Kids of all ages had a most enjoyable evening last Friday as the Oakwood Church held its annual “Hallelujah Party” at the church adjacent to the Becker Furniture World building off f Hwy 10.
Pastor Gerry Bass, his wife Sarah and many members of the congregation were all dressed in costumes befitting Halloween, and the church itself was filled with games and activities aimed at the younger members of the congregation, including face painting, games and a talented skunk that knew how to take photographs.
Bass said he had received some questions about a church celebrating a holiday like Halloween, with its obvious pagan antecedents, but he replied the event was designed to provide a safe and fun environment for parents and kids alike, without the dangers inherent of being on the streets in costumes during the twilight hours of the evening.
A definite highlight of the evening was the panel of “celebrity” judges who had agreed to take part in the church “Chili and Dessert” competition. The chili entries fell under the authority of Becker Supt,. Dr. Stephen Malone, Chief of Police Brent Baloun and State Sen. David Brown, while the equally difficult dessert judging fell to Mayor Jerome “Lefty” Kleis, Primary School Principal Dale Christensen and this reporter.
Both contests featured a wide variety of delicious entries, and the judging was anything but easy for the panel of city gastronomes, but, in the end, judgment was rendered. First place in the chili competition went to Penny Goff, with Shirley Phelps taking the prize in the hard-fought dessert battle.
Once the judging was over, the congregation and guests flooded into the hall as pot after pot of steaming chili and overflowing plates of dessert delicacies joined with hot dogs and other treats for a grand community supper.
There had been some early concerns over attendance, Bass said, since the Becker Bulldogs were playing their championship football match that same night, but the fears proved groundless as a large and happy crowd filled the tables for the meal.
