CANADA—Approximately 50 brethren from the Milton and London congregations of the Philadelphia Church of God met at the Nassageweya Community Center in Milton on January 28 to experience the warmth of summer during the cold of winter.

To contrast the frigid weather outside, members decorated the hall with a “summer fair” theme: pictures of amusement park rides decked the walls, treats were served under a striped awning, and tables displayed the arts and crafts talents of local members. Members streamed into the hall and observed paintings, crocheted scarves, and a handmade miniature furniture set. Small prizes were displayed, the most eye-catching of which was a jar of nuts and candies. Members placed their guesses for the total number of nuts and candies into a ballot box. They also received a number that would determine which prize they would receive when the fair concluded.

As members tasted the fair fare, they judged homemade fruit sculptures and voted on their favorites. The choices ranged from a delicate cantaloupe peacock to a rendering of the Mona Lisa from cabbage.

After the potluck, brethren gathered at tables numbered 1-10 for two rounds of Bunco, a congregational favorite. Partners changed with each round, allowing members to play with as many different people as possible. Cries of “Bunco!” rose from tables when three dice rolled the same number.

“The best part is being together,” Milton member Louise LaFortune said of the event. “This was my first time playing Bunco, and it’s really fun. The fruit sculptures were amazing.”

“I would like to do it again,” London teen Shannah Quinlan said. “It was a great way to see the talents God has blessed His people with, and the fellowship was great.”