fried potatoes, eggs, salt pork and coffee for breakfast, and how I was ready for it. We sat down to the table, had our morning devotions and then ate. After finishing my coffee, I looked at the clock. It was 6:30 AM and high time for me to wash, shave, and get to my members of the congregation. I always know where I am going to eat because the lady who is to prepare the meal leaves church while I am preaching. It’s hard on her soul, but it usually proves of benefit to my stomach.

After a short rest following dinner, I left for my 2:30 PM service in the New Prague church. I left Lydia shortly after 1:00 PM, and arrived in New Prague around 2:15 PM. I am a little worried about the New Prague church. It seems to have a struggling time of it, and I often wonder if we can keep our work going there. However, the New Prague service lasted until about 4:00 PM. After the service I visited and took supper in one of the homes of the congregation, and then hurried back to Lydia for the evening service at 7:30 PM.

You folks know it as the Youth Group, but for us it is called the “Jugend Bund” or the Epworth League. The Lydia youth meet every Sunday evening, but naturally I can not be with them at the time. The average attendance at these meetings is about 50. Tonight, because of the rather nasty weather, we had a smaller group. Some of the young people let us in Bible study this evening, but our program is quite varied. One Sunday a month we have a prayer meeting, and one Sunday a month we have a special program composed of declamatory speeches, plays, readings or special songs. A different group of youth leads the service each week. Then once the year we have a big event called a “Jaresfest” or yearly festival. The “Jaresfest” is the event of the year. All members of the Epworth League participate in this program. You might liken it unto your modern day talent and variety shows. It is very interesting and inspirational for all the folks who attend.

Our league also has many socials held in the homes of the members. We often have get togethers to observe Christmas, Easter Monday and other special days. We played many games that you people play: Chirades, last couple out, Adam and Eve, pass the dollar and others.

Our “Jugend Bund” ended at about 9:00 PM this evening as it most always does. So after saying many goodbyes on unhitched my horses from the rail, climbed into my wagon and started my wet journey back home. I guess you have noticed my pants are wet and dirty. I got stuck in the pot hole on the way home. That is why I am late. Well, That is the story of a Sunday in my life.

Yes, it has been a fatiguing day of travel, preaching and service to God; but now I must get inside out of this damp weather and get some sleep.”

This could have been the story of any preacher of Lydia United Methodist Church near the close of the 19th century, and the church activities of his day. Life was hard, but the Christian fellowship was rewarding even as it is today.