Today I thought I’d touch briefly on Council Meeting, a special twice-yearly occasion happening now in Amish churches in Lancaster County and elsewhere. Council Meeting: Preparing for Communion Last Sunday while staying with Amish friends in Lancaster, I did not get an invitation to attend Amish church. Usually the family I was staying with asks if I’d like along. But last Sunday they had Council Meeting,…
Today we have the conclusion of an Amish father’s talk to a group of youth and parents. In continuing the theme of facing temptation, in this section he examines the importance of church community. You can read the previous parts here: Part 1: Pop Music Part 2: Cell phones & the Internet Part 3: Temptation & Character — In the Rules of a Godly Life…
Just back from Lancaster County. We had a good discussion the other evening at a cookout with some English and Amish friends. Youth issues, clothing, and church standards were among the Amish-related topics on the table. All accompanied by fire-grilled hot dogs, heirloom tomatoes, and S’mores and fresh berries for dessert. Hard to beat that. Talk at one point turned to the question of why…
Today, the second part of an Amishman’s talk to an Amish youth group. The first part adressed popular music. This installment covers cell phones and the internet. The speaker is a father of children of running-around age. This talk was given a few weeks ago to a group of around 150 people in his community, both youth and adults. — I would like to move to cell…
On Saturday morning at the Amish technology conference, an Amish speaker gave a short talk on the Ordnung (church rules), key to the discussion of the Amish relationship to technology. I was presenting at the time so was not able to hear it in person. However I was able to acquire a copy of the talk, entitled “A reflection on the nature of Ordnung and…
This year (2026) Ascension Day – commemorating Jesus’ physical ascension into heaven – is Thursday, May 14th. The date changes each year, falling on the 40th day following Easter Sunday. Interestingly, Ascension Day is observed by Amish in some places – but not in others. Ascension Day: Observance in Different Amish Communities The Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania are among those who do observe Ascension…
How do Amish deal with special needs children? We’ve often had questions here about how Amish approach individuals with disabilities, and children in particular. I confess the meaning of “special needs” has never been totally clear to me. From what I understand it can cover a broad variety of situations, from moderate learning issues to much more severe handicaps. English society attaches a stigma to…
Returning to the Rules of a Godly Life devotional, from Part Two (“Words”), rule # 11: You cannot have disputes and divisions with fellow humans and still have peace with God. If you love God, you must also love your fellow men, because God has commanded it. Short and sweet, but one of the hardest to take to heart? ~ Some Amish observe Easter Monday…
Lately I’ve noticed a recurring theme across Amish America correspondence. Amish are known as “Plain People”, but given the many different Amish groups, what does “being Plain” actually mean? Is there a litmus test for Plainness? For example: Is it based on width of hat brim, or style of prayer covering? Should your lawn be full of weeds, or is having a flower garden okay?…
Will Amish ever face military conscription again? We can’t know the answer to that question, but Amish and other conservative Anabaptists are preparing for such a worst-case scenario. Amish beliefs about non-resistance include not doing violence against others, extending into prohibitions on serving in law enforcement, political office, and even bringing lawsuits. Amish have faced the military draft many times in the past, with a…