ILLINOIS—On August 20, some 66 Philadelphia Church of God members from Northern Illinois and Wisconsin came together for a combined church picnic at Rock Cut State Park in Rockford. Everyone was greeted by a large sign that read “Welcome Family” upon arrival at the reserved shelter on the shore of Pierce Lake in the park.

God blessed the event with mildly warm weather in the mid-80s with low humidity and fair cloud coverage. Surrounded by lush forestry and shaded at the picnic site by many trees, adults and children shared conversation and a wide variety of group games, as well as a cornucopia of food.

The group played a couple of organized, light-hearted team-building games including a “mummy wrap” activity using toilet paper and a “balloon stomp” game for children. Afterward, some continued relaxing and sharing conversation, some played volleyball, horseshoes, bean-bag toss and other games, and some rented kayaks and canoes and paddled around on the lake.

Illinois member Jim Stewart commented after the picnic, “It’s always a joy to get together with our spiritual family; the family unity was noticeable, and God blessed us with a pleasant day, wonderful food, and great fellowship.”