June 11-12, 2016 – Down by the Riverside

We celebrated our 10th annual “Down by the Riverside” observance on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, 2016 at Katfish Katy’s Campground on the Missouri River at Huntsdale. Because the campground is now under new ownership, there was no camping Saturday night, but we had a potluck picnic Saturday evening and held the traditional riverside worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Picnic Saturday evening, June 11

About 30 UUCC members and friends came to the potluck picnic from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday evening. The photos below were taken by Steve Scott.

  • Roy Keller, Maria Oropallo and Gena Scott chatted before the meal was served.
  • Picnickers chatted during and after the meal.
  • Kids and adults found things to do after the meal.
  • Steve Scott's grandson, Grey Scott Reittinger, enjoyed the wild berries he found. Also pictured is Steve's daughter and Grey's mother, Stephanie Scott.
  • After dinner, Scott Denson, Casey Holmes, Peter Holmes and Connie Ordway played bocce ball. Peter's ball is in mid-air in this photo.

 

 

 

Worship service Sunday, June 12

The worship service Sunday morning was attended by about 40 members and friends. The service included a homily by Peter Holmes, “Loving Mother Earth” (see video below), and a moving reading of “Chief Seattle’s Message” by Scott Denson. Steve Scott took the photos and video below. There is a link below the video to the text of the homily.

  • Early arrivals socialized and drank coffee and tea before the service began.
  • Worship leaders gathered in front to start the service.
  • Linda Lou Brown, former owner of Katfish Katy's along with her husband Robert (seated beside her), spoke emotionally of what the campground meant to them and expressed the hope that we can continue holding outdoor services there or somewhere else on the river.
  • Singing a hymn.
  • Scott Denson presented a reading, "Chief Seattle's Message." See the link above to the message.
  • The worship leaders, sang, after which Peter Holmes delivered his homily. See the separate video of the homily below.
  • Alan Arnold explained that joys and concerns would be observed by throwing real stones into the river...
  • as he proceeded to demonstrate. See more stones thrown in the next four photos.
  • Congregants watched as the joys and concerns were spoken and stones thrown into the river. The service concluded with our traditional sung benediction.

 

 

 

Text of homily. Note: There is a transition at 17:27 where about five minutes of silent meditation was omitted from the video.