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Church celebrates heritage
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| Savanna Menzel tries eating a dangling doughnut using only her mouth. No hands were allowed. |
By RUSTY GRAHAM
Seeking the right to worship as they pleased, a small group of colonists left Europe in 1620 and came ashore in the New World.
The Mayflower had landed.
With it came the roots of First Congregational Church, which traces its philosophical lineage directly to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact.
The annual Pilgrim Festival is a way for the church to recognize its heritage in a fun and educational way, said Greg Kelley, festival chariman.
“(The festival) brings church members together through a common function,” said Kelley. “And its a chance to be good neighbors to the community.”
Church members dress in traditional Pilgrim costumes. Members and visitors both are assigned a Pilgrim “name” that matches that person with a profile of a Pilgrim of similar age and gender.
While education is the overreaching goal, fun is never far away.
Centered around the church’s buildings on its five wooded acres on Beinhorm, booths and activities await visitors.
Children can’t wait to be locked into stocks, a wooden punishment device that clamps over a prisoners hands and neck, leaving the head and face exposed for all manner of public humiliation.
Running the stocks is church member Paul Menzel, who “berates” the person being punished, obtaining a “confession” of the crime and a promise to lead a more righteous life before release.
Menzel takes time to talk with a visitor about the church and its history
“In this church, the congregation is the power,” said Menzel. “Major decisions are voted on by the members.”
Its very much rooted in New England-style democracy, he said. In fact, the Houston church was founded in 1955 by New Englanders here to work in the oil industry.
Across from the stocks is historical recreator John Keahey, dressed in 1600s explorer costume. On a table in front of Keahey are reproductions of weapons, armor and other items from the 17th century.
Keahey reconstructs the pieces himself, going to great lengths to maintain historical accuracy. For instance, not only does he use period fabrics for his costumes but he sews them by hand. “They didn’t have sewing machines back then,” he said.
Keahey has been doing the Pilgrim Festival for 10 years or so, and he looks forward to each one.
“The members are very receptive and very helpful,” he said. “It’s hard to say enough good things about them.
“And the festival is real service to the community, a very good educational thing.”
Just down the walkway from Keahey is what may be the most popular activity of the day, the chance to eat a powdered sugar doughnut dangling from a string, but with no hands.
A pile of hay is spread nearby, where children frolic and search for small prizes that are hidden within.
There are craft tables with kid-sized chairs where children can make Native American headdresses, or bonnets out of stiff paper.
Inside the church’s meeting room, visitors can watch a short video, “The Mayflower Pilgrims.”
Church member and self-described “history nut” Dave Nussmann sets up the film, and tells a visitor about the hardships faced that first winter in New England, when nearly half of the settlers died.
At its Thanksgiving service, Nussmann said, the church recognizes those who perished by palcing a mark on random bulletins. Everyone stands, then those who have the marked bulletins are asked to sit.
“Now, imagine if the next time we meet, that many people (those seated) aren’t here,” Nussmann said. “It makes quite an impression.”
Outside, Anna Edwards, a Houstonian and member of the San Juan Pueblo tribe, gives a lecture on Native American history and culture. She speaks to a small group from behind a table spread with artifacts and items from Native American culture.
Arts and crafts vendors are set up inside and out. There’s food -- it’s not traditional Thanksgiving fare, but there are turkey legs.
Kelley said the petting zoo is always a hit, and this year the zoo was provided by the Spring Branch school district’s Future Farmers of America.
The Mayflower had landed.
With it came the roots of First Congregational Church, which traces its philosophical lineage directly to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact.
The annual Pilgrim Festival is a way for the church to recognize its heritage in a fun and educational way, said Greg Kelley, festival chariman.
“(The festival) brings church members together through a common function,” said Kelley. “And its a chance to be good neighbors to the community.”
Church members dress in traditional Pilgrim costumes. Members and visitors both are assigned a Pilgrim “name” that matches that person with a profile of a Pilgrim of similar age and gender.
While education is the overreaching goal, fun is never far away.
Centered around the church’s buildings on its five wooded acres on Beinhorm, booths and activities await visitors.
Children can’t wait to be locked into stocks, a wooden punishment device that clamps over a prisoners hands and neck, leaving the head and face exposed for all manner of public humiliation.
Running the stocks is church member Paul Menzel, who “berates” the person being punished, obtaining a “confession” of the crime and a promise to lead a more righteous life before release.
Menzel takes time to talk with a visitor about the church and its history
“In this church, the congregation is the power,” said Menzel. “Major decisions are voted on by the members.”
Its very much rooted in New England-style democracy, he said. In fact, the Houston church was founded in 1955 by New Englanders here to work in the oil industry.
Across from the stocks is historical recreator John Keahey, dressed in 1600s explorer costume. On a table in front of Keahey are reproductions of weapons, armor and other items from the 17th century.
Keahey reconstructs the pieces himself, going to great lengths to maintain historical accuracy. For instance, not only does he use period fabrics for his costumes but he sews them by hand. “They didn’t have sewing machines back then,” he said.
Keahey has been doing the Pilgrim Festival for 10 years or so, and he looks forward to each one.
“The members are very receptive and very helpful,” he said. “It’s hard to say enough good things about them.
“And the festival is real service to the community, a very good educational thing.”
Just down the walkway from Keahey is what may be the most popular activity of the day, the chance to eat a powdered sugar doughnut dangling from a string, but with no hands.
A pile of hay is spread nearby, where children frolic and search for small prizes that are hidden within.
There are craft tables with kid-sized chairs where children can make Native American headdresses, or bonnets out of stiff paper.
Inside the church’s meeting room, visitors can watch a short video, “The Mayflower Pilgrims.”
Church member and self-described “history nut” Dave Nussmann sets up the film, and tells a visitor about the hardships faced that first winter in New England, when nearly half of the settlers died.
At its Thanksgiving service, Nussmann said, the church recognizes those who perished by palcing a mark on random bulletins. Everyone stands, then those who have the marked bulletins are asked to sit.
“Now, imagine if the next time we meet, that many people (those seated) aren’t here,” Nussmann said. “It makes quite an impression.”
Outside, Anna Edwards, a Houstonian and member of the San Juan Pueblo tribe, gives a lecture on Native American history and culture. She speaks to a small group from behind a table spread with artifacts and items from Native American culture.
Arts and crafts vendors are set up inside and out. There’s food -- it’s not traditional Thanksgiving fare, but there are turkey legs.
Kelley said the petting zoo is always a hit, and this year the zoo was provided by the Spring Branch school district’s Future Farmers of America.
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