The Tamaqua Faith Fellowship Network's Summer Celebration was like an old-fashioned ice cream social-plenty of music, fellowship and, of course, ice cream.

The event held at the Tamaqua Train Station Aug. 17 featured musicians and speakers from 11 Tamaqua area congregations. Similarly, the estimated audience of 125 also represented many of the 14 area congregations.Jay Martinez, St. John's Lutheran, served as master of ceremony. The Rev. Susan Daniels, First United Methodist, offered the invocation. Paul Mulhern, St. Peter and St. Paul, opened the evening with several original compositions. He was assisted by Molly Carnish, St. Jerome's.Faith Roberts, Living Stone Fellowship, and Katie Sprenkle, New Life Assembly, sang contemporary selections "Gold and "Torn." Susan Featro, St. Peter and St. Paul, offered "Ave Maria" and "The Lord's Prayer." The Salvation Army's Older and Bolder bell ringer group, led by Dina Depos, performed "Amazing Grace" and "Go Tell it on the Mountain." Bill Cause, Zion Stone Church, and Bruce Schenkel, sang "Life's Railway to Heaven" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."Jim Stoves, Bethany ECC, The Rev. Rodney Hall, Primitive Methodist, and George Taylor, Zion Lutheran, presented short inspirational messages. Cindy White, Saturday evening service leader at Zion Lutheran, offered the benediction.Paul Mulhern returned to lead the audience in a sing-along to "He Reigns" by the Newsboys to close the program.Ice cream was distributed to everyone to cap the eveningTAFFN is an organization of lay leaders from Tamaqua area congregations. Its goal is to promote cooperation and understanding among all organizations doing God's work in the community.The next TAFFN-related event would be a CROP Walk for hunger sometime in October or early November. For that to happen, however, a person or organization will have to step forward to lead the project. If interested, contact George Taylor at

gtay200@verizon.net or 570-668-4451TAFFN also hosts the annual community Advent Breakfast, set for Dec. 7 this year. Last year TAFFN initiated the "Light the Night" luminary project.