My name is Jennifer Summy. I am originally from Harrisburg, PA and in 2021 I moved to Denton, MD to serve at Camp Mardela Church of the Brethren Camp. this blog originally was to serve as a blog for my Biblical reflections and sermons, but I have expanded it to also be a place to share my music (original and arrangements) and my knitting! Here is some background of each.

 

Ministry Background

I grew up in the United Methodist church, went on the World Race, which is an interdenominational evangelical mission trip, I briefly attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University online, and I am currently working at and attending the Church of the Brethren, while simultaneously attending Dallas Theological Seminary in DC, a non-denominational evangelical seminary.​ I previously considered myself "interdenominational", because I believe there is value in the checks and balances of the denominational system. I think we have a lot to learn from the diverse array of denominational structures, creeds, and traditions, and by engaging a wide variety of Christian viewpoints, we can engage questions we may not have thought of before, and deepen our understanding of the infinite God we serve. Although I see this value in many denominations, as a wise man once said, you can't live in the hallway of the mansion of Christianity - eventually you have to pick a room. For this season, the room I have picked is the Church of the Brethren. I am a member of the Easton Church of the Brethren, and feel deeply connected with this community of faith, and they share my value of inter-denominational engagement.​

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Music Background

My mother was pregnant with me while she was singing and competing in a female barbershop quartet called "Special Delivery". So even in the womb, I was on stage performing! I have sung in choral groups as early as I could form words, and this has been a significant part of my life. I started writng music in middle school. My first original choral piece was performed in 2013 (when I was 15) by the West Side Singers - my high school auditioned choir. Since then, I took composition lessons in college from 2015-2018, and have started going through the Arranger Certification Program through Sweet Adelines in 2023. My first barbershop arrangement was performed in 2024 by Cheers quartet at the White House! I am sharing these songs and arrangements on this website with links on where to purchase them, to help financially support these musical pursuits.

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Knitting Background

My grandmother was a skilled crafter - knitting, crocheting, and quilting for everyone in the family and in her community. She taught me to crochet at a young age, but I wasn't very good! I picked it up again in college in 2016 and have been knitting ever since. I have recently offered my services to make custom sweaters and blankets for friends and family, but I am expanding that service here, offering people to order custom pieces through this website. It is my joy to do these projects, and I hope that the income from this can help support my other endeavours!

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