Fun times are many for the Masons — Marvin, Susan, and Cara. Christmas is just around the corner and young and old are happily anticipating the joy it brings, are enjoying the music of The Season, are decorating, are planning meals and baking, are purchasing and making gifts . . . all wrapped in love.

Members of the family we are visiting this week have been enjoying the making of special Christmas gifts for a while now. Homemade gifts have become a family tradition with them, as they put emphasis on the fun and fellowship and not the gift.

In the past they have also enjoyed giving white elephant stuff and doing recipe exchanges. One year they gave recipe boxes with a special recipe, and all of the ingredients to make it, included with each.

The people of Tignall, and many in the surrounding communities, already know the new pastor of Independence United Methodist Church, Rev. Marvin Mason. Actually, he’s not that new. He preached his first sermon there on June 26, 2005. And, they’ve been involved in church and community activities since. The week before the 26th, Chuck Smith formally introduced him to the congregation.

Rev. and Mrs. Marvin Mason, shown here in front of Independence United Methodist Church, are enjoying their new home in Tignall. Marvin McKinney Mason is the son of Larry and Jennifer Mason of Clayton. He has a younger sister, Suzanne (Mrs. Jon) Davis, who also lives in Clayton.

Marvin was born May 28, 1962, in Hollywood, Florida, where he lived for nine years before the family moved to South Carolina, then to Clayton. He graduated from Rabun County High School in 1980, and attended Toccoa Falls College, graduating in 1990 with a degree in Biblical Studies. He moved to Athens that same year.

His father was in construction for a number of years, and is currently working with the U.S. Postal Service in Toccoa. His mother is a homemaker.

On August 7, 1993, Marvin and Susan Joan Balthazor were married. Susan is the daughter of Bernard and Beverly Balthazor of Athens. She has two younger brothers. Ronald and his wife, Jane, live in Watkinsville. Jack and his wife, Frances, live in Jefferson.

Susan grew up in Illinois where her father was plant manager of Baker and Taylor, book wholesalers. They moved to Georgia when her father’s franchise was moved to Commerce. Her mom is a retired registered nurse.

Cara Mason Susan graduated from Clarksville High School in Texas. She attended North Georgia College for two years and has taken additional classes at universities. She has worked as assistant accountant and as private secretary to a professor.

Marvin and Susan, who was previously married, have three children. Tom and Aimee Ballentine and their children, Buddy, 8, and Nicholas, 7, live in Watkinsville. Tom works at Fire Mountain; Aimee, at Wal-Mart.

Scott and Andrea Mason live in Hoschton. Scott, a mechanic by trade, is currently cooking at a Sub Shop, until he regains motion in his wrist which was injured in a car accident. Andrea is a kindergarten teacher in Barrow County.

Cara Mason, who is 10 1/2, is in the fifth grade at WashingtonWilkes Elementary School, where she is a straight-A student. Cara loves music and is really into The Sound of Music and loves Nancy Drew — has a lot of Nancy Drew on her computer. She was planning to join the Girl Scouts this month. She was in the chorus at Whit-Davis School in Athens. She really enjoyed ballet and gymnastics.

“Fruit of the Spirit” theme is used by the Masons in the decorative ceramic plates they are making. Susan shows some completed gifts. Cara also enjoyed being in the Children’s Choir which had Christmas program December 4th at Washington First United Methodist Church, where Rev. Gale Siebert is pastor.

With Independence United Methodist Church, the family was involved in the Living Christmas Card on The Square in Washington on December 6th.

Also at home in the parsonage across the street from Independence is “Chancey,” the dachshund-basset mix. Chancey, now about five, is shelter pup from Clarke County Animal Shelter. For about three days he was real quiet, but they say he is not so quiet these days. He enjoys barking at strangers.

Independence United Methodist Church, founded in 1783, has Sunday School each Sunday morning, beginning at 10:00, followed by morning worship at 11:00. Bible Study on Thursdays begins at 6 p.m. They enjoy fellowship with a casserole meal every fifth Sunday, and on other special occasions. They have approximately 69 members.

Rev. Marvin Mason shows the doll house which he and his daughter Cara are working on together. They have a choir, with Dr. Sophia Bamford, organist. Jack Rhodes is Sunday school superintendent. Sara “Tody” Derrick is treasurer; Susan Mason, secretary. David Tyler is a certified lay speaker and is head of Men’s Fellowship which meets every second Monday. Women of Independence is led by his mother, Mrs. Mildred Tyler.

