Northwest Conference talent displayed during Family Festival
The Evangelical Covenant Church hosted a Family Festival and Picnic on Raspberry Island on June 26 in celebration of its 125th Anniversary. The event, which featured musical acts, a puppet show, food vendors, children’s activities, and more, was held in conjunction with the 2010 ECC Annual Meeting in St. Paul, MN, June 24-27.
“It’s been fabulous. We’ve just had a wonderful time,” said Pat Trautman, member of Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. “I can hardly take two steps and I know someone else. My whole family is here.”
Volunteers from NWC churches and ministries helped staff the event by taking tickets, helping run carnival events, and overseeing stage entertainment. The Family Festival Stage featured many talented musical acts from local and national churches.
A team of students from Alaska Christian College performed traditional Alaskan tribal music, as well as modern Christian songs. Other acts to grace the stage during the festival included: Heart Song Reunion, Steadfast, Emmanuel Covenant Church, Joel Bowers, Vanessa Gamble, Marcus Singleton, Ebony Ramquist, Geoff Bullock, and the Brookdale Covenant Church Puppet Team.
“This is a significant week for us because we became a member church yesterday. As part of the family, you just participate,” said Phil Nelson, director of worship development and director of communications at Emmanuel Covenant Church in Shoreview, MN. “Every time we do a Covenant event, we’ve been impressed.”
Despite warm, humid conditions, festival attendees of all ages enjoyed the variety of activities and information booths throughout the afternoon.
“It’s kind of what you hope a fair would always be. Really fun. Really relaxing. This is amazing,” said Dawn Burnett, co-pastor of Prairie Hills Covenant Church in Sioux Falls, SD. “This Annual Meeting shows some of the best prepared hospitality I’ve ever seen. It’s just been great.”
To see a collection of photos from the Family Festival, visit our NWC photos page.