Appreciation was the word of the day at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont Oct. 26, which hosted the annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast and Lunch to say thank you to those who serve the community with dedication and honor.
“We’re so grateful to have top law enforcement, firefighters and Emergency Medical Services,” the Rev. Jack Steltzer said. “We’re so blessed to have them serving our community.”
The event was a huge thank you for “a job well done,” said Steltzer.
It was the first time the Appreciation Breakfast and Lunch was held at the consolidated church, which was formed by the December 2023 merger of the former Rosemont Lutheran Church and Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at the Rosemont site.
“Today we continued a tradition begun by former St. John’s Windish Lutheran member Gina Brockway as part of our outreach ministry,” said Kenda Riley, council president of Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont.
St. John’s Windish Lutheran was one of the parishes that merged to form Blessed Trinity before that congregation merged with Rosemont Lutheran.
Brockway’s father is Gene Novak, retired Bethlehem Fire Marshall/Commissioner, who retired in 2006 after 42 years of service. Both were on hand for the special day of gratitude.
Brockway, then a member of St. John Windish’s church council, first spearheaded the event around 2016.
Enjoying the First Responders Appreciation Breakfast and Lunch Oct. 26 at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont are, from left, Jason Kistler, City of Bethlehem paramedic; the Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor; City of Bethlehem Police Officer Ravon Burton; and E.J. Coleman, City of Bethlehem paramedic. “It’s a wonderful event,” Coleman said.
A City of Bethlehem fire truck is parked in the early morning at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont, which served breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PHOTO COURTESY REV. JACK STELTZER)
Sharing a laugh after breakfast are, from left, Jasenko Selimovic and Anna Ernisa, who were visiting from Vienna, Austria; Gene Novak, retired Bethlehem Fire Marshall/Commissioner who retired in 2006 after 42 years and is a member of Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont; and Russ Hillegass, aparamedic who helped save Novak’s life after a 2017 riding mower accident that left him covered in gasoline and sparked a fire. “We are so appreciative of them doing this on an annual basis,” Hillegass said. “The police, firefighters and paramedics look forward to it every year.” Ernisa is originally from Muvska Sobota, Slovenia, sister city to Bethlehem.
First responders enjoy an array of breakfast choices during the event. Food served ran the gamut from breakfast goodies to lunch options featuring cabbage and noodles, chili barbecue and a plethora of desserts.(PHOTO COURTESEY REV. JACK STELTZER)
PRESS PHOTOS BY TAMI QUIGLEYKeeping things cooking in the kitchen are, from left, Kathy Pecuch; Joe Novak, brother of Gene Novak; and Kathy Remaly. More than 25 volunteers and many cooks and bakers contributed to the success of the day.
Volunteers, from left, Sandy Horwath, Joan Erb and Carol Lopez enjoy a light moment while taking a break. “The responders are here and available to us. We wanted to do something for them,” Horwath said, as Erb added, “They risk everything for us.” “We admire them – they deserve to be treated to this special day,” Lopez said.
“He’s a walking miracle,” Gina Brockway said of her father, Gene Novak as the two share a smile during breakfast. “It was through this event we met the EMS guys that saved his life, hugging them and thanking them,” Brockway said, referring to the First Responders Appreciation Breakfast she initially launched at the former St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church around 2016. “We’ve started friendships because of it.” She said her father’s firefighter training led him to cover his face during the 2017 riding mower accident that left him covered in gasoline and sparked a fire, requiring four and a half months of hospitalization. He was also wearing old firefighter pants that were fire retardant.
The breakfast line forms at the event which drew close to 60 first responders. (PHOTO COURTESEY REV. JACK STELTZER)
A City of Bethlehem Emergency Medical Services vehicle is parked outside the church. (PHOTO COURTESEY REV. JACK STELTZER)
City of Bethlehem firetrucks are parked on Broad Street across the street from the church on the sunny morning. (PHOTO COURTESEY REV. JACK STELTZER)
