Bethany Congregational Church brought its congregation beyond the East Rockaway church’s walls in August for its Bethany Beach Party, celebrating the last few moments of summer by bringing together members of all ages for an afternoon of food, fellowship and fun by the water.
Children, young people, adults and seniors gathered for the celebration, which featured hot dogs, burgers and chicken fresh from the grill, along with plenty of time for conversation and catching up. Some attendees also headed out on the water for a short fishing trip.
The gathering marked the return of the church’s beach party after a brief pause in recent years, giving members and friends another opportunity to spend time together outside of regular Sunday worship.
Rev. Prabhu Sigamani said the strong turnout and enthusiasm surrounding the event reflected the close connections within the Bethany community.
“God’s presence was felt beyond the sanctuary and beyond Sunday morning worship,” Prabhu said. “The event was a tremendous success, marked by an abundance of food, laughter, shared stories, and meaningful connections by the water.”
For Prabhu, the gathering was also an opportunity for members to reconnect and celebrate the sense of fellowship that extends beyond the church’s weekly services.
“The strong turnout served as a powerful reminder that God continues to work in extraordinary ways within the Bethany Church community,” he said, “where faith is lived not only in worship, but also through moments of joy, friendship, discovery, and shared celebration.”