Having heard that Rock Methodist Church at Centerville is no longer in the same circuit as Independence, I asked, and was told that Rock is now with the Crawfordville Circuit. Even though I am Southern Baptist, I have fond memories of attending Rock Church as a child and know some special people who still attend services there.

I have also attended revival services at Pope’s Chapel Methodist Church and was glad to hear they still have homecoming there once year, on the first Sunday in October. Malcom Chafin coordinates this; and Independence goes there for the day. This year, Rev. Mason participated in the service on October 2, with guest speaker Robert “Bob” Fortson.

Rev. Mason preached his first sermon at Independence United Methodist Church on June 26th. About 60 people showed up for this year’s Parking Lot Pumpkin Fun on October 31st. The church provides hotdogs, chips and hot cider and everyone enjoys games — Fruit of the Spirit (apple) Dunking, treasure hunt, etc. Next year they will be having Ten Commandments Bowling.

They are planning to have Vacation Bible School next year. Date will be coordinated with other churches in the area.

The Masons are enjoying their new home in Tignall and their work with the members of Independence United Methodist Church. Independence is really a pretty church. It always looks well kept and inviting.

Marvin grew up knowing about Jesus. He was 16 when he had his personal conversion experience. He was in his early 20’s when he knew God was calling him into the ministry. He became very active in Scaly Mountain Church of God. He completed the course work at Toccoa Falls and moved to Athens in 1990 and was there until they moved to Tignall.

“That was put on hold until about four years ago when the Lord said, ‘You need to get back into the ministry.’ I started the candidacy process with the Methodists . . . was appointed by the Bishop. Independence is my first church. I’m getting ready to begin, in February, working on my Master of Divinity at Erskine College.”

Marvin enjoys playing the piano — had one year of lessons when he first got out of high school. Susan also plays the piano, as does Cara. Susan sings some; Cara sings a lot. They enjoy singing around the piano and will be doing that at Christmastime.

They all enjoyed Thanksgiving at Ron and Jane’s home in Watkinsville, and all of Susan’s family will be with them in Tignall Christmas Eve. All will go to Clayton Christmas Day.

They may have snow for Christmas in Clayton — may have it in Tignall too. When Marvin was 1516, he enjoyed his last big two-footdeep snow. They have flurries in Clayton almost every year.

Marvin also enjoys wood burning, and is currently working with Cara on a doll house. As a family, they are enjoying ceramics and are making lots of pretty ceramic pieces for Christmas gifting. Their Fruit of the Spirit plates are beautiful (Galatians 5:22). They get their supplies and paint and bake the pieces at The Purple Palette in Washington.

Susan and Cara are also making bead jewelry for giving to lucky recipients. Christmas preparations will include the making of Advent wreaths for their home and for the church. They were looking forward to having Open House at the parsonage on Sunday, December 11th.

They enjoy traveling and take a family vacation every year. They sometimes go to visit her Aunt Jenny and Uncle Nelson Ritsema in Kankakee, Illinois. They are planning to visit them next June.

They also enjoy sneaking educational experiences in when they travel. Their favorite trips are to Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. They have been to Jamestown, Mammoth Cave, Disney World, and the Kennedy Space Center. They also enjoy trips to Florida to visit their Aunt Joby Wibben on Pine Island, just north of Fort Myers.

The Masons have enjoyed having family members visit them in Tignall, including her parents and his mother, sister, and niece Kayla, who is 15. Susan has a niece, Katherine Hudson, who is attending Cornell University; and nephews Christopher Balthazor who is graduating from Emmanuel College soon, and Daniel Balthazor who is attending Gainesville College.

They have also had friends visit from Athens: the Pringles—Dean, Jeni, Jordan, Jessica and Jared; the Bernabes—Mary, Rebeca, Jacob and Rachel. Rebeca and Jordan are Cara’s best friends, in addition to new ones made here.

Susan and Marvin are Mom and Dad to their children; Nana and Papa to grandchildren. Cara’s grandparents are MaMaw and PaPaw Mason and Nanna and PaPa Balthazor. Cara is going to get us . . . but, when she acts like her Dad, her Mom calls her “Marvella.” (And, her mother did not say whether that was when she was sweet, or naughty.) Her Mom also calls her “Caramia” — my beloved.

We are grateful to the special member of Independence United Methodist Church, who wanted her pastor written about. We wish a “Merry Christmas” for her; and for the Mason family, the Independence United Methodist Church family, and . . . for all of you.