New Community Playground opens in Emden
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church offers new playground to the community

[May 22, 2023]    On Sunday, May 21, a dedication service was held St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Emden for their new neighborhood playground.

To open the service, St. Peter’s Pastor Keith Ray said a few words to bless the playground. Ray said the playground is for the whole community. It is a good way of reaching out and an extension of loving our neighbors, so they feel welcome. He wants people to feel welcome using the playground.

After Pastor Ray’s prayer of dedication, Lisa Wrage and Betty Gail Wagner cut the ribbon to officially open the neighborhood playground. As Wrage said, the playground is being dedicated to the community not just the church. The church is trying to be a good neighbor.

Once the brief dedication ceremony was over, families milled about while children enjoyed checking out the new playground equipment or playing carnival style games.

Many children also bounced on the inflatables Chase Teal donated for use at the dedication.

Four generations of the Joe Tackett Family

Other generous donations were made by Thrivent Financial and by Joe Hackett in memory of his wife Irene.

As people enjoyed visiting in the beautiful weather, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church ladies’ served hotdogs, chips, water and ice cream.

The playground will be enjoyed by the community for many years.

[Angela Reiners]