History of Salem Church
Chapter 7. Lord’s Acre Festival
What is a Lord’s Acre Festival?
Fundraiser
The Lord’s Acre program was begun as an interdenominational movement among country churches in western North Carolina in 1930, as a means of raising funds in small congregations. A portion or “acre” of a church member’s land was set aside to raise crops to be sold to benefit the church. Livestock was also dedicated for this purpose. Those without land could set aside a portion of their needlework, craft items, or any other saleable talent they possessed. The Lord’s Acre Festival is a sale of those donations. Wolfsville’s Lord’s Acre Festival works just that way. What comes in is a surprise to everyone.
According to a 1941 article in “Time” magazine, the Lord’s Acre got its start when James G. K. McClure, president of the Farmers Federation of North Carolina and the son of the theologian James Gore King McClure, decided the Federation should have a religion department. Its first project was the Lord’s Acre and its head was McClure’s brother-in-law, the Rev. Dumont Clarke, one time Presbyterian missionary and prep school chaplain. According to the 1941 article, over a thousand churches in twenty denominations in some twenty states have found financial salvation through the Lord’s Acre. At the time the article was written, churches in forty-seven states had written for information about Lord’s Acre. Missionaries on furlough also inquired and, as a result, there are Lord’s Acre projects in India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan.
The Wolfsville festival is held once each year on the second Saturday in September. All items go on sale at 2:00 p.m. (prior to 2014 starting time was 4:00 p.m.) The festival ends after the 6:00 p.m. auction (prior to 2014 auction was at 8:00 p.m.). Admission is free and so is parking. The event is held rain or shine.
Good Food
Many people attend the festival year after year, to enjoy the homemade food that has been consistently delicious for so many years. Festival goers enjoy the homemade soups (beef vegetable, ham bean, turkey noodle), sandwiches (country ham, turkey salad, hot beef, hot dog, chili dog, kraut dog), baked goods (cookies, pies, cakes, pastry, fudge, candy, more), hand-dipped ice cream, soft drinks, coffee, and water. Tables are available for eating a snack or an evening meal. Food may also be ordered to go.
Crafts
A wide variety of homemade fancy needlework and craft items are on sale, including Christmas ornaments, quilts, and more.
Produce
The produce area usually includes fresh produce, such as peaches, plums, potatoes, cucumbers, apples, pears, red beets, grapes, tomatoes, sweet corn, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, onions, green beans, lima beans, peppers, cabbage, squash, pumpkins and gourds. Also, canned peaches, pickles, homemade jellies and jams are available. This area also includes a variety of potted plants.
Flea Tables
The flea tables include a wide variety of household items in good condition at bargain prices, including used books (with no bad language) and puzzles.
Children & Youth Activities
The youth area includes games where everyone who plays wins a prize.
Entertainment
People bring their lawn chairs to stay all evening and enjoy the Christian music.
Silent Auction
Numerous donated items are presented at the silent auction for people to write their bid.
Auction
An auction of numerous unsold items begins at 6:00 p.m. The auction concludes the festival.
Lord’s Acre Beginnings in Wolfsville
The First Lord’s Acre Festival in Wolfsville
On October 8, 1960, during the pastorate of Rev. John W. Schildt, Salem Church held its first Lord’s Acre Festival in Wolfsville. Church records tell us the profits from the first festival totaled $742.34. This report reflects the generousity of the small Salem congregation at that time. It appears that nearly everything was donated, thus keeping the festival’s expenses to a minimum. The entertainment, “The Little German Band,” was paid $40.00; advertising in the Frederick News-Post cost $6.25 and The Valley Register (the weekly Middletown Valley newspaper) cost $1.44. Other expenses included $42.63 for supplies. At that time, little did the congregation know that this festival would grow into the major event it is today.
