Show 4$ riovcmbsr 1 9 1C23 Denomination has heritage UCC resembles its ancestors mind us that it is Thanksgiving" They also put on a big feast in OGDEN — Today members their church basement In years of the United Church of Christ past the meal has been held on the same a Sunday but this year they (Congregationalists) denomination the Pilgrims be- moved it up to attract more peolonged to may not look or talk ple from the community The much like Pilgrims but there are meal which costs $5 for adults the signs begins today at 4 pm and runs For one thing they like to get through 8 pm They are calling together often and eat That’s a their dinner “Pilgrim’s Feast & real tip-othat these people are Bazaar” descendants (in heritage if not Although they claim the food literally) of those first folks who they serve will be the same that came to America and threw to- crossed the Pilgrim’s palate it is gether a potluck dinner with na- not really any different from the tive Americans in 1621 traditional Thanksgiving fare As would be expected then What is unique however is bethe aroma of baked bread meat ing served by members of the and potatoes could be smelled same church the Pilgrims berising from “Pilgrim Hall” in the longed to basement of the United Church Ironically while Johnston is of Christ on Harrison Boule- proud of his church’s rich histovard It was this pleasing aroma ry he believes the Pilgrims’ that greeted church members as progress toward tolerance was much too slow they filed out of their airy window-lined sanctuary Sunday af“They tended to be a bit conservative instead of the progrester their worship service g “Food is kind of a social sive that the event” said Dan Johnston church tends to show now" he church moderator “It’s a time said He was referring to the intolto get together to share recipes and to talk” erance Congregationalists in showed toward Although this tight-knchurch family does not gather the early days of their church every Sunday to eat chances are Over the years however-thagood that they do congregate for has change considerably culmia potluck meal of some kind at nating in 1957 with the merger least once a month Johnston of what was once 5 different reS3 id ligions into one “United Church Phil Joos lay minister for the of Christ” church for the past 23 years said The ability to mix so many that if there is an occasion like a different churches and philosovisiting pastor a children’s pro- phies into one church required gram or a special business meetmajor conciliations and reflects in a religion that prides ita there’s then today ing usually self in diversity individualism potluck meal afterward It should come as little sur- and tolerance for people and prise then that this church of the their views Johnston said “We try to listen even though Pilgrims does not let the we may not agree” he said Thanksgiving holiday go by The more variety a church without some sort of recognition displays “the more richness you Joos said they customarily can put into your church — the decorate the church altar with a more tolerance you can show” cornucopia Indian corn and he said Joos said they welcome all other traditional Thanksgiving items “just to symbolize and re See CHURCH on Page 4 Phil By JOHN DeVILBISS Standard Examiner religion editor ff liberal-thinkin- it non-believe- rs t 1 Judy Joos (left) OwensStandard-Examine- r and church moderator Dan Johnston at the United Church of Christ |