MiddletownJournal.com

FRANKLIN — Franklin firefighters weren't expecting much in the way of an Easter dinner.

Firefighter Quincy Pearson and Lt. William Morgan said they would have probably settled for peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese.

But the members of the Agape Praise and Worship Center had other ideas.

The church, located on Claude-Thomas Road, served a free Easter dinner to more than 250 area residents, Sunday, March 23, and made special deliveries to the firefighters and the staff of the Franklin Ridge Nursing Home.

The Rev. Dawn Cornett said Agape is a nontraditional congregation that enjoys breaking traditions.

But while breaking with the traditional candy-filled baskets and hunt for plastic eggs, the young church may have started its own Easter tradition.

"To me this is what it's all about," said church member Myra Cecala. "It's awesome. I hope we do it every year."

Cornett said this was the first Easter for the church, which formed nine months ago and has about 50 members.

"Our church is more outward focused," she said "This was our way of serving others. We feel like that's what we should do as Christians."

On the menu were ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cole slaw and chocolate cake, much of it donated by local merchants. The church made two trips to Hope House in Middletown to pick up residents and also welcomed walk-ins at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2309, where the dinner was held.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwells@coxohio.com.