The EDGE Youth Group of the Perry First Christian Church hosted its 10th annual Before-the-Turkey Soup Supper Nov. 25, with donations directed to the Perry Police Department’s Shop with A Cop program. A great variety of soups were served, along with corn bread, desserts and beverages for a free will donation.
Later in the evening, the Perry Ministerial Association drew a crowd of about 50 to its annual Community Thanksgiving Service at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. Participating with the service was Rev. Jeremy Winter of Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Rev. Tim Johnson of the Perry First Christian Church, Rev. Sherri Hughes-Empke of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and Rev. Marcy Campbell of the Perry First Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Campbell gave the message, and Linda Huntington was the organist and pianist. The Mt. Olivet Lutheran Choir sang two selections. The congregation sang “Praise and Thanksgiving,” “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come,” and “Now Thank We All Our God.”
Rev. Campbell entitled her sermon, “Leftovers.” She urged listeners to be thankful for the many abundances in our lives, such as food and other material items. She also discussed the need to forgive others toward whom you may bear a grudge. She stressed the need to treat all people as important, as if they are leftovers.
A collection for the Good Samaritan Fund of the Perry Ministerial Association was taken up. Rev. Lou Hoger, retired clergyman and treasurer of the fund, reported Good Samaritan Fund expenditures of $21,000 during the year to meet the needs of people in the Perry area. The money helped more than 80 families and 238 individuals, Hoger said.