When the Lord’s Acre was first initiated at Salem in 1960, the board and pastor sent the following letter to church members asking for participation:
This letter is bringing your Lord’s Acre-Lord’s Hour Project card to you so that you may fill it in and return it to your church by Sunday, April 24. On this day, we hope to have a special dedication service which will mark the official beginning of the Lord’s Acre-Lord’s Hour Program for this year. Simply fill in the name of your project on the top line, write the name of the church on the next line, and then sign your own name. Suggested projects are listed at the bottom of the card. [Suggested projects were Farm Projects: Potatoes, corn, cotton, wheat, chickens, a pig, a calf, Sunday eggs, or other saleable produce. The Lord’s Hour and other Vocational Projects: First hour’s wage at the beginning of each week, baking, extra home chores, mowing lawns, needlework, errand service, sale of garden produce, collecting and selling papers, sales of special articles in stores, flower sales.] Those who need additional cards may have them by simply asking the pastor, or the Lord’s Acre-Lord’s Hour treasurer, Mr. Charles Martin. This program will be in effect from May 1 through September 15. For those who are using vegatable produce, eggs, a portion of milk, or other perishable products as their projects, we suggest that it might be well to bring in your proceeds each week to the program treasurer. This is also suggested for those on the Lord’s Hour, that you bring in the first hour’s wage, each week. For those who will be raising calves, rabbits or pigs; and for those who will be doing needlework along through the year, these will be saved until September 17 or 24. At that time we hope to have our Lord’s Acre Festival, with soup, sandwiches, soft drinks, etc., perhaps the Middletown High School Band to play; display stands for the needlework, and then the day will be highlighted by an auction of the animals, bulk farm produce, etc. This program has been a life saver for the rural church. New churches have been built, those in a bad shape of repair have been repaired, new educational units and materials have been added, and the rural church has been strengthened. This has all been possible because the people have worked together, children and adults alike having their individual projects and working for the Lord, and for the improvement of their church. The pastor will work with the official board on this project. We hope to come around, especially to those of you who have agricultural projects, to have prayers of dedication and to ask the Lord’s blessing on your project. This may, and will be done gladly whether the project is located in the field, barn, garden, etc. As you know, the official board thought it far better to try to build an educational unit, than to try and repair the school at a great cost. With our present Sunday School enrollment, it will be most difficult to build an adequate addition for anything less than $20,000. We have around $1,500 toward this now, and all the money received from the Lord’s Hour and the Lord’s Acre will be placed in our building fund. With the prayer that God will bless you and your project.
Signed: The Official Board and the Pastor of Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Festivals in the Old Wolfsville School
When the Frederick County Board of Education constructed the new Wolfsville Elementary School and no longer had a need for the old school, Salem Church purchased the old school property. The school property was located adjacent to the original Salem Church building. Church officials very wisely purchased the property in 1959, which would allow for future expansion of church buildings and ministries. The church used the old school building for almost 10 years for various youth activities, and also the Lord’s Acre Festival. So, during the 1960’s, the festival was held in the old Wolfsville School. All of the activities were indoors on the lower level of the school building, which was decorated with harvest-time decorations by the Youth Fellowship. Within this confined area, there were produce and needlework sales, a food stand, a grab bag sale, and an area for the entertainment and the auction. Rows of chairs were provided for watching the entertainment, the auction, or for visiting with friends. At that time, the festivals were held in early October and portable heaters were needed for warmth. The crowds grew larger each year during the late 1960’s. It was very crowded and noisy inside that old school house.
The Festival Moves to the Ruritan Park
During those early years, the condition of the old school house was deteriorating, especially the floor on the lower level. So, in 1970, the Church decided to move the festival to the Wolfsville Ruritan Park on Brandenburg Hollow Road in Wolfsville. At the park, the festival had room to grow, and that it did.
Festivals at the Park
At the park, the festival grew. During the 1970’s, the crowds increased, the profits doubled and then tripled. The Youth Fellowship always set the mood with harvest-time decorations. Corn shocks line the pavilion’s edge, pumpkins, gourds, and streamers added color to the event. A flea market table was added in 1975. During the 1980’s, the festival continued to be successful.
