Welcome! I had the chance to stop by the annual Fallowfield School Reunion on Saturday, October 1.
I estimate 80 former classmates and spouses gathered to share laughs and memories. They enjoyed a meal catered by Anne Valesky’s daughters. The meal included a choice between roast beef and chicken marsala, rolls, coleslaw, applesauce, and cupcakes. I sampled a pumpkin spice cupcake. Yum…it tasted like pumpkin roll with pumpkin spice cream cheese icing. It was fantastic.
Anne Valesky lit a candle in honor of classmates who have passed away since last year’s reunion. They include Mary Elizabeth Nottingham Skelton, class of 1945; Esther M. Hamblen; Wanda Lucille Rhoades; Florence Grace Knapp; George Hanna, class of 1945; John Andrews, class of 1937; Barb Saulsbery; Bernard “Sonny” Calvert; Wayne Gelvin; and Vera Lee Horne Porter.
My favorite part of the gathering was looking at photos. Class pictures and snapshots from previous reunions have been carefully collected and filed in photo albums. The girls and boys basketball team pictures were the best. I was in for a big surprise. My late, Great-Uncle Don McEntire is front and center in the 1930-31 boys basketball team picture. He’s holding the ball.
Uncle Don passed away in 2005. He was a pastor; I had no idea he’d been an athlete. It was exciting to see a teenage Uncle Don. You never know what you’ll see at reunions, do you?
October 2 was Worldwide Communion Sunday. I see this day on my church’s calendar each year, but I don’t know much about it. So I did a little research.
According to Presbyterian Mission Agency’s website, the first Worldwide Communion Sunday was held in 1933 at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. How cool is that? A worldwide holiday started in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Hugh Thompson Kerr served as pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian in 1933. Dr. Kerr and his son, the Reverend Dr. Donald Craig Kerr, created this celebration as a way of unifying denominations in Christian service. The practice of celebrating Worldwide Communion Sunday among the other Christian denominations became popular during the Second World War. Americans were daily reminded that they were fighting a war alongside people from many other countries, and it bolstered their efforts to unify the church. Unity is so important. Churches fall apart and Christians forget how to love each other when arguments and disagreements lead to factions.
Speaking of unity, it was special to see Fallowfield schoolmates gather to remember their school years. Their loyalty made me smile. I’m thankful that people care about each other in the Atlantic community.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!