Churches join for free family fun day
ZELIENOPLE — Lou Ann Barbish called on churches for the sake of Jesus.
“It's not about filling our churches, it's giving to our community,” said Barbish, head organizer of Gathering in the Park. ”It's my heart, it's my passion.”
Harmony and Zelienople churches plan to come together to provide the community a free, family-fun day at their seventh annual Gathering in the Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Zelienople Community Park, 402 E. Beaver St.
Activities and entertainment will include full-time Christian juggler David Cain, an inflatable slide, Jesus-themed cookie decorating, a tie-dye shirt-making station, nail and face painting, haircuts, photo booths, games with prizes and food and snacks.
Two other features are goat petting and hand painting miniature horses.
Giveaways include drawstring bags for children and pocket prayers and a list of church outreach programs for adults.
The goal is to share the love of Christ, said Barbish, who is an eight-year member of Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church.
Barbish anticipates 300 children will attend this year, she said.
For seven years, the free event has made family bonding time accessible for everyone in the community, she said.“Some people can't afford to go to community fairs,” she said. “For families to come together, for me, that's a blessing too.”John Hoogerbrugge of Zelienople has been on the gathering's planning committee for about five years.What makes the event a success is the fun that keeps attendees returning, he said.“People come back because they like it,” said Hoogerbrugge, a retired chaplain and member of North Way Christian Community Church.His favorite part of the event is how the churches work together to promote Christ under no specific doctrine or theology, he said.Onstage entertainment throughout the day presents the Gospel in a nonthreatening way and creates a comfortable environment, he said.Events in Barbish's personal life turned her to faith and led her to create the event based on an idea, she said.Barbish wants attendees to walk away with seeds of faith, hope and love.“The love of Jesus is in so many forms, whether it's praying, a kind word, a handshake,” she said.Barbish hopes to inspire other churches to form partnerships with churches in their own communities to create similar or their own events.Although different churches have different theologies, most have the fundamental belief that Jesus died selflessly on a cross, Barbish said.“We want to selflessly give back to our community and share that love,” she said.
WHAT: Gathering in the Park hosted by Harmony and Zelienople churchesWHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SaturdayWHERE: Zelienople Community Park, 402 E. Beaver St.TO VOLUNTEER: Email Lou Ann Barbish at lbarbish@zoominternet.net
