By Sylvia Hess
This article first appeared in Messenger. Subscribe to Messenger here.
Until the pandemic struck, a congregational Thanksgiving dinner was a tradition for Beavercreek (Ohio) Church of the Brethren. For the first Thanksgiving meal together since 2019, a simpler carry-in dinner was followed by an auction for Brethren Disaster Ministries.
Despite the glitch of a furnace failure (lots of space heaters were pressed into service), the event provided both fellowship and fun led by congregation member Tom Esterline as volunteer auctioneer (“I don’t talk fast,” he said).
Hand-crafted quilts, a crocheted scarf, a purse, an apron and potholder, a knit blanket, a doll, a teddy bear. One member created three seasonal table centerpieces. A grandfather and grandson built a wren house with a Rudolph theme: twigs for antlers and a red pompom nose. There were books, puzzles, gingerbread house kits, an Advent calendar, and food like pecan pie, jelly, and snack mix. A son bought the chocolate chip cookies his mother contributed “because they are so good.” Bidding was fierce on a jar of honey from a bee-keeping member. The total raised came to $800.