In 1984, the 25th Lord’s Acre Festival, a beautiful and unique quilt, 82 inches by 96 inches, containing 20, 12-inch squares depicting various buildings in Wolfsville which were standing at that time and others that no longer exist — scenes of Wolfsville past and present — was designed and made by the women of the church. The quilt was designed by Judith Harne, a Salem member and, at the time, was an art student at Hood College. Mrs. Harne, in an effort to faithfully reproduce the buildings, consulted photographs, local townspeople, and “The History of Wolfsville,” written by Salem member Charles Martin. The women who embroidered the squares for the quilt were Fonda Gormer, Sue Ellen Stottlemyer, Betty Brandenburg, Pat Eccard, Annabelle Martin, Dortha Nusbaum, Kate Draper, Mary Alice Shankle, Catherine Harne, Linda Kline, Joyce Gregory, Marjorie Martin and Caroline Buhrman. Mrs. John Summers did the quilting. The entire project took six months. The quilt sold at auction for the surprising price of $5,000.00.
In 1996, hand dipped ice cream was added to the menu, giving pie eaters the option to have it a la mode. In the late 1990’s, snow cones were sold, and a dunk tank was enjoyed in 2000 and 2001. Also in 2001, a garden corner was added to sell plants, and in 2002 the youth sold funnel cakes. In 2004, a silent auction was added, and in 2016, children’s games were added with a prize for everyone who played.
Ingredient for Success
Salem is fortunate to have an abundance of fabulous bakers. Every year, these fine individuals turn out a tremendous number of pies, cakes, cookies and the like. And many have been baking for a long time and have learned to add the ingredients without looking at the recipe. This is somewhat like the Lord’s Acre Festival. This event has been very successful over the years, but its success is dependent upon some very important ingredients.
• Good Weather
God certainly has blessed our festivals with good weather over the years. The weather is often so pleasant that many festival goers bring their lawn chairs and stay all evening. Only one year did folks have to stay under the pavilion due to rain.
• Good Crowd
The Wolfsville community and beyond have been faithful supporters of this event over the years.
• Donated Items
Many church members and friends work long and hard on items to be sold.
• Good Music
The crowd is entertained with Christian music. Music with a Christian message is an important ingredient.
• Good Help
It is very gratifying to see so many people working together in a wonderful spirit of cooperation. Without the help of so many of Salem’s members and friends, this event could not continue year after year as it has so beautifully.
• Good Purpose
This is the most important ingredient for success. Our purpose must always be to present the Lord’s Acre Festival in such a way as to glorify God. We pray we do.
Years at a Glance
Entertainment:
1960 – Little German Band
1961 – Little German Band
1962 – Little German Band
1963 – Little German Band
1964 – Little German Band
1965 – Little German Band
1966 – Little German Band
1967 – Little German Band
1968 – Covalt Family
1969 – Little German Band
1970 – Harmony Band
1971 – Little German Band
1972 – Little German Band
1973 – Harmony Band
1974 – Harmony Band
1975 – Middletown Band
1976 – Middletown Band
1977 – Spruce Run Band
1978 – Shorb Brothers
1979 – Shorb Brothers
1980 – Shorb Brothers
1981 – Catoctin Gospel Quartet
1982 – The Ecumen
1983 – The Ecumen
1984 – The Ecumen
1985 – Sweet Deliverance
1986 – The Beacons
1987 – The Ecumen
1988 – The Ecumen
1989 – The Ecumen
1990 – Gospel Travelers
1991 – Melodies of Praise
1992 – Wingert Family
1993 – Gospel Travelers
1994 – Morning Star Singers
1995 – Wingert Family
1996 – Gospel Travelers
