There’s no down time at St. Peter’s

Last Updated on Monday, 20 February 2012 14:27 Written by Cathy Finnegan Monday, 20 February 2012 00:00

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church is open and busy from early morning until late at night seven days a week with Terrific Tuesday one of the favorite activities offering something for everyone regardless of age. This columnist’s first stop was the music room where John Bate had members of the junior choir, Ethan Dyjak, Stella Eiter, Max Beckert, Andrew and Daniel Laird, Katie Bowman and Jason Hill, were gathered around the piano rehearsing a number for the worship service on Sunday. Madeline Rowe and Andi Helpenstine rushed in late and got right to work. Vicki Scheetz, who is leading a six-week study on the Book of Ezra, had a group of 25 including Bari and Andy Martin, Annette Dungan, Eleanor Parker and Audrey Vanderloo, gathered around a large table when I stopped by just before class. I stopped by the kitchen where Jody Lovette and Don Paul were making cheese steak sandwiches while Andrea Paul and Joan Lovette made the biggest chocolate chip cookies. Jennifer Bowman, St. Peter’s new kitchen and special events coordinator, stopped to check up on dinner then headed upstairs to the Zumba class. Jennifer told me to mark my calendar for the Ocean City High School surf team benefit at Greate Bay on Feb. 24. Bill Bateson was up to his elbows in dishwater washing the pots and pans in the deep kitchen sink. Andrea and Don are still on “baby watch” as Don’s daughter, Gretchen, is two weeks overdue. Gayle Robbins got help from Jesse Ruch making coffee for dinner. Juanita and John Rickards were stationed at the door to welcome members when it was time for dinner.

Julia Wiggins, Courtney Eiter, Jennifer Rowe and David Laird were looking after the toddlers in the nursery. Julia beamed when she told me her son, Andy, is in the top 10 in his senior class at OCHS and received a full scholarship to Steven Institute of Technology. Courtney reports her husband, Rob, is the wrestling coach at the University of Pennsylvania, so has a long commute everyday. Jennifer, who is the music teacher at the Intermediate School, was looking forward to the school chorus show that will include Broadway show tunes and tap dancing, taking place the next two nights. Four-year-old Theo Rowe is one sharp dresser as he sported a checkered vest and bow tie to playtime. Little Jack Lee was so busy playing, he wouldn’t even stop to pose for a picture in the playhouse with Troy Eiter, Kyle Helpenstine, Phoebe Kiedama, David Laird and Kelsea Bowman. David Laird Sr. headed over to the kindergarten classroom to set up for the cherub bell choir as he was filling in for his wife, Deborah, who was under the weather. Rosemarie Blyler, Kathy Testa and Nancy Caine were knitting for missions in the Susannah Wesley Room. They knit prayer shawls, sweaters and hats and baby blankets for infants baptized at St. Peter’s. Rosemarie told me she graduated OCHS in 1947 while Kathy admitted to graduating from Millville High School in ’60. Anne Dice and Judy and Tara Kelly were busy sorting through clothes making piles to send to the Dominican Republic and piles for Sister Jean’s Kitchen. Anne Dice and Nancy Caine are two members of the mission team at St. Peter’s headed for the Dominican Republic for a week April 10. This is St. Peter’s fifth mission trip and, by the end of the year, will have built 20 homes.

Kathy Heller and Sue Park were just finishing up setting up the bells for the bell bunch rehearsal where the youth were headed after their choir rehearsal with John Bate. Youth director Sara Lee, who is looking forward to the arrival of her second child, Alison due five weeks, had a group of enthusiastic youngsters gathered around a large table in a second floor classroom decorating bags with valentines to be filled with sandwiches and other goodies and sent to Sister Jean’s Kitchen in Atlantic City. Rachael Young and George Berkert helped the little ones with their project while Terrisa Rasmussen gave her 1-month-old son, Anthony, his bottle. The sound of music with a tropical beat coming from the third floor game room lured this columnist up the stairs where I discovered Jen Domsic leading a Zumba class. I spotted two St. Peter’s staff members, church secretary Elaine Winder and financial secretary Kara Hill, had changed from their work clothes to workout clothes to wind down after a long day’s work. Caroline Bowman joined her mom in the workout. Another mother and daughter combo were Darlene Burgos and Darlene Burgos. Yes they both have the same name. Jen is a licensed Zumba instructor and teaches three classes at St. Peter’s every week.

When I returned to the Stainton Room, the tables were filling up fast as everyone was hungry and lined up at the buffet to fill their platters with cheese steak sandwiches topped with fried onions and a side of French fries. I stopped to chat with my neighbor Margaret Sharp who told me she is going to be a great grandmother as granddaughter, Audra, is expecting a baby the end of May. Bob Roth wanted to know if I won a prize for my Christmas decorations while his wife, Marge, circulated a get well card around the room for everyone to sign for Tommy Thompson. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to Luke Dice who was turning 14 the next day. I sat down to chat with Helen and Tom Miller, Merry and Dave Wagner, Ginny and Dick Strang and Heidi and Steve Pursel during dinner. Heidi and Steve have been married 25 years and, while Steve keeps busy with his appliance repair business, Heidi likes visiting their daughters in Florida. They also have a son who lives in Oklahoma. Tom and Helen are headed for Vero Beach while Merry and Tom are taking their grandchildren to Disney World. Tom Miller told me he was an assistant wrestling coach at Moorestown High School and often came up against Fred Miller who coached wrestling at Pennsauken High School at the same time. Ginny and Dick Strang recently enjoyed a Pitman High School alumni cruise. Ginny and I discovered we both graduated high school in ’59. Five members from Ginny’s class were on the cruise with the oldest alumni being from the class of 1946 and the youngest from the class of ’84. St. Peter’s Senior Pastor Brian Roberts tabled hopped during dinner taking his plate with him as he moved from one table to the next visiting with his parishioners. After dinner, the activities resumed and I caught up with Pat Custard on her way to the alpha study in the Fox Room. Sandy McGarvey was leading an adult Bible study in the Mary Marr Room while Christian and Julie Bickings were in charge of an adult Bible study on the Book of James. When Joan Shaiko walked in, she looked lost as this was her first time and she was looking for the adult bell choir rehearsal, so I pointed her in the right direction.

Vicki Scheetz is ready to teach a study on the Book of Ezra to Eleanor Parker and Margaret Sharp and, standing, Bari Martin, Audrey Vanderloo and Susan Harnisch. Troy Eiter, Theo Rowe, Kyle Helphenstine, Phoebe Miedama, David Laird and Kelsea Bowman enjoy playtime with Courtney Eiter, Jennifer Rowe and David Laird. Rosemarie Blyler, Nancy Caine and Kathy Testa, seated, enjoy knitting while Anne Dice and Judy and Tara Kelly pack clothes for the Dominican Republic. Joan Lovette, Jennifer Bowman, Jody Lovette and Andrea and Don Paul prepare dinner for Terrific Tuesday. Julia Burgos, Caelyn Domsic, Darlene Burjos, Danielle Lloyd and Kat Vargova relax after Zumba class with Kirstin Logan, Jen Domsic, Darlene Burgos, Lisa Cupps and Kara Hill. Brian Roberts, center, poses for a picture with Dave and Merry Wagner and Helen and Tom Miller at the Terrific Tuesday dinner.