MILLSBORO – There were a couple emergency runs across town for more beef patties and bottled water.
“And that’s a good problem to have,” said Ethan Reichhold, Youth Advisor at Millsboro’s Grace United Methodist Church.
Saturday, the church grounds played host to Grace UMC’s first Block Party, an event geared to unite the community through fun and fellowship.
“For so long, especially with COVID, we have been just feeling very isolated as a community,” said Grace UMC Pastor Missy Rekitzke.
“This is a wonderful way for all of us to get back together, to belong, and to feel like we’re one as a community again. Families being out and interacting with one another is such a beautiful thing to see. That’s our hope, to bring our community back together.”
Millsboro resident Melanie Young was there with her family, and nieces and nephews.
“It was very nice to know that there is something local to go to. Usually, we have to drive far to find it, and with traffic it’s …,” said Ms. Young. “The kids have been busy. Everything is fun to do. It’s that very kind of nice environment … everyone is smiling and having a good time.”
Attendees were treated to a martial arts demonstration, magic by Sussex Central High School freshman A.J. DiPietro, and plenty of uplifting words in songs by the various church choirs and performers. The church also showcased its many programs and ministries.
“That’s what we wanted to show everybody, that there is a place for everybody, whether you have an interest in feeding the hungry, or doing missions,” said Mr. Reichhold.
The rock-climbing wall was a huge hit, and several church members and others took turns making a big splash in the dunking tank.
The event was spearheaded by Mr. Reichhold and Shante Hastings, who both took part in the wall-climbing challenge.
“Ethan and I raced to the top, and I won,” proclaimed Ms. Hastings.
Given away Saturday were 100 backpacks. Sunday, the children returned for a special tag that goes on it “just to remind them that God loves them. So, when a school day might be hard … you at least know that.”
Planning for the event began in earnest back in April.
“I was sitting in church one day and looked around, and it was kind of empty that Sunday. And I thought, ‘How can we get the community here to show all the different missions and ministries we have here at Grace,’” said Mr. Reichhold. “I talked to a couple other leaders, and everybody gave me the green light. We got a team together and pulled it off."
“We planned for around 200 or so people. I think we’ve hit our mark. We’ve also hit our mark because there are a lot of faces that we don’t know here, which is what we were looking for,” said Ms. Hastings.
“We wanted to draw people in, provide them with some food and some fun and some fellowship. It’s been a great day and thankfully the Lord provided good weather as well.”
This was Grace UMC’s first community Block Party. Mr. Reichhold is hopeful it isn’t the last.
“I’m hoping it is an annual thing,” he said. “We just want to love on the community and just give back.”
Staff writer Glenn Rolfe can be reached at grolfe@iniusa.org. Follow @glennrolfeBTBN on X.
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