When the residents of the small eastern Oregon town of Cove awoke on Sabbath, April Fools' Day, they had a surprise. There was 1 to 2 inches of snow on the ground. But there was another pleasant surprise that morning. The members of the Cove Adventist church were treated to an “April Fools' Day Delight" when students from the La Grande Adventist School, about 18 miles from Cove, put on the church service.
Ben Pflugrad, principal and upper grade teacher, and Lori Cummings, lower grade teacher, brought eight of the school's 16 students to help with the church service. Before the service started we had a song service with the students choosing their favorite hymns. One of the songs was “Marching to Zion,” one of my personal favorites. In a church made up of mostly members over 50, it was amazing how having young singers in the mix added to atmosphere of the song service.
After the rousing song service, Dustin Woelk gave the scripture and Sizzie Bars had prayer and then all eight of the students under the direction of Cummings gave special music. Pflugrad then gave an introduction about the sermon topic delivered by three upper grade students: Kelly Fry, Aby Woelk and Levi Haefer. After the three students each gave their short sermonettes, Pflugrad closed the service with prayer.
The La Grande Adventist School usually comes to Cove to give the church service once during the school year. It really was an “April Fools' Day Delight.”
Lori Cummings, LaGrande Adventist School teacher, leads the students in special music on April Fools' Day in the Cove Church.
Kelly Fry speaking up front with Ben Pflugrad in the background
Levi Haefer was the last of the three students speaking
