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St. Paul hosts Community Day

Published October 01. 2024 01:28PM
by TAMI QUIGLEY Special to the Bethlehem Press

Jesus used the parable of the good Samaritan to teach about loving our neighbor as ourselves. St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fountain Hill, lives that in tangible fashion, and in that spirit hosted its third annual Community Day Aug. 31, a time for faith, fellowship and fun.

“We’re very pleased the weather held out and we do have a lot more community response this year,” Pastor Marlene Werkheiser, pastoral care provider, said on a day when forecasted rain lost out to long stretches of sunshine.

“We’re very appreciative of all the support from the Borough of Fountain Hill,” Pastor Werkheiser said during the festival that kicked-off Labor Day weekend.

St. Paul’s held its first Community Day in 2022 because it wanted to do something for the community, and offer the chance for people to get out and see each other again after the COVID pandemic. That commitment to be a community church that is there for its neighbors remains strong.

The event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featured Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck, where everyone could dip in to enjoy a free ice cream; Fire Chief Lee Reisling and fellow firefighters from Borough of Fountain Hill Fire Department Station 34 displaying their fire truck; officers from the Borough of Fountain Hill Police Department mingling with community members; exhibitions by St. Luke’s EMT and Bethlehem Kung Fu Center; meat raffle; and tricky tray baskets, all donated by church members.

Guitarist and singer Josh Gulotta, a seminary student and youth pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Hellertown, brought the sound of music to the festivities.

Community Day poured on the fun for children with face painting and a variety of kids’ games. Everyone could nosh on hot dogs, chips and a soda for only $3.

Pastor Werkheiser and Cindy Garguilo organized the event with the help of organizing committee members.

Looking to the future, St. Paul’s is working with the Borough of Fountain Hill to possibly host a second annual Veterans/First Responders Breakfast this November.

Upcoming events at St. Paul’s include Blessing of the Animals at outdoor worship Oct. 6 at 10 a.m., Healing Service Oct. 20 at 10 a.m., Pulpiteers Puppet Ministry Christmas Show Dec. 7 at 6 p.m., and Christmas Eve worship (Candlelight and Holy Communion) Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.

Brothers Jesse and Joseph are excited to check out the inside of a police vehicle with Officer Eric Tosado of the Borough of Fountain Hill Police during the third annual Community Day Aug. 31 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fountain Hill.
Seth Hunsinger and his sister Ruth Hunsinger demonstrate the Outer Tiger Form during the Bethlehem Kung Fu Center exhibition. The Hunsingers are the great-nephew and great-niece of Brian H. Kunsman (Pai Shen Li), the center’s owner and Teacher Grandmaster, who was on hand with instructor Tim Sprague.
Here comes the ice cream: a youngster keeps an eye on the ice cream coming his way from Sweet Scoops ice cream truck parked on Hoffert Street.
press photos by tami quigleyPastor Marlene Werkheiser, pastoral care provider at St. Paul’s, front left, shares a smile with Community Day volunteers from the church.
Erianyelis takes her turn at tossing a red ball to knock over the cans at the kids’ games during the afternoon.
St. Luke’s EMT’s Noah K. and Cayden R., left, are on hand for the day with firefighters with Fountain Hill Fire Department Station 34, from left, Jayden C; Fire Chief Lee R.; Lieutenant Nick W.; Captain Patrick H.; Lieutenant Jordan S; and firefighter Julius J.
Bentley Wrecsics watches his sister Mila Wrecsics pick a duck from the duck pond, which earned her a prize.
Devonshire Ardle selects a lollipop at Pick-a-Pop, where one with a red dot is a winner that yields a prize.
The “Kitchen Crew,” from left, Rich Moyzan, Casmier Pelc, Jeff Drake and Jeff Garguilo keep things cookin’ throughout the event.
Face painting is a hit with the kids, including Edwin, who has his face painted by Cheryl Reynolds.
Members and friends of St. Paul’s enjoy the fun and fellowship of the day.
Josh Gulotta strums his guitar and sings “Moonshadow,” an early 1970s song by Cat Stevens. Gulotta, a seminary student and youth pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Hellertown, also performed tunes, including “Early Morning Rain,” a 1966 song by singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, covered by Elvis Presley in 1972.