Centennial Year Church Events

July 9, 2005 -   The 10th Annual Run For The Church was held on Saturday morning, July 9. The event was co-sponsored by SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J., Holy Annunciation Church in Brick, N.J., Christ the Saviour Church in Paramus, N.J., and Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow Mission in Rocky Hill, N.J. The event was chaired by Hank Dziemian from SS. Peter and Paul parish and he was assisted by parishioners Anastasia Essl and Diane Dreyer. It was Hank who had started the event ten years ago as a solo effort to raise funds for our Church. The run is a participatory, non-competitive event and it included runners, walkers, and bicyclists as participants. The 19 mile course between Freehold and South River has its inception at the home of our Church President, James Kornafel, and its conclusion at the front gate of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River. Participants pass through Freehold, Marlboro, Old Bridge, East Brunswick, and South River during the course of the run. Pledges of monetary support were encouraged and our portion of the proceeds from the event are earmarked for a future Centennial Anniversary project at SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Below are scenes from the starting gate at Jim's house to the finish line at our Church, including the reception which followed.

The event began in Jim Kornafel's backyard (above left and right) - an idyllic, park-like setting that is a pleasure to visit every summer.

Above left, Meredith Garretson shares a moment with Starosta Kornafel in the Kornafel's kitchen. Above right and below left, the runners begin to assemble and eat, but eat sparingly! Below right, Rev. David Garretson of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River discusses pre-race strategy with the participants.

Above, Rev. Garretson had a discussion with policemen from the South River Police Department. The officers provided the runners with an escort for the duration of the race to ensure the safety of all. Below left, the shirt that all participants wore for the event pretty much tells the whole story. Below right, Matushka Vernak attends to her granddaughter's hair and the glass ceiling of the Kornafel's enclosed porch mirrors her loving care.

Above left, V. Rev. David Vernak of Christ the Saviour Church in Paramus, N.J. is shown with his Matushka and their two granddaughters. Above right, SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church Choirmaster, Basil Kozak, arrived with last year's version of the Run for the Church shirt, but event chairman Hank Dziemian quickly brought him up to date with a new shirt. Mr. Kozak is a marathon runner who has competed in the New York City Marathon.

Above left, Starosta Kornafel and his sister, Kathy, hold a sign made especially for the event. By now, the astute reader will see a discrepancy between length of the run on the sign and the length of the trip as stated on the shirts. Perhaps one additional mile was added to the journey at the last minute to make a nice, round number. Below left, Mr. Robert Kornafel, his wife Olga, and the Vernak family listen as Hank Dziemian (below right) explains pre-race instructions to those assembled.

Below, Mr. Dziemian holds a new baton made especially for the event. The baton was passed among the runners during the run.

Above left, Rev. Garretson really gets into the spirit of the event by donning a runner's shirt! Above right, some last minute stretching just prior to the beginning of the run.

Above left, the runners gave Hank a round of applause. Above right, Jim Kornafel videotaped the proceedings. Below left, Rev. David Garretson offers a travel prayer for the safety of the runners and then (below right) blesses them with Holy Water.

Above left, Hank Dziemian zeroes his chronometer, the race begins, and the runners pursue their shadows! Below left, the runners are shown very early in the run from the vantage point of a person operating a motor vehicle. Photography during the operation of a motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous activity and is not to be duplicated by anyone, regardless of age!

Above right, the runners are still in pursuit of their shadows! Below, a police car from the South River Police Department brings up the rear of the event.

Above is the front of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church on Whitehead Avenue in South River, shown a few minutes after high noon. It is a very quiet place as the runners have not yet arrived and those not directly involved in the run are still home eating their lunch. This scene is about to change very shortly. The U.S. flag shows a stiff wind out of the west.

Above and below left, parishioners begin to arrive with helium-filled balloons. Rev. Garretson inspects their holdings. The balloons are to be released in celebration as the runners approach the finish line (below right).

Above - up, up, and away! The balloons, bouyed by helium and a stiff wind, make an abrupt upward ascent in a due-easterly direction. Below left, some of the runners track flight of the balloons.

Above right, there is nothing better than a little re-hydration after a long, hot run! Below left, all four participating churches received a plaque signifying their participation in the run. Here, event director Hank Dziemian hands Matushka Shari Garretson a plaque denoting SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church's participation in the event. Below right, a group photo of all participants on the front church steps taken minutes after the conclusion of the run. Rev. David Garretson is at the extreme right in the photo and his Matushka is at the extreme left of the photo.

You may click on the photo above right to view an enlarged image.

A reception was held in the Church Hall immediately after the run. Above left - although he did not run, Rev. Garretson receives a round of applause upon entering the hall. Above right, he offers a blessing before the repast begins. Below, those gathered sang "Many Years" for event chairman, Hank