September 2012 Subscriber Letter
September 2012
Dear Reconciler Family,
On the weekend of July 20-22 this year, my family held our bi-annual family reunion in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s called the
Aunt Lee Williams with daughters and son-in-law
McCollough Family Reunion, named for my grandfather, Jonas McCollough, my mother’s dad. He’s deceased; he was born in 1884. The 3 pictures show the 3 surviving children.
Some have asked about the reunion and why we have them. The Black Family Reunion is a long tradition that began during American slavery. Some slave owners during holidays, Sundays or “slow periods” allowed their slaves to “mingle.”
And although they didn’t know each other or even speak the same language they fellowshipped as if they were family. The common denominator was their journey. Some even married in those circumstances when allowed. When slavery ended some sought and found relatives.
Aunt Willie Jeffries with daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter
African American scholar Ione D. Vargus, Chairman of the Family Reunion Institute at Temple University, wrote a paper titled “More than a Picnic: African American Family Reunions.” She stated, “I could have called this paper by other names. I could have used the titles ‘Reconnecting’ or ‘Reviving the Legacy’ or ‘Finding the Rest of Me,’ because that is what family reunions are all about…I want to talk about why family reunions are important.”
In a nutshell they help build family relationships and teach new generations who we/they are. What does it look like? Here’s a typical McCollough Family Reunion schedule:
Friday – opening comments, introductions, a short devotional and a huge home-cooked banquet.
Saturday– recreational activities, shopping at the mall and dinner at a restaurant together.
Uncle Clarence and wife Rose
Sunday – attend church together where my first cousin is a Bishop (Ruth). I spoke at the last one. She spoke this year.
The whole celebration is an act of reconciliation. We have different ethnic groups in our family. We had around 70 plus at the reunion. Another family had 270 members at their reunion. Some have several thousand and offer college scholarships and give history lectures to the younger generations.
Thank you for reading this more personal letter. I’m sure some of you have similar gatherings. That Great Family Gathering with Jesus comes to mind. Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.” Verse 9 “…Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb…these are the true words of God.” Awesome!!!
Thank you for being part of our ORM Family and for your prayers and financial support. God bless you!
Curtis May