GEORGIA—Philadelphia Church of God members of the Florida West and Georgia South congregations combined on August 21 for a summer picnic at McKey Park in Valdosta, some of them driving as much as three hours to break bread, play games, and converse with members of their spiritual family.

Despite the hot summer weather and the looming threat of thunderstorms lurking on the horizon, the 56 attendees enjoyed the activity.

Florida West member Aaron Stewart said, “It seemed like a parade of kids constantly having a blast making memories, despite the 95-degree heat.”

After lunch, adults joined in on games of volleyball, horseshoes and Polish Bottle Bash.

“It was nice because we had different age groups participating in the same games together,” said Florida West single Katelynn Smedley. “In one game, we had singles and a teen playing and some of the little ones trying to learn how to throw a Frisbee all together.”

Elsewhere, some members elected to enjoy the game of extreme picnic table fellowshipping while others made giant soap bubbles. When time came to depart, many pitched in to clean up and to leave the park better than they had found it while enjoying hearty helpings of watermelon, also known here in the south as “Georgia ice cream.”