June 29 was a grand, festive day for St. Peter’s of the Lakes Episcopal Church in Gilbertsville. Not only did the western Kentucky congregation celebrate its annual St. Peter’s Day, made evident that day by the “sea of red” St. Peter’s T-shirts on church grounds, but church members also paid homage to their priest associate, the Rev. Nick Jaeger, who celebrated (to the day) 40 years of ordained ministry.

An overflowing crowd of approximately 100 friends, family members and representatives of the diocese joined the congregation, which averages 30 to 35 each Sunday, for worship, a meal and fellowship.

Bishop Ted Gulick presided over the service, during which nine persons were confirmed and received and five reaffirmed their baptismal vows. Also during the service the congregation sang, with great enthusiasm, a hymn composed by St. Peter's parishioner Linda Corell in honor of Jaeger's anniversary.

After the service, each confirmand was given with a wooden cross handmade by Jaeger and the bishop was presented with a St. Peter's T-shirt, which he promptly donned, and a replica of a $1002 check for donations received from church members for the diocese's Alleluia Fund. The church also had anniversary gifts for Jaeger, including a small model sailboat (the priest is also a sailor), a photo album and a shirt with St. Peter's logo, and it presented the Vicar Award to member Doris Butler for her years of volunteering at St. Peter's.

A highpoint of the afternoon meal and fellowship were the two almost-too-pretty-to-cut cakes baked by member Angela Luttrull, one for Jaeger and the other for the confirmands.