Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Oct. 17 starting at 5 p.m. Family, friends, and neighbors are all welcome for an evening full of fellowship, good food, and socially distanced fun.

The church is located at 15985 GA-144 in Richmond Hill.

Activities during the celebration include a potluck with grilled bratwursts, music, games, and a contest for the tastiest pie judged by the Bryan County firefighters of Station 1. Spirit of Peace staff and volunteers are undertaking necessary safety precautions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic during this event. For example, everyone will be asked to socially distance and wear masks, the food will be served by church volunteers who are masked and wearing gloves, and everyone will take their plates back to their trucks/cars and eat it “tailgate style.” Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and beverages or beer to enjoy during this event.

“Our congregation holds this event every year, and we strive to still bring a fun, but safe celebration to instill the power of fellowship when we all need it most,” said Pastor Devin Strong. “This event is a way for our church to take a more active role in our community and provide a source of joy and comradery during these uncertain times. We invite everyone in the community to come join us!”

This Oktoberfest event is free to the public; however, the church encourages guests to bring a covered dish to the celebration to ensure that there is enough food for all. The local nonprofit, SD Gunner Fund, will be joining the festivities with volunteer Elena Nock and service dog trainee, Poppy, a sweet, loving yellow Labrador Retriever. The organization will be giving out information about their mission and allowing cuddles and pets with Poppy.

 For more information about this event or Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church, please visit www.spiritofpeacelutheran.org or call Fellowship Director Anne-Marie Callahan at 912-344-8458.