Fellowship

The location has varied over the years but the format is similar – singing favorite gospel hymns on various instruments with food either before or after. It has always been sometime in September just before the fall coolness arrives.

This year 17 participated with Jim Heimbach on the piano and Helmut on the violin with some vocals from Nancy. It has been in the church, besides the Parish House, in Portobago Bay but this year was the first time in a private home, the Heimbach home.

The history of the event is here and it goes back to 2007. As Helmut describes, “From our residence, we see the river front improvement here at Portobago. The Lord has created this beautiful spot for us. So, why not thank him and praise him right there in the midst of his beautiful creation.”

In spite of the third rainy weekend in a row, the 8 hardy souls who went to Shrine Mont enjoyed getting together with Christ Church friends. This was our 5th year of retreats with Christ Episcopal

In the food, worship and relaxing down time we shared, we drew closer to God and to one another. Bridgette Long was hands down the most charming, irresistible person in the group. This year the group watched The Spitfire Grill, a movie that contained thought provoking themes about redemption, forgiveness, and sacrificial love

Our Shrine Mont weekend with Christ Episcopal was May 5-7 with 10 going this year. (Not pictured, Barbara and Edge). This is the 4th year Christ Episcopal has invited to share in the wonder of Shrine Mont. The theme was Celtic Christianity which was presented by Catherine on a very rainy weekend. (They couldn’t worship in the Shrine but did manage to hike to the cross.

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Here are 4 years of Shrine Mont retreat

Although the event had to be moved to Portabago Bay to St. Peter’s due to the early morning rainfall, about 40 people participated in the annual gospel sing-a-long preceded by and followed a wide variety of foods. Thanks to Nancy Long for her direction of the events and for cooks Liz Heimbach, Linda Beck, Terri Harrison, and Nancy Long as well as musicians Helmut, Marilyn, Mildred and returning for this event Denise Symonds.

Ladies Night Out for the 12th year was celebrated at St. Peter’s. The date of the event 3/14/2015 was know as “Pi” day since the mathematical concept of pie starts with those numbers.|We had 26 people on a lovely night where the rain had stopped and the sun was peaking through at 6pm at the beginning of the event. The Hors d’oeuvre part before the main dinner went on a little longer as people enjoyed chicken wings, ham biscuits, salmon and crackers and drinks combined with socializing.|The dinner had an enormous amount of food – Johnny’s venison, Stanley’s meatloaf, Dave’s fish (cooked on site), Joe’s pot of vegetables, Alex’s kale and salmon, Ken’s terriyaki chicken plus remains of the earlier course and rice and a spicy corn pudding. There were 3 pies for pi day – cherry, apple and blackberry that were extremely tasty

We had at least two couples on vacation but we still had 28-30 for a night of wonderful food and generous laughter, the 11th year of the event.|As usual the Men “cooked” for the Ladies and it was outstanding. Johnny’s venison , Dave’s catfish, Ken’s chicken dish, Barbara’s macaroni, Eunice’s deviled eggs, Mary Ann’s sangria, Steve’s pork sliders (Catherine and Ben’s son-in-law) and many others, including a blueberry cobbler (Johnny) at the end. There were plenty of vegetables – brocoli, corn pudding, and spoonbread. The entertainment was a game of “Jeopardy” which the men won at the end.

We had over 35 people at our annual New Year’s Eve celebration, a noticeable larger turnout from last year. The people and food change from year to year but the glad tidings and celebration are a constant|This year we had a wonderful hordeuvres selection with Chinese foods, little casseroles, peanut soup and raw salad. Thanks to Andrea and Sylvia for a number of those items plus Marilyn for her peanut soup. You could have made your dinner on just these. We can’t forget Bill’s wicked eggnog which was very popular and provided warmth on a cold night with temperatures dipping into the 20’s. It didn’t last the evening. Cookie was our impecable host serving ham biscuits and Dave’s salmon.|Dinner included a Johnny’s venison (a mainstay), two different corn puddings, black eyed peas (a must!), mixed vegetable plate, rice, Caesar salad and an Italian dish. Desserts included a walnut pie, a fruit cake, cream cheese crescent

