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HANDSOM

Each year the St. Paul United Church of Christ has a Sunday to celebrate Pastor Emeritus Day. The Rev. Dr. Joseph J. Ferguson has faithfully served as the pastor of that congregation for 56 years.

Because of requirements that were established at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Paul United Church of Christ has cancelled all services/activities in the sanctuary, which is located in Handsom.

But the church administration still wanted to do something for the pastor and his wife, Dianette, who both have been recently hospitalized and returned to their home. The answer was to hold a surprise “Drive-By Awards Day” on Sunday.

The special events team of the church was successful in keeping the surprise from the Fergusons, and managed to get him to come to the church at a given time/date for some unknown reason. All plans fell in place; the weather was sunny and not too cold.

Cars with members came through one entrance to the church grounds, dropped off a special donation, waved, honked horns/took photographs and exited through an exit. At the conclusion, Deacon Ernest Graham made the donation to the Fergusons.