Intergenerational Harvest Festival, Apple Cider Pressing, Outdoor Games & Potluck

Yesterday -- Sunday, September 27, 2026 -- our first annual Intergenerational Harvest Festival, Apple Cider Pressing, Outdoor Games & Potluck was held in the northwest parking lot and Fellowship Hall.  Our campus was host to about 120 participants including Cub Scouts, their parents and siblings, members of our congregation, RE teachers, a few neighbors, and our own Rev. Ali. 

Two cider crushers and presses were in constant use from 2:30-5:00 pm, producing some of the best fresh apple cider you've ever tasted!  

There's a very specific procedure for making cider:  1.  Obtain apples.  A big thank you to Sister Carmen for donating 150 pounds worth, and to families who also contributed.  

2.  Wash apples.  

3.  Slice apples. 

4.  Put apples in the hand-turned crusher.  Rule #1:  no fingers in crusher!  

5.  Move crushed apples to the press.  

6.  Take turns rotating the press mechanism to exert force on the crushed apples.  

7.  Watch the cider emerge at the bottom of the apparatus to be collected in pitchers.  

8.  Drink!

There were lots of fun outdoor activities to keep kids and adults busy.  One of the Cubs taught origami.  Apple bobbing, corn shucking, corn hole games, giant Jenga blocks, and other outdoor games were set up on the north side of the Fellowship, and impromptu soccer games took place in the northwest parking lot.  

In addition to those activities, Cub Scout leaders conducted their meeting, and everyone took part in a potluck dinner featuring an incredible array of food. 

A big thanks to all of the Fellowship folks who helped make this event a success:  Rev. Ali K. C. Bell, Rev. JeKaren Bell, Kerri Bell-Delgado, Cale Carmon, Lindsay Bullock, Bellamy Bodiford, Robyn & Chris Rathweg, Joseph Reid & Cindy Stark-Reid, Sarah Kowalchuk, Rosemary & Larry Arp, Hans Jordan & Joan Mulcahy, Sierramay Bishop & kids, Jennifer Donald, Deborah Mensch,  Shanti Semani, Millie Montgomery, Alisa & David Burrous, Michaela Sievers, Lucy & Eric Williams.  

We also extend our thanks to the many Scout parents for their extraordinary help with setup, festival activities, and cleanup.  

Look for more intergenerational social time opportunities with our new community partner, Lafayette Cub Scout Pack 79, this coming spring!

Repairing Prairie Dog Fences and Pruning Bushes

A big thank you to members of the Building and Grounds Team for repairing the prairie dog fences which prevent the "dogs" from moving onto our property.  

About 6 years ago, before the renovation of the Fellowship, the prairie dogs had moved into the playground and it was not safe for our kids to play there.  

Since that time our Prairie Dog Team has kept an eye on the fences to rebuild them when there is an occasional "break through".

Thank you Larry Arp, Hans Jordan, Hiram Wolgemuth and David Burrous for all your hard work.

Also, a big thank you to Steve Nelson for keeping our bushes pruned.

All Congregation Grounds Day, Saturday June 27, 2026

We had a great turnout this morning, Saturday, June 27, 2026 to clean up the grounds of the Fellowship:  weeding, pruning, spreading wood chips, raking, sweeping, hauling, mulching, laughing, philosophising, and having an all around great time.

Big thanks to Alida Fisher, Hiram Wolgemuth, Hans Jordan, Wendie Highsmith, Joseph Reid, Molly Hargarten, Lisa Kahn, Steve Nelson, Elise Eller, Robyn Rathweg, Lucy Williams, Eric Williams, Chris Rathweg, David Burrous, and Billina the chicken.

Billina the chicken was at the Fellowship when we arrived and had already laid an egg.  We don't know where she came from and we contacted several neighbors to see if they knew and posted it on Next Door.  Obviously she had crossed the road.  But we don't know why. Perhaps she's looking for a welcoming spiritual home without dogma or dogs.

 

Certified habitat 154 and the plants are blooming

Coal Creek Pollinator District has certified our pollinator garden as Certified Habitat #154.  This is the garden that Cub Scout Pack 79 provided the plants for and then planted them for us last spring.  It's on the north west side of the building.  Please stop by and enjoy it.

Our raised vegetable gardens are planted!

Many thanks to the kindergarten-aged Cub Scouts from our sponsored Lafayette Pack 79 who, with their parents and leaders, planted the Fellowship's raised vegetable gardens this afternoon.  

Thanks, too, to Larry Arp who monitored the irrigation system, and Wendie Highsmith and David Burrous who joined the fun.

* Please note that parents signed waivers allowing photos of all children pictured below.