08/09/11 A sudden rain shower didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the congregation of the First United Church of Christ and their guests on Sunday. The church held a community dinner for anyone in the area who wished to join them.
Brandon and Amy Warner, Pam and Howard Hindon and Rachelle Yung braved the rain to cook hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. Helping to organize the rest of the carry -in meal was Martha Yung, chair of the Festival and Parish Life Committee. Yung said, “We welcome anyone to join us for our church services, but today’s dinner was just to share what we have with the community.” Sunday’s dinner marked the fourth free community dinner held by the church.
The event was also an opportunity for the community to meet the Interim Pastor AnnMarie Kneebone. Pastor Kneebone came to the area this summer to fill the pulpit at both the First United Church of Christ in Plymouth and the GraceUnited Church in Culver. Kneebone most recently spent 15 years serving various churches in Chicagoand the last two years in the Michiana area, but has pastored in a number of churches in other towns as an interim. She said, “Churches sometimes need a time for transitioning and healing (between pastors) and a time to evaluate their future needs.”
Kneebone quipped, “I don’t go on vacations. I just move a lot.”
Churches in need of interim services or pastors free to relocate can find profiles and opportunities on a call list provided by the Church of Christ.
Kneebone said she is pleased to be near family in Michiganand friends in Chicago. Speaking of her time in the area, Kneebone said, “There is such a joy here.”
She is also pleased to have organist Mary Allen Lynch-Weirich provide music accompaniment in both churches.
Youngster Aiden Rivera said he wasn’t surprised when the rains came down. During the morning service, Pastor Kneebone had passed out percussion instruments for the children to play and Rivera was given a pair of “rain sticks”.
Carol Anders Correspondent
