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By the Rev. Steve Dayen
Pastor, Woodstock Seventh-day Adventist Church
BRYANT POND — The Woodstock Seventh-day Adventist Church began 2018 by celebrating the gift of long life.
Two of its longtime members celebrated significant birthdays, 90 and 98.
Genevieve Soloninka, one of the church’s longtime members, celebrated her 90th birthday at a special party in her honor.
Family members arrived from seven different states — Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee, Maryland and New York — for this very special occasion. Her grandson, Roger Oetman, traveled the longest distance, having come all the way from Tennessee. She also got to visit with her sister-in-law for the first time in more than 20 years.
Soloninka was born in Nova Scotia, eventually moving to Nantucket and New Bedford Mass., then finally to Maine in 1993. She has been blessed with two daughters, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In February, church members celebrated Burna Wilson’s 98th birthday. Wilson has been a poet for much of her life and continues to write and read her poetry for special events. In lieu of gifts, Wilson requested a money tree be at her party and that the donations would go to benefit the Forestdale Christian School,27 Perkins Valley Road. More than $400 was given by the guests for this purpose.
Wilson is a Maine native born within about an hour from Bryant Pond. She has eight children and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On both occasions, the church fellowship hall, 25 Perkins Valley Road, was filled to capacity with family and friends. Delicious food and joyful fellowship prevailed. The congregation prays it will celebrate many more birthdays with these “two delightful and adorable members.”
PHOTO: Burna Wilson, left, and Genevieve Soloninka both celebrated nonagenarian birthdays in 2018. (Submitted photo)
