Amish Church

The Amish stand out in this world for many reasons. One is their reverence for the Sabbath day. This is something that even those who know little of the Amish are aware of.  Even their “No Sunday Sales” business signs advertise this key belief. While most Christians shift gears and attend church on that day, […]

Continue Reading How do Amish keep the Sabbath holy?

I’ll admit it’s a little odd to see an Amishman plant a kiss on his neighbor.  But it’s a common-enough sight, one you’ll see before Amish church service. The holy kiss is a practice with Scriptural basis (more on that below).  As with other Amish practices, the way it is done varies.  In some groups just […]

Continue Reading The Holy Kiss

Traveling through Amish settlements you may notice something like this: That’s not a Plain people hauler, nor the caboose of some sort of horse-drawn train.  This bulky vehicle is a church wagon, and you’ll see them throughout Amish America. Each Amish church district will have its own wagon, used to transport benches from one location […]

Continue Reading Amish SUV?

Which Bible do Amish use?  Typically, the Amish use the German Martin Luther version, particularly for church readings.  For an English version, the most favored translation is the King James edition (KJV). Some Amish use the New International Version (NIV) as well.  Often, the Bible Amish read in the home will have a dual format-German […]

Continue Reading The “Amish Bible”, and the appeal of Bible story books

The concept of “Amish community” has a number of meanings The term “Amish community” is often used to refer to the Amish in general.  For instance, you might hear the questions, “What does the Amish community do when a barn burns down?” or  “What does the Amish community believe about technology?” Sometimes the term is used […]

Continue Reading The “Amish Community”

Last week, an excerpt from The Amish Way mentioned a gentleman named Abner, a deceased Amish historian whose trade was bookbinding. Abner was apparently quite a remarkable person who touched a lot of people in his community.  Brad Igou (The Amish in Their Own Words) knew Abner well and has shared some remembrances which he […]

Continue Reading Abner the Bookbinder

I’m happy to share the Amish Way winners with you today.  It was a lot of fun to run this contest and I much enjoyed the interview with authors Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, and David Weaver-Zercher (if you missed it: Part 1 and Part 2). I particularly appreciated the point they make about shunning–that it […]

Continue Reading The Amish Way: 10 contest winners and book excerpt

“Brimming with many children,” write the authors of The Amish Way, “most Amish homes produce eight or more sets of dirty dishes three times a day.  That means at least twenty-four glasses, dozens of plates, and countless pieces of silverware, not to mention pots, pans, mixing bowls, platters, and serving utensils.” Yet you won’t find […]

Continue Reading Part 2 of The Amish Way interview and 10-book giveaway

Are Amish “born again”?  Are cars immoral?  When describing church, why do Amish use the term “Gmay” instead of “Kirche”?  And who actually decides the rules that guide Amish life? The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World is the first book to explore Amish spirituality and religious practices in-depth, addressing these and many […]

Continue Reading The Amish Way: 10-book giveaway & interview with Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, and David Weaver-Zercher

Yesterday, roughly 900 Amish churches across North America met for Sunday service (900 would mean roughly half of the present 1800 Amish church districts; Amish congregations meet every other week with districts alternating Sundays).  Leading the Amish congregation are a ministry consisting of a bishop, 2 or sometimes 3 ministers, and a deacon. What roles […]

Continue Reading The Amish bishop, minister, and deacon