The Good Friday Breakfast sponsored by the Wellsville Ministerial Association is an annual event that has been going on for quite a few years now. Until this morning the last one I attended was well over 30 years ago. I remember being told back then it had being going on for years.
This year's breakfast was hosted by Rev. Bruce Ballantine and the members of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. I must say they were gracious hosts and even though that was my first visit to their church I felt right at home. Several of us were still waking up when we got there. I heard several comments about the early hour and had to wonder about the folks in the kitchen. With the spread they put on I know they had a short night. You don't get all that food prepared getting there a half hour early. Except for a few pastry items and fruit it was all home made. I don't know who made the biscuits but they were award winning. That sausage gravy was to die for.
The menu consisted of fresh fruit, orange juice, milk, coffee, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits and the sausage gravy. It was all delicious and if anyone went away hungry it was their own fault. I could have gone back two or three times for more of that biscuit and sausage gravy! It would put Bob Evans to shame.
Rev. Ballantine told me they were expecting 95 - 100 guests and I think he was pretty close. I didn't see very many empty seats. County officials were represented by Judges Carol Robb, Mark Frost, Dave Tobin and Ashley Pike. County Commissioners Penny Traina and Jim Hoppel were also there along with retired County Sheriff "Brassy" Beresford and County Treasurer Nick Barborak. Wellsville Mayor Joe Surace did the introductions. In addition to the folks already named Surace recognized several village officials.
Former Mayor Nunzio Lombardozzi put a plug in for the Old Gray Mayor's Basketball Game coming up May 1. Nunzi said tickets are going fast. So far they have players, cheerleaders and an ambulance company lined up.
Prayer of the Day was offered by Rev. Roosevelt Thompson of the First Baptist Church followed by scripture reading by Pastor Eddie Renfroe. Covenant Presbyterian Church Musical Director Erin Burke entertained us with a piano solo. Her selection was a beautifully played piece entitled How Beautiful arranged by Lloyd Larson.
Riverside Presbyterian Church's Rev. Bill Betteridge followed with more scripture reading. Did you know Rev. Bill is a WHS alumni from the Class of '55? Both ministers read scripture from the book of Luke Chapter 23.
Key note speaker was Pastor Bill Rudder of the ville's New Life Worship Center on Main St. His subject was "What's Good About Good Friday?" He gave a very inspirational talk on the meaning of the actions that took place on the first Good Friday over two thousand years ago and what it means to those of the Christian faiths. It was "awesome".
Following Pastor Rudder were two arousing numbers by the First Baptist Church's Men's Choir pictured above. These guys are good and that's not saying enough. It didn't take long for members of the audience to join in the singing and clapping of hands. They woke the place up with their inspirational renditions. They rock! The men were accompanied on the piano by Frances Youngblood. In the picture, from the left, are Rev. Thompson, Deacons Bruce Dorsey & Terry McCuen, Brother Greg Spann, Brother Scott Spann, and Deacons Roger Youngblood and Abdul Kalam.
Not to be outdone by Nunzio, Rev. Ballantine put a plug in for the Ministerial Association's Paint the Town Committee before closing. The proceeds from the breakfast goes to that program. They are planning to swing into action again this summer and are looking for volunteer painters, donations and recommendations of houses that can use a coat of paint. Although they can't get to every house they do as many as the amount of help and money available allows them to get to. Since the start of the program they have done an impressive numbere of 17 houses in the village. It's an extremely rewarding community project all accomplished with volunteer help and donations. If you have a day or so to help or a few bucks to spare get in touch with Rev. Ballantine or any member of the Ministerial Assoc.
Benediction was offered by Rev. Darlene Zanders and that closed out this year's edition of the traditional Good Friday Breakfast.
Happy Easter to all...
ole nib
1 comment:
I have to say that I go to church with the young gentlemen that sang at the Good Friday Breakfast, and every Sunday in church, the do an excellent job at uplifting the church and at bringing HIS spirit into our lives!
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