None of that seems to matter on the one summer afternoon each year in Tennant Park when the Cal-Mum community gathers together for an afternoon of fun, food, fellowship and entertainment. August 12, 2007 marked the eighth year of the hometown community picnic, hosted by the Cal-Mum Council of Churches. This year’s picnic, like those before it, brought neighbors together, both churched and unchurched, to enjoy a picnic lunch together, catch up on old times, exchange a few laughs and kick back with some homegrown music.

   Rev. Robert Messmer, pastor of Caledonia Assembly of God and facilitator for the CM Council of Churches, says the community picnic was initially started as a way of giving back to the community of people who generously support the local churches. Messmer says the picnic was also intended to be a gathering of all people in the community, breaking down the walls between people who attend church and those who don’t and also between denominations. He says the picnic has done that and is now enjoyed by everyone, Presbyterians, Catholics and Protestants. It’s also a comfortable way to introduce those who are not church goers, to one of the local congregations, Messmer said.

   Rev. Dan McCollister from Stone Presbyterian Church and Brian Franklin and Mary Kay Keeley, wife of Rev. Robert Keeley of Living Word Family Church, performed for the group of about 50 people. McCollister, a jazz, blues and classical music enthusiast, is also a talented performer as well. He accompanied himself on keyboard as he sang several spirituals in his own unique jazz and blues style.

   The hometown picnic is free of charge and is supported each year by the Council of Churches and local businesses. This year’s supporters include the Bank of Castile, Tompkins Insurance, Inc., ACE Hardware, Jon Barefoot Septic, County Wide TV and the Knights of Columbus at St. Columba’s Catholic Church.