Family Activities

Family Activities…

Family activities have always been involved in the growth of Martin Luther. We used to have annual summer time picnics in Mill Creek Park at the Slippery Rock and Pioneer Pavilions. Picnics were also held at Judge Woodside’s big home, grounds and lake on Meridian Road, across from where the Maronite Center is located. We also had, before TV, New Year’s Eve watch parties in the parlor and watch the New Year come in as a family. Halloween parties were also held in the gym, where everyone came in costume. Very popular were potluck dinners before evening church services. For many years some of our members formed an actors guild and had plays on our Fellowship Hall stage. At one time, we had a Christmas prayer service at 6 a.m. Christmas morning. Our most popular service was Christmas Eve at midnight. While our church pews seat approximately 500, many times extra chairs had to be put in the side aisles to accommodate the crowd. What sweet memories.

Our family used to meet at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, have dinner and then exchange gifts before attending the midnight service.  On one occasion at a lull in the service my six year old nephew shouted, “Oh-oh, I forgot to wear my new shoes.”  Out of the mouth of babes!

Gordon Mitchell