NewsMonday, August 13, 2007 7:20 PM CDT

Comments (0) |

E-mail this page |

Print this page |

Enlarge type |

Reduce type |

Search archives |

RSS feeds |

Add to My Yahoo!

Church cools off with ice cream social

By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com

TOWANDA — Roy Redding couldn’t have been happier as he scooped another helping of ice cream onto a churchgoer’s plate and finished off his first gallon of vanilla.

“Every time you get people together to eat it’s always a good time, especially on a hot day like today,” Redding said during Sunday’s annual ice cream social at First Baptist Church of Towanda.

The church usually has its summer mainstay outside, but its members decided earlier Sunday that it was too hot for that, even with some chilled ice cream to lessen the blow. Temperatures had reached 97 degrees in Central Illinois on Sunday, with an even higher heat index.

So instead, everyone gathered in the church basement — usually filled with kids for Sunday school — and relaxed in the air conditioning.

The social has been a staple of the 150-year-old church for more than 20 years, and it has developed a faithful following, with some who have been coming since the first year.

“I come to the social every year, and it’s just fun getting together and being able to eat well, plus it’s good to be in the air conditioning,” said Jean Mounce of Towanda. “Everyone is always welcome, and it’s always a lot of fun.”

The social was created to help raise money for the church’s summer vacation bible school every August. The social usually draws about 70 people. Redding said.

Instead of just kids gathered around tables for Sunday school, people of all ages filled the basement, eyeing delicious scoops of ice cream and pies in front of them.

A line quickly formed at the serving table as people contemplated which of the many homemade pies to eat.

Whether it was the peach apple, strawberry rhubarb or the Italian cream cake made by local award-winning cake maker Fannie Livingston, everyone seemed to agree that the real treat was being able to get together and see others from the 500-plus person village.

“This event rates really well out of everything we do in the year,” said church Pastor Cal Gowen. “The fellowship really likes getting together, and it’s a good excuse to eat pie.”

Even some who don’t regularly attend the church stopped by.

“I used to go to this church, but then I stopped,” said Ali Domkuski, 10, of Towanda. “I have been going to this every year though.”

“This could be the only time that you get to see some of these people,” said Mary Merritt of Towanda as she scooped out another piece of pie and set it on a plate. “It is just a really good time to get together.”

E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS

Show comments | Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories

Subscribe to the Pantagraph

Contact the Pantagraph staff

Home page | Previous page | Top

Ads by Yahoo!

Save on Bloomington Illinois Hotels

Hotel Deals in Bloomington, Illinois. Compare Prices, Save up 75%.
Bloomington.Illinois.Hotel.net

Illinois Workers Compensation

Receive an instant quote. Illinois contract workers compensation and payroll without exemptions or deposits.
illinois.contractors-solutions.com

See How I lost 30Lbs Fast

In only 3 Months, I did it. Come read my Story here. -Judy.
JudysWeightloss.com

Take a look

Trevor Merritt, 8, a member of the First Baptist Church of Towanda, licked his lips as a scoop of ice cream flopped on his plate during the church's ice cream social, Sunday, August 12, 2007. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)

Emily Craig, 8, fed ice cream to Hannah Kocar, 4, both of Towanda, during the ice cream social at the First Baptist Church of Towada, Sunday, August 12, 2007. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)

Maxine Sewell, of Bloomington, a member of the First Baptist Church of Towanda, smiled at the anticipation of a large scoop of ice cream during the church's ice cream social, Sunday, August 12, 2007. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)

Roy Redding and Lyle Merritt, members of the First Baptist Church of Towanda, inspected their ice cream scoop before the start of the church's ice cream social, Sunday, August 12, 2007. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)

Video