The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine

before.”
    Miss Birdie glowered at her friend, then turned to study Adam’s face. He had no idea what opinion she reached about his sincerity. He attempted to look exceptionally earnest.
    “Do you ladies mind if we pray together?” he asked. Without waiting for a response, Adam began, “Loving God, we gather here in Your name, to listen and do Your will. Open us to work together to Your glory, we ask in the name of Your son. Amen.”
    “ Open us to work together ?” Miss Birdie asked. “Pastor, after sixty-plus years of church attendance, I’ve learned to interpret ministerial prayers, to translate the words preachers use.” She scrutinized Adam. “Sometimes I’m a little wary. What do you want to say with those words?”
    “Bird, why do you always question?” Mercedes said. “ All of us together sounds nice. We should all work together in the church.”
    Not one to be deterred by a prayer, Miss Birdie repeated. “About those hymns, Pastor Adam.”
    His lips quivered. He found her determination amusing. If he didn’t, she’d probably drive him nuts. Unfortunately, she caught that quick expression before he was able to wipe it away.
    “It’s not funny, Preacher.” She kept her eyes on him as if daring his wayward expression to return. “I brought a list of songs we like to sing.” She handed him a sheet of paper. “And the page numbers.”
    “Very thorough.” He glanced at the paper and recognized many of the old hymns popular in the Kentucky churches. “Thank you.”
    “And you’ll use them? During the service?” She continued to study his expression.
    Adam could only hope she had a little trouble deciphering it because, as young and inexperienced as he was, he had no idea how to react to her demands. No, to her suggestions .
    “I promise you at least one a Sunday, and I’ll work with the choir on the new hymns.”
    “Oh, Pastor, you surely noticed our choir isn’t very big. Just three sopranos and Ralph, who can’t really sing anymore,” Mercedes explained. “Good view of the congregation from up there. Ralph likes to sit in the choir so he can see what everyone in the sanctuary is doing during the service.”
    “But still, they can lead you in learning some new hymns,” Adam suggested.
    “We like the old ones,” Birdie said clearly. “None of us wants to change.”
    “How are you going to learn new hymns?”
    “We don’t want to.” She bit the words off slowly and precisely. “We are happy with the ones we know.”
    “Oh, don’t be so old-fashioned.” Mercedes smiled at Birdie, then at Adam. “I liked some of them. We sing several of the spirit songs at the women’s retreats but never have here.”
    Traitor , Miss Birdie’s frown said.
    “I’m surprised you’re working today,” Mercedes observed.
    Adam had noticed that Mercedes always attempted to change the subject when Miss Birdie scowled.
    “Most of our ministers take Mondays off,” the librarian said.
    “I don’t know what day I’ll take off, but I just got here and there’s so much to do to get settled. I do have a question for you ladies.”
    “Pastor Adam, I’ve learned a smiling minister often means he’s fixin’ to make an unwanted suggestion,” Miss Birdie stated.
    “Oh, not at all. This isn’t difficult. Wonder if you ladies could tell me about the Widows.”
    “Oh, that’s us.” Mercedes grinned and pointed at Miss Birdie then at herself. “We’re the Widows. We put together the sympathy dinners and take food to the sick and watch over the fellowship dinners, whatever service is needed here at the church and in town.”
    “You sound like real treasures.” Adam considered carefully how to ask the next question. “I wonder if you know anything about the furniture that Rodolfo from Hilton’s delivered to the parsonage.”
    They glanced at each other. “Pastor, this is a small town,” Mercedes said. “In a small town, we look after each other. Don’t you worry. It’s taken care