Marietta Camp Meeting - Celebrating 175 Years!

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near” (Joel 2:1)

As you read these words, Marietta Camp Meeting is celebrating 175 years of bringing souls into God’s kingdom, and East Cobb U.M.C. is helping celebrate!  In case you didn’t know, our church is their spiritual “child,” being formed out of a spiritual revival there back in the 1870s.  Granted, that makes us a grown, adult “child,” but they and we are spiritual “family,” nevertheless.

As I prepared this article, I ran across some interesting facts from Campground’s history.  For example, did you know that…

• The original campground contained 40 acres, and was bought at $1/acre
• The first meeting was held under a brush arbor
• During the first meeting, the men brought guns to protect themselves from the ruffians who declared they would drive out the worshippers
• Campmeeting was discontinued with the start of the Civil War, but resumed once again in 1870 (about when our church was established)
• A trumpet was used to call everyone to the services (a practice that originated from the words of the scripture above)
• Water was supplied by natural springs
• Minutes taken and recorded from the business of the tentholders go all the way back to 1919

Of course, there’s more that you can find on the history link of their website, but I want to encourage all East Cobb U.M.C. members and friends to share in this celebration -- it is, after all, our heritage, as well.  In addition to daily services at 11am and 7:30pm, several additional events you’ll want to especially note and attend:

•  Saturday, July 14, 12Noon-10pm, 175^th Anniversary Celebration “on the grounds”

•  Tuesday, July 17, East Cobb UMC Music Night

•  Sunday, July 22, our annual COMBINED WORSHIP service at 11am “under the arbor” (there will not be 9:30am or 11am services in our Sanctuary that morning)

 

I hope you’ll join me in participating as much as possible in the special events of Campmeeting 2012.  Let’s help celebrate God’s work and presence in our community for the past 175 years!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!