Marlborough – Members of Marlborough’s Reformation 500 Committee are offering free meals to 500 people Saturday, June 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at First Church, 37 High St.
Three Marlborough churches are sponsoring the picnic – First Church (Congregational), Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic, and St. Stephen Lutheran, as part of “One Faith, One Lord, One Baptism,” a full day of activities to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
“The act of breaking bread and sharing food together is an intimate, spiritual act of communion,” said Steve Kotsopoulos, who is working with committee members Melanie Whapham, Kathy Ireland, Marybeth Gamber and Susan Pellerin on the meal.
“It is an act of grace for both the provider and the receiver,” he added.
Those providers are the parishioners of the three churches, who will donate main courses, side dishes, salads and desserts. Many will remain to enjoy what their church neighbors have brought, but the focus is on other receivers as well – the three churches are providing all of the food, but the invitation to come and eat is to the entire community.
The planners hint that diners could find pasta salad, fruit kabobs, potato salad, cold fried chicken, ham/turkey/roast beef sandwiches, cheese and crackers, deviled eggs, cookies, brownies, and dessert squares. Committee members will solicit area stores for donations of hot dogs and hamburgers that volunteers will grill, adding picnic fare to the potluck dishes.
“In the spirit of Jesus feeding the 5,000, together let us enjoy the bounty of this meal with gratitude, joy, and a smile,” Kotsopoulos added.
The picnic will follow an 11 a.m. ecumenical worship service at First Church. The third event of the day is a concert at Immaculate Conception at 7 p.m. featuring the vocal choirs of all three churches and the hand bell choirs of two. All events are free and open to the public.
Additional members of the Reformation 500 committee are Father Marc Bishop, Immaculate Conception; Pastor Kazimierz Bern, First Church; Pastor Joseph Graumann, St. Stephen; and Stan Hanson, Ken LaPlante, Liz Mahoney, Roger Mansen, and Barbara Parente.
Additional members of the Reformation 500 Committee are Father Marc Bishop, Immaculate Conception; Pastor Kazimierz Bern, First Church; Pastor Joseph Graumann, St. Stephen; and Stan Hanson, Ken LaPlante, Liz Mahoney, Roger Mansen, and Barbara Parente.
For more information, visit www.Reform500.weebly.com.
