Patriotic church service returns at Cobblestone Museum with picnic to follow

Photo contributed: Diana Dudley plays the historic organ at the Cobblestone Church accompanying soloist Maarit Vaga at a prior patriotic service. The service will again take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, followed by a picnic on the museum grounds.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum’s patriotic service this year will have a new twist to it, according to director Doug Farley.

Harkening back to its early roots, the focus will be more on patriotism, featuring patriotic songs, poems and readings designed to make one proud of America and all that it stands for, said Bill Lattin, who has planned the service with Maarit Vaga. The service will begin at 11 a.m.

Lattin said this is the 50th year for the service, which he started in 1971 when he became curator of the Cobblestone Museum. The service was skipped the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lattin said the early services were patriotic with a keynote speaker, but one year the local Congregational Church’s pastor could not preach on Sunday, so suggested the people attend the service at the Cobblestone Church. Eventually three local churches began to participate and it evolved into more of a religious service.

Now Lattin said they decided to go back to the original format.

In addition to a solo by Vaga, Lattin’s granddaughter Phoebe Kirby will play a patriotic song on her guitar and Lattin will play an Edison cylinder record by comedian Cal Stewart on his Edison machine.

“We want people to go home feeling jolly,” Lattin said.

After the patriotic service, attendees will move outdoors to enjoy a good old-fashioned picnic with hotdogs on the grill.

Everyone is asked to bring their own lawn chair and a dish to pass. Hotdogs and beverages will be provided. A free will offering will be received.

The service has been planned by Bill Lattin and Maarit Vaga, while Farley is in charge of the picnic.

Lattin said the Cobblestone Society has had many different programs over the years and they carry on for a while and most fizzle out.

“The Fourth of July patriotic service is the only one that has lasted,” he said.