1997 – Gospel Travelers
1998 – Gospel Travelers
1999 – The Brothers
2000 – Wingert Family
2001 – The Brothers
2002 – The Brothers
2003 – The Wilsons
2004 – The Wilsons (Southern Gospel) and Jason Bearinger (Contemporary Praise)
2005 – Randy Simpson (Southern Gospel) and Jason Bearinger (Contemporary Praise)
2006 – Harmony Road (Bluegrass Gospel) and Jason Bearinger (Contemporary Praise)
2007 – Harmony Road (Bluegrass Gospel) and Aflame (Contemporary Praise)
2008 – Harmony Road (Bluegrass Gospel) and Aflame (Contemporary Praise) and Joann Leatherman & Marlene Young (Traditional Praise)
2009 – Harmony Road (Bluegrass Gospel) and Aflame (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2010 – By Faith (Southern & Contemporary Gospel) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2011 – By Faith (Southern & Contemporary Gospel) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2012 – “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2013 – “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2014 – “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2015- “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2016 – Ernie Bradley and the Grassy Ridge Band (Bluegrass Gospel) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2017 – “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2018 – “Works in Progress” Community Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2019 – “Works in Progress” Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2020 – (Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions)
2021 – “Works in Progress” Praise Band (Contemporary Praise) and Randy Sowers (Southern Gospel)
2022 – “Works in Progress” Praise Band (Contemporary Praise)
2023 – “His Word Ministries” (Traditional & Contemporary)
Profits:
1960 – $742.34
1961 – 604.43
1962 – 732.91
1963 – 742.26
1964 – 798.31
1965 – 929.11
1966 – 1,204.99
1967 – 1,271.40
1968 – 1,389.52
1969 – 1,649.59
1970 – 1,993.87
1971 – 1,764.91
1972 – 2,404.15
1973 – 2,288.35
1974 – 3,000.44
1975 – 3,258.86
1976 – 3,500.00
1977 – 3,483.40
1978 – 3,504.51
1979 – 4,129.21
1980 – 4,546.50
1981 – 4,415.66
1982 – 3,706.74
1983 – 4,425.99
1984 – 10,129.67
1985 – 4,895.00
1986 – 4,576.85
1987 – 5,181.36
1988 – 6,012.26
1989 – 7,282.12
1990 – 6,032.45
1991 – 5,377.47
1992 – 5,556.84
1993 – 6,459.31
1994 – 8,190.05
1995 – 8,576.32
1996 – 9,022.31
1997 – 8,534.50
1998 – 7,947.44
1999 – 9,711.01
2000 – 8,885.47
2001 – 10,102.70
2002 – 8,344.57
2003 – 9,700.71
2004 – 11,070.42
2005 – 17,463.92
2006 – 18,284.88
2007 – 13,634.91
2008 – 19,926.24
2009 – 17,007.42
2010 – 18,665.06
2011 – 17,960.47
2012 – 17,750.81
2013 – 16,837.29
2014 – 18,654.13
2015 – 15,876.11
2016 – 17,593.86
2017 – 16,394.76
2018 – 15,839.60
2019 – 17,331.54
2020 – 7,000.00 (Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions but still received contributions from individuals.)
2021 – $10,144.38
2022 – $13,637.36
2023 – $15,823.89
Use of Profits:
1967 – Constructed two-story educational building with six classrooms, secretary’s office, restrooms, kitchen, and assembly area.
1968 – New parking lot.
1969 – Demolished old Wolfsville School and cleared site.
1971 – Constructed storage building.
1974 – Constructed parsonage with pastor’s study, living room, dining room, kitchen, five bedrooms, two full baths, and basement.
1980 – Installed first sound system in sanctuary.
1984 – Purchased new Yamaha piano for sanctuary.
1985 – Installed cassette deck to record worship services.
1986 – Renovated kitchen. Purchased new appliances. Constructed new curb and sidewalk.
1988 – Refinished hardwood floors and replaced carpet in sanctuary.
1991 – Installed ceiling fans in sanctuary.
1992 – Purchased new Allen organ for sanctuary.
1993 – Enlarged and repaved parking lot.
1998 – Parking lot enlarged again. Purchased air conditioners for assembly area.
2000 – Installed air conditioning in sanctuary. Upgraded sound system.
2002 – Constructed elevator, handicap restroom, storage rooms, water fountain, new flooring in kitchen, assembly area, and hallway.
2003 – Restored church steeple, and upgraded electrical in the educational building.
2004 – Painted exterior of church and educational building.
2005 – Purchased new storage building and installed a Constant Voltage Transformer on the elevator.
2006 – Base Map for Site Plan for future educational building addition. Purchased new tables and new kitchen stove for educational building. Purchased equipment for new contemporary worship service.
2007 – Sanctuary interior was painted with new colors (shades of beige), and the parking lot was enlarged, adding 26 more parking spaces.
2008 – Repaired sanctuary floor understructure; repaired and waterproofed classroom walls; removed three trees from the parsonage front yard; replaced carpet in three rooms in educational building; and renovated the parsonage.
2009 – Repaired parsonage septic pipe, removed a tree and its stump from the parsonage back yard, purchased a phone messaging system (PhoneTree), parsonage termite treatment, purchased new refrigerator and freezer for church kitchen, replaced stucco on outside front walls of church sanctuary, and constructed a new concrete floor under the church sanctuary.
2010 – All windows were replaced in the educational building and parsonage. Also, some exterior aluminium facia was added to the parsonage as well as new spouting and down spouts.
2011 – Stucco was replaced on the north and east sides of the exterior church walls. Painted window frames on the exterior of church buildings and other exterior wood surfaces, painted utility buildings, and replaced the wooden cross on the front of the main building.
2012 – Electric water heater was replaced with a tankless gas water heater, shelving was installed in the parsonage basement, replaced church kitchen sink and faucet, replaced 2 window air conditioners, purchased a microphone stand, repaired the church elevator, and numerous small maintenance tasks.
2013 – Major parsonage basement drainage repairs were completed. Additional insulation was installed in the parsonage. In addition, at the parsonage, two new heat pumps were installed giving the parsonage central air conditioning and a new heating system. In the educational building, a white board was installed in the high school classroom area. The parking lot was re-striped. Additional shelving was installed in the food pantry.
2014 – Sound system was upgraded. Parsonage interior was painted and drywall repaired. The social room was renovated with new ceiling tiles, freshly painted walls, and new carpet. One classroom was repainted. Additional shelving was purchased for the food pantry.
2015 – Laptop was replaced and software upgraded. Restored historical church chairs. Replaced parsonage kitchen floor. Replaced window treatment in social room. Purchased additional shelving for food pantry. Replaced parsonage washing machine. Numerous repairs and small maintenance projects.
2016 – Purchased two new table tennis tables for youth and “Salem Slam” Ping-Pong Tournaments. Replaced microwave in church kitchen and added some kitchen utensils. Replaced church phone system. Numerous repairs and maintenance projects at parsonage, church buildings, and grounds.
2018 – Installed central heat pump system in social room and church kitchen, providing central air conditioning. (Previously, window air conditioners were used.)
2020 – Purchased laptop and video equipment to broadcast worship services on Zoom. Installed Internet WiFi in church building.
2021 – Installed an air purifier in sanctuary and social room. Replaced shrubbery in the church’s front yard which had been planted 30 years ago in 1991 and had outgrown its space. Removed shrubbery in front of parsonage. Replaced shingles (color: Moire Black) on sanctuary roof. Renovated lower level of educational building and front hallway and lobby.
2022 – Sump pump replacement under sanctuary and trenching at rear of church. Replaced the parsonage freezer. Trimmed trees at church and parsonage.
2023 – Re-striped parking lot. Parsonage renovation (indoor painting, bathroom & plumbing repairs, floor repairs, deep cleaning, etc.). Replaced sanctuary ceiling fans. Replaced one piece of Internet WiFi equipment.
2024 – Purchased “welcome card” holders installed on back of pews.