Church unites farm, faith for Tractor Sunday service
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The grounds of the Mount Nebo Presbyterian Church will look like a tractor dealership Sunday as the property will be covered with International Harvester, John Deere and New Holland models.
It's not a yard sale of farm implements at 1238 Prospect Road, but the church's first Tractor Sunday when church members will drive their machines to church before an outdoor service.
Since many of the church's 45-member congregation are farmers, it just seemed natural, said church member Sandy Cox.
“We were working on landscaping at the church, and my husband came driving up with his tractor and manure spreader to see how the landscaping was coming,” said Cox.
She said that fact, coupled with a show on the RFD-TV cable channel about tractor Sundays (“They do this all the time out west, Cox said) led to the idea for Sunday's event.
Cox said owners will drive their tractors to the church by 8 a.m. People will be able to view the tractors and have coffee and doughnuts until a 9:30 a.m. outdoor service in the church gazebo.
She said she hopes to have 15 to 20 tractors come to the church Sunday.
“There are a lot of people in the church involved with the farm show and farming,” said the Rev. Steve Cort, Mount Nebo's pastor.
“Families and individuals are connected with farming and the land, real down to earth,” said Cort.
“One of the things wonderful about people tied to farm life, is they work hard, help each other and all have a reliance on things they can't control, like the weather,” Cort said, adding church members are much the same with their reliance on faith.
“Tractors and a church building are tools and symbols of something deeper, which affects our entire lives and those around us. These are symbols about faithfulness and doing well with what has been entrusted to us,” he said.
“The Bible is full of farmers and references to farming; whether it's plowing, planting seed, tending animals, or harvesting. Jesus used farm life in lots of his parables and teachings. He referred to himself as “the vine” and as the “good shepherd.” The Holy Spirit develops good “fruit” in the lives of those in whom God's Word has taken root,” said Cort.
“This Sunday we will try to connect those thoughts. Farmer or pharmacist, God wants to be in the center of our lives,” said Cort.
“Tractor Sunday is our honoring our farm families and honoring God who wants to be in the center of all we do,” said Cort.
One of the tractors will be Cathy Burr's father's Oliver 60 model dating to the mid-1940s. Burr said she is a lifelong member of the church, having been baptized there in 1958.
The pastor said farming is a constant reminder that people need God.
Asked if Mount Nebo Presbyterian Church was going to make Tractor Sunday an annual event like its October apple-butter fest, Cort said, “We do this by faith. We do this one day at a time.”
Cox said Tractor Sunday is open to everyone who wants to come by the 200-year-old church to attend the service or just to look at the tractors.
Cort said, “I'm hoping to get people that want to see the tractors. It's a great way just to meet people.”
WHAT: Tractor SundayWHEN: Starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, service at 9:30WHERE: Mount Nebo Presbyterian Church, 1238 Prospect Road, Connonquenessing TownshipINFO: For more information, call 724-865-2063
