It actually happened. This becomes an even more impressive statistic when one takes into account the fact that 170 of the congregation were enslaved black members. The week preceding May Meeting offers two evening services, which are intended to prepare you spiritually for Communion on Sunday. For this reason, the services are called Preparatory Services. September Meeting September Meeting is held on the second Sunday in September and is a smaller version of May Meeting.
Communion is celebrated and the service is followed by dinner in the grove.
A Southern Tradition Dinner on the ground, or in some areas, dinner on the grounds was the outgrowth of a time when, after church services, white cloths were spread under trees and families ate together on the church grounds. Lack of adequate transportation prevented members of the congregation from traveling back home after Sunday morning church. Each family packed food for the day and stayed for the evening service before returning home. This practice was born of necessity, endured as tradition and evolved into a feast to celebrate various church rituals including baptisms, revivals, all-day singings and graveyard workings. Boards were nailed to trees for make-shift tables to support pots of chicken and dumplings, cornbread dressing, platters of fried chicken, fresh vegetables, pickles, preserves, homemade breads, puddings, pies and cakes.