A couple of weeks ago Becky and I were in southern Michigan visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and their two daughters. They’ve recently moved to a new house a little way out of town, and it was our first time to see the new place. They are surrounded by fields and woods and farms. Some of Katharine and Ryan’s new neighbors are Amish and all day long you can hear the clip clop of horses’ hooves as they pull Amish buggies along the road in front the house. 
 
The last evening of our visit, after the girls had been put to bed, a knock came at the front door. A young Amish farmer and his wife, toddler in arms (and baby on the way), were standing there in the dusky light delivering a plate of really good looking chocolate chip cookies as a housewarming gift to the newcomers in the neighborhood. 
 
The farmer did all the talking. His name was Aaron and he introduced his wife and child, but I don’t remember their names.  I would guess Aaron to be around 25 years old.  He had moved from Ohio to marry his wife and become a part of her family’s community.  Ohio and Michigan; that was it, though one time he had been close to Pennsylvania.  A world so different than ours.
 
Who would not like Aaron, the Amish farmer? His is an open face and a kind manner.  He and his wife invited Katharine and Ryan and the girls to come by some time – the farm is just down the road, and I think they will.  Maybe Becky and I can drop by Aaron’s farm next time we are in Michigan.  I would love to see it and get to know Aaron and his wife just a little bit. 
 
The chocolate chip cookies tasted as good as they looked.
 
The Amish are a part of the Anabaptist branch of the Christian family, just as Presbyterians are part of the Reformed branch of the family. Our differences in tradition and doctrine are significant, but not significant enough to break our family ties. 
 
Amish folks are brothers and sisters in Christ, but are not evangelistic, that is, they don’t seek converts, and, in fact, it is exceedingly difficult for someone from the “English” world to become a member of the Amish community.  The Amish do believe in bearing witness to their faith, however. Deeds, not words are the primary means of Amish witness.
 
I don’t want to become Amish, and I believe that our Christian witness must be borne in word and in deed. One of those family differences.
 
As Aaron and his wife stood in the dusky light of Katharine and Ryan’s front porch, his open and kind way was inviting, and it invited more than the tourist’s curiosity.  I think Aaron and his family will be good neighbors, maybe even good friends, for Katharine and Ryan and their girls. 
 
The Reformed branch of the family is especially Word-centered and we believe that our witness to Christ is fully given in word and in deed.  The kind deed of a good neighbor may be the best way to open the door to a word of good news. 
 
Let’s be sure that the newcomers to our neighborhoods receive a warm welcome, and maybe a plate of really good Presbyterian chocolate chip cookies, from the members of LPC who live on the street where they’ve moved. And, who knows, in time we may have an opportunity to tell those new neighbors about the God who loves the whole world and invite them to share in the life of the branch of Christ’s family that gathers at the corner of Gillam Avenue and Bellevue Street. 
 
See you Sunday