ILLINOIS—On August 17, 58 Philadelphia Church of God members from the Horicon, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, congregations gathered together at the Hunt Club Park in Gurnee, Illinois, for an annual picnic.

Gray skies could not diminish a day filled with grilling, fellowship and games. The previous night had been filled with thunderstorms, and rain clouds threatened the activity, but God blessed the weather, providing moderate temperatures and a light breeze throughout the day. Young and old said that the overcast skies actually made the day even more agreeable.

Games included cornhole, water balloon toss and a Tetris-style block game for the children.

There was plenty of conversation under the pavilion as members took turns playing chess with Chicago member David Miller and fellow Chicagoan Emir Capalad strummed gently on his tiny guitar.

“Everybody enjoyed the atmosphere,” Clarice, a teen from Wisconsin, said. “Everyone worked hard to make sure that everything ran smoothly, and it was a success.”

An abundant array of salads and finger foods accompanied grilled burgers and hotdogs, along with grilled corn on the cob, and no one went home hungry.

Wisconsin member Ben Tryba said, “The picnic was a wonderful activity to build stronger unity in God’s Family.”