It was a special Sunday at St. Peter’s – a Coffee Hour celebrating the upcoming wedding of Justin and Karen.|After church there was a “prelude to Coffee Hour” just outside the parish house with drinks and toasts. Presents were provided to Justin and Karen in a basket. Nancy recalled how the engagement went. Today, Helmut played “Ave Maria” for them today while we sipped sparkling cider, orange juice with champagne and mimosa punch. Alex and Justin provided toast. Justin thanked the Church for being with him through his life.|Nancy and Cookie were at the church early preparing drinks and food. The food in Coffee Hour included a wonderful salmon and bernaise sauce, ham sandwiches, chicken salad, a bean dish, cheese and a celebratory cake. It was sponsored by the Wicks and Bowens.

“What’s the use of displaying all of these Christmas items if no one sees it!” That sums up the reason why Cherry and Woody Everett have thrown their magnificent Christmas party.||Pictures don’t do the Everett’s Christmas justice. The centerpiece is the Christmas village of 19th century buildings – hotels, a bank, a church, a ski facility and various commercial enterprises – even some modern additions like Krispy Kreme. It fills an entire room. There is the sound of a hundred moving items. And Cherry can tell where they purchased ever one.

Besides a dinner and fundraiser where the men cook for the women, this year featured a murder mystery in Pandora City|How could a church fundraiser where the men cook for the ladies lead to this gruesome murder ? Everything seemingly had gone well. Everyone dined on a feast of venison, meatloaf, fish, macraoni, salad and varous deserts. But there was tension in the air from the time of the appetizer where the citizens of Pandora City confronted each over concerning imaginery and real wrongs.

We had about 30 people in Johnny’s pavilion enjoying Stanley’s chicken, numerous vegetables, apple and pumpkin as well as participating in a costume contest, won by Genevieve. Mary Lawrence Hicks and a group from Richmond and King George provided lively jazz music. ECW silent auction made over $2,000.

About 20 gathered on the last night of 2012 for fellowship, food and more food. Johnny cooked his venison as the main course but there were openers of chicken, small hotdogs, cheese and with the meal many vegetables and later desserts.

The Men cooked the meal (fish, beef, pizza, macoroni, asparagus, two types of salad, chees) with cupcakes for desert. We had a game afterward designed by Barabara Wisdom and Cindy Fields. Lots of laughts. Thanks to all

About 30 people came to the 10th anniversary of this event on a beautiful May evening. We thank Tom Mahoney for coming up with the idea. Appropriately it was scheduled in 2012 on the day before Mother’s day. Highlights included Dave Fannon’s catfish, Dave Beck’s shrimp and Laura Carey’s poundcake. Afterwards there was the “newly wed game”, 5 couples participating and the Betchy’s as the winners

Gospel on the River was moved to St. Peter’s in 2015 to provide a more ecumenical setting. The crowd was larger at 37, attracting some local Baptists. Helmut and Jim have led the music for the last few years but this year invited one of Helmut’s former violin students which added to the music. They also printed a new program with larger print. They added pieces (“Go Forward”) that Jim remembered from his mother’s hymnbook. The pieces used at the event are old time Gospel hymns which are beloved but have been eliminated from some hymn books or not sung as much. By the end of the service, weather was glorious as was the music.

|We had 30 people at Gospel on the River at the Reynolds pavilion in Portabago Bay, slightly down from last year at 35. Social hour was the for the first 45 minutes. Beer and wines were standard fare along with Nancy’s wonderful fish, Andrea’s bread, mini casseroles, finger food, Cherry’s cookies and ham sandwiches. Helmut and Denise Symonds led us through the pieces.

A photo gallery by Barbara Wisdom. A wonderful late afternoon of hospitality, conversation, music and the singing of traditional hymns along the beautiful Rappahannock River, Sept 21, 2014.

A wonderful day of food, fellowship and song along the Rappahannock River at Portabago Bay (9/17/2011)