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Arts & Entertainment

A Tea Party and a Trip Down Memory Lane

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church held a tea party. Greenbelt resident Amy Headley shares thoughts on returning to her roots.

On May 21 hosted its fourth annual Spring tea party and for me it was a walk backward in time.

Having been baptized as a baby there, and having attended the church’s day school for several dreamy preschool years, I was excited to return after 30-plus years.

My mother drove, and as we parked and walked toward the parish hall, it was this rush of happiness and excitement that pulled me toward this little church I’d equated with such wonderful memories.

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We were greeted by one of my first Sunday school teachers, Carolyn Gakenheimer, who was taking money for the tickets. When I hugged her, it was like I was that little kid in a sheep costume ready for the Christmas pageant.

The set up for the tea was amazing. A full table was for china teacups and saucers and of course assorted teas to sample. Two tables were filled to overflowing with food: dainty cucumber sandwiches and fruit bowls carved out of watermelon. And then there was the dessert table, with cookies, brownies and cakes. They’d even set up a chocolate fountain table, which the children, who showed up at the end, thoroughly enjoyed!

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Audrey Pabs-Garnon, president of the St. Matthew’s branch of the Episcopal Church Women, said that this was the best turnout for any of the teas they have hosted.

Sitting at our table was a group of women who had all been friends at St. Matthew’s in the late 60s, early 70s, being young moms together, they’d mostly stayed in touch even after all but two left the church. Hearing them share memories from years ago, and interact so comfortably, I realized it hadn’t been just my nostalgia; it was a lovely place to grow up.

Much to our surprise, there was a guest speaker: Maureen Fiedler, University Park resident, author and weekly host of NPR’s show Interfaith Voices. She kept the near capacity crowd of 60-plus ladies captivated by her discussion on women in leadership in theology.

After 30 minutes of lively dialogue, the church senior warden, Martha Wells, led me downstairs to see the day school classrooms. I remembered immediately which classrooms I’d been in, and which room had been used for group activities and vacation Bible school. Being in those cozy little rooms, I was overwhelmed with this wave of bittersweet memories, and love for this community and church.

Later, as I walked with several ladies to see the church, I was told that at 7 p.m. on June 20th they will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the church. Recently, they have had a Hispanic congregation join them as the original church has been struggling financially along with many local congregations. So San Matteo stepped in, and they have been enjoying this relationship.

Going home again, to my childhood faith community, was really a blessing. Seeing it through an adult’s eyes was an important part of understanding where I came from and who I am today.

The church is truly reaching out to the community, including a reunion in July for alumni of the day school.

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