PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Congregational Church treated its elder members Saturday, June 4, to a special luncheon and concert in recognition of their many years of service.
The annual luncheon is for church members 80 and older, and PICC Pastor Tim Stohlberg feels it’s essential to pay tribute to them.
“I think it’s really important that we have these events, because churches can become singular and obsessive in their pursuit of young families,” he said. “The unintended consequence is that folks on the other end of the age spectrum can be forgotten.
“We need to remember our members of long standing and their contributions to the church and community,” Stohlberg said, “and remember that they are still valuable. As a matter of fact, we had some who had to bow out this year because they had so much going on in their lives.”
Lunch featured homemade chicken salad, strawberry and spinach salad and hot biscuits. A recital featuring handbells and the church choir followed the meal.
The first ringers were from the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Seniors Achieving Greater Education (SAGE) Victorian handbell-ringing class, taught by PICC Handbelle Choir Director Roberta Griffiths. In their first performance before an audience, the group rang “Simple Gifts” and “Fairest Lord Jesus.”
Next, the church’s choir, accompanied by Barbara Merryman on piano, sang “My Lord, What a Morning” and “Softly and Tenderly.”
The Handbelle Choir performed a musical arrangement of “Jonah and the Whale,” with narration by Dr. Dan Fowler, and then rang classical pieces “Canon of Grace” and “Fantasy on Hyfrydol.”
After the musical selections all were invited to share dessert of homemade fruit pies and ice cream.
Elders attending the luncheon included Marilynn Bonenfant, Jean Hamlin, Honey Higgins, Delores Hutchins, David and Janet Maxcy, Helen McConnell, Pat McLaughlin, Barbara Morris, Nancy Roe, Mary Turner and Margaret “Peg” Woodman.
