Tractors roll in to service at Mt. Nebo church
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Ed Ford tied up traffic on his way to church Sunday morning.
The Connoquenessing resident has only a few-miles trek to Mt. Nebo Presbyterian Church on Prospect Road, but it took him a little longer to get there Sunday — he rode his tractor in for an annual event at the parish.
“I come pretty regularly,” Ford said. “For this, I come just to be here, bring my tractor and slow down traffic on my way.”
Sandi Cox, a longtime member of the church, said she was watching television several years ago when she saw a program about “take your tractor to church” day somewhere out west. For the past eight years, Tractor Sunday has been a summer event at Mt. Nebo, and it has attracted a lot of attention from many people, including some who aren’t members of the church.
“It’s something that is not really done around here,” Cox said. “It’s more about getting people here.”
About 30 tractors of varying sizes lined the lawns of the church Sunday, as the drivers sat under its pavilion for an outdoor service. Cox said the church got around 80 tractors at the event a few years ago, because many people in the vicinity are farmers or are family members of farmers.
“Everybody will get to appreciate the tractors,” Cox said. “They’re all looking to see who has got the biggest tractor.”
The church’s pastor, Jason Sinagra, started at the church less than a year ago, so this was his first time experiencing Tractor Sunday. He said he appreciates the congregation for participating in an initiative that helps get people to the church.
“This is a great way for us to reach people in the community effectively,” Sinagra said.
Sinagra said he had never heard of churches having events such as Tractor Sunday, but is familiar with some churches that have “blessing of the bikes” days where a priest will pray for the safety of motorcyclists. He was not planning to bless the tractors Sunday, but said the church members are always supportive of the farmers and their harvest.
“We can certainly pray for safety,” Sinagra said. “We’re not into harvest season yet, so that’s something else we can pray for.”
Randy Biever, of Butler, has brought a tractor to the church every year the event has been hosted. He said it is one of the most-anticipated days for many community members, because they don’t get the chance to show off their “toys” very often.
“We have a lot of fun,” Biever said. “People want to gather for worship and show off their tractors a little.”
