St. Mary’s rings in the fall with Harvest Luncheon

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church celebrated the start of the fall season on Wednesday by inviting both parishioners and non-parishioners to its third annual Harvest Luncheon fundraiser.

Church Warden Marie Lucier-Woodruff gave a rundown of the afternoon’s spread, as well as the other goodies to be had at this year’s Harvest Luncheon fundraiser.

“It used to be a part of the church’s Harvest Festival week, and it’s come down to this luncheon over the years. One of our parishioners is a professional cook, so she makes the lunch,” Lucier-Woodruff said. “We have quiche, three types of soup, a salad and desserts.”

“It’s a fundraiser for the church. This year, we have quilts that we’re raffling off, as well as hand-painted eggs, which another parishioner did,” she said. “We also have baked goods from Coxs Corner Market, which is a bakery in Coxs Corner (a neighborhood in Upper Freehold Township).”

The fundraiser, attended by dozens of community members, featured a multi-course meal and art raffles including hand-painted eggs by Gretchen Batchelar and watercolor paintings by Pauline Mickle. Mickle, who moved to Point Pleasant from England in the 1940s, told The Ocean Star that, although her eyesight is not what it used to be, she still adores the craft of watercolor.

“I’ve done this a couple of times; the painting,” said Mickle, “but I can’t see very well now because I’ve got macular degeneration. I love sitting here in the corner, seeing everybody is very nice. I’ve belonged to this church ever since I came over here in 1947.”

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always painted and taught how to paint. More recently, I’ve had trouble seeing. But, these paintings I’ve done just last week,” she said, pointing out several autumn-themed watercolors. “There’s people who think they can’t do anything anymore, but it’s not so. There always has to be something you can do.”

This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Ocean Star —on newsstands Friday or online in our e-Edition.

Check out our other Point Pleasant Beach stories, updated daily. And remember to pick up a copy of The Ocean Star —on newsstands Friday or online in our e-Edition .

Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Ocean Star , get your subscription today! For just $38 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.