Free A Hope Springs Christmas by Patricia Davids

was a beehive of activity as the women and young girls arranged food on counters and tables. Most of the small children were being watched over by their elder sisters or cousins. The young boys were outside playing a game of tag.
    Catching sight of her aunt Emma visiting with her daughter-in-law Faith, Ada Kaufman and Mary Shetler, Sarah crossed the room toward them and handed over her basket of food. “Guder mariye.”
    “Good morning, Sarah,” her aunt replied. “Isn’t the weather wonderful?”
    “It is.” Turning to Mary, Sarah grinned at the child she held, “Goodness, how this little girl is growing. May I hold her?”
    “Of course.” Mary handed the baby over with a timid smile.
    Sarah took Hannah, enjoying the feel of a baby in her arms. Mary’s life had not been easy, but did she know how blessed she truly was?
    Ada said, “She should be growing. She eats like a little piglet.” There was nothing but love in her aged eyes as she gazed at her adopted granddaughter. Ada had opened her home and her heart to the once wayward Amish girl and her baby.
    Emma said, “I see the bishop and ministers coming. We’d best hurry and join the others in the barn.”
    As she spoke, Bishop Zook and the ministers entered the house and went upstairs where they would discuss the preaching that was to be done that morning. The three-hour-long service would be preached from memory alone. No one was permitted the use of notes. Each man had to speak as God moved him.
    Sarah handed the baby back to Mary. The women quickly finished their tasks and left the house.
    The barn was already filled with people sitting quietly on rows of backless wooden benches with the women on one side of the aisle and men on the other side. Tarps had been hung over ropes stretched between upright timbers to cordon off an area for the service. Behind them, the sounds of cattle and horses could be heard. The south-facing doors were open to catch what warmth the sunshine could provide.
    Sarah took her place among the married women. Beside her, Katie Sutter sat with her three small children, the youngest, Roy, born four months ago. Rachel, the oldest, only four years old, slipped off the bench and crossed the aisle to sit on her father’s lap. The remaining child, little Ira began to pout and fuss at his sister’s desertion.
    Katie slipped a string of beads and buttons from her pocket. She handed them to her little one. He was then content and played quietly with his toy.
    From the men’s side of the aisle, the song leader announced the hymn. There was a wave of rustling and activity as people open their thick black songbooks. The Ausbund contained the words of all the hymns but no musical scores. The songs were sung from memory and had been passed down through countless generations. They were sung slowly and in unison by people opening their hearts and minds to receive God’s presence without the distraction of musical instruments. The slow cadence allowed everyone to focus on the meaning of the words.
    At the end of the first hymn, Sarah took a moment to glance toward the men’s side. She spotted Levi sitting just behind the married men. His brothers sat near the back. The twins were chewing gum and looking bored. Sarah considered asking Katie if she had any additional toys. In truth, the twins were not the only teenagers looking restless. Levi, on the other hand, held his songbook with a look of intense devotion on his face.
    He glanced in her direction, and she smiled at him. He immediately looked away and she felt the pinch of his rejection. Why was it that he turned her every overture aside?
    The song leader announced the second hymn. O Gott Vater, wir Loben Dich (Oh God the Father, we praise You). It was always the second hymn of an Amish service. Sarah forgot about Levi and his brothers as she joined the entire congregation in singing God’s praise, asking that He allow the ministers to speak His teachings, and praying that the people present