“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” These words of Psalm 133:1 are at the heart of the fourth annual Community Day at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fountain Hill, where church members, first responders, friends and neighbors – all vibrant parts of the community – gathered to share a day of faith and fun Aug. 30 at the church on Delaware Avenue.

“We’re so happy to be having our fourth annual Community Day,” Pastor Marlene Werkheiser, licensed lay minister (LLM), said of the festive event that kicked off Labor Day weekend. “We want people to realize we’re a community church – you don’t need to belong to come to our events. We’re here if anyone needs anything – reach out and we’ll see if there’s a way we can help.”

St. Paul’s held its first Community Day in 2022 to do something for the community, and offer the chance for people to get out and see each other again after the COVID pandemic. That commitment to be a community church there for its neighbors remains strong.

Community Day is a “God’s work. Our hands.” (GWOH) event at St. Paul’s.

GWOH is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) annual day of service, which took place this year Sept. 7. The day is a chance to celebrate the ECLA’s identity as a church that serves and loves its neighbors. Many churches do GWOH events throughout the month of September, including St. Paul’s, which will hold another GWOH event – a free drive-up spaghetti dinner – Sept. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Community Day, which ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featured Mon and Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck, where everyone could dip in to enjoy a free ice cream; firefighters from Fountain Hill Fire Department Station 34 displaying their fire truck; officers from the Borough of Fountain Hill Police Department mingling with community members; and exhibitions by St. Luke’s EMT.

The folk music of “Josh and Friends” – Josh Gulotta, Rae Labadie-Gulotta and Cindy Cicconi-Ernst – provided the soundtrack for the event. Gulotta, who also performed at Community Day last year, is a seminary student and youth pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Hellertown.

Community Day poured on the fun for children with a variety of kids’ games like trying to make a catch in the fish pond, golf game and soccer area, as well as offering temporary tattoos.

Magician Joe Keppel, who has been performing for audiences in the Lehigh Valley for 50 years with his classic sleight-of-hand with cards, coins, dice, ropes and other small objects, entertained the crowd.

Church members and friends donated 45 baskets for the Tricky Tray at the fun-filled event, which also included a raffle.

Caylyn Felchock, daughter-in-law of lifetime St. Paul’s member Judy Felchock, created a festive Community Day banner for the event.

Pastor Werkheiser and Cindy Garguilo organized the event with the help of organizing committee members.

Stretching a helping hand into the community, St. Paul’s will serve as a hub for Fountain Hill ES events and meetings during the building of the new school. These events and meetings will be scheduled and advertised by the school.

Upcoming events at St. Paul’s include Blessing of the Animals at outdoor worship (outdoor, weather permitting) Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m., Healing Service Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m., and Christmas Eve with Candlelight and Holy Communion Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.

The third annual Veterans Day Breakfast will take place Nov. 15 at St. Paul’s. The special morning will be sponsored by St. Paul’s; Iglesia Cristiana Shekinah, an independent church which formed a partnership with St. Paul’s; the Fountain Hill Community Coalition; and the Fountain Hill Borough Council.