Guests at Berlin First Baptist Church’s Homecoming Dance/Birthday quarterly celebration are thankful for their birthday presents. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Outside the brightly lit barn, greeters welcomed guests and directed them to tables filled with homemade food and hot cider prepared by Berlin Church members. Guests enjoyed dinner, cupcakes, and plenty of dancing to upbeat, family-friendly music. “It was very unstructured and relaxed,” said Shannon Diehl, the wife of Pastor Brad Diehl, and Berlin Church’s children’s director and disability ministry leader. Outside the barn, guests made bracelets, played bingo, or posed for pictures on a bench beside bales of hay.
In a nod to local prom traditions, each participant was introduced individually, stepping forward to cheers and applause. “It was just to give them a second to be recognized,” Shannon said. “They were so sweet, and they had so much fun.”
Halfway through the evening, guests who had birthdays in the past quarter sat in a circle and received gifts. Their eyes lit up, and there were lots of huge smiles. Shannon said, “It’s always great watching them open their presents. They just get so excited,” she said. “There was one little girl who kept thanking me over and over.”
At one point, the microphone was passed around, and several guests expressed their thanks to Shannon and the other organizers. One girl was just about in tears as she said, “Thank you for loving us.” Others thanked organizers for helping them find friends, for the presents, and for the dance.
The evening closed with a crowd favorite: AJ, a regular participant, took the stage to perform his signature Johnny Cash number, Folsom Prison Blues. The crowd clapped along as AJ sang and danced with energy. “He sings at every event,” Shannon said with a smile. As guests left, they gave lots of hugs to Brad, Shannon, and other leaders.
Guests Jimmy Stolle and his buddy, Rachel, enjoy dancing. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Shannon expressed gratitude to her church family for their support of the disability ministry and for the partnership with Fathom Church. Berlin First Baptist Church and Fathom Church have been partnering for over a year. “We have become friends, and they send us volunteers for our events and help us with whatever we need,” Shannon said. She was also delighted with Fathom’s barn venue. “It was such a great location and a wonderful backdrop.”
Reflecting on the night, Shannon said, “For our guests to have a night where there’s no real agenda except enjoying each other in a safe place — that’s the highlight for me.”
As the night wrapped up, Shannon and the team were already looking ahead to the holidays and the next birthday celebration, eager to see the joy continue.
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Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D Stories Editor
Feature Photo: Several girls pose in a photo at the “Getting Ready Party.” (Photo by Shannon Diehl)