It was a great day for the Montverde United Methodist Church Family Reunion and Homecoming! With perfect weather (thank you, God) 100 men, women and children gathered at MUMC on Sunday, March 11 for a day of celebrating as members of the family of God
The day began with a continental breakfast fellowship time where the coffee and o.j. flowed as long time friends visited and new visitors were greeted and introduced. Many members were able to visit with Jim McGraw, past pastor of MUMC, and his wife, Bernice. This was the first time since Jim and Bernice moved to Georgia that many have seen them so it was a great opportunity to catch up.
Worship services began with a big welcome and an introduction of all the guests – there were more than 100 visitors, a great turn out for the reunion! Many attending were friends and family of current church members; some were former members who have moved away.
MUMC preschool was well represented with the school director and all the preschool teachers present!
At least a couple of the guests took a seat in the choir for the day – not only sharing their presence, but adding their voice to the songs of praise.
Dawn Eckbreth was crowded for space as she gave the children’s sermon, as there were so many little ones on hand.
As a closing thank you for attending the special reunion service, each family received a beautiful plant as a reminder gift of the day together.
Following the worship service, folks headed to the Montverde Community Building, located just behind MUMC’s sanctuary. This was an ideal location for the afternoon’s activities with plenty of room to spread out the many, many dishes prepared for lunch and options for either indoor or outside seating. Whether you prefer salad, main dishes, casseroles or dessert, there was plenty of all to choose from.
Chet Binnix and Ed Miles were the grill masters, offering hot dogs “hot” off the grill, and all the fixings to go with them.
As if all this delicious food was not enough to put smiles on faces, church member Shannon Elswick and his group Rare Blend entertained the diners with perfect-pitch a-cappella singing.
An outdoor pavilion provided an ideal venue for music to follow the lunch feast. Special thanks go to Jim McGraw, Dawn Eckbreth, Jay Moyer, Connie Seybert, Nancy Suter, Josh and Stephanie Folckemer, Shannon Elswick and the Rare Blend Quartet, Fred Dryden and Bob Blackwood, and Jeff Parkkila for the musical presentations they offered during the afternoon. What a blessing their musical gifts were to those listening!
The Montverde playground was the venue of choice for most of the children as they scrambled to the swings and up and down the slides and onto the other playground equipment.
“Make new friends but keep the old” – that was part of the goal of the MUMC reunion and it certainly was accomplished with all the old and new friends in attendance. Even more important we were able to live out our mission statement with this special event – It truly was a day that we demonstrated that we are “a joyful community of Faith proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ our Lord to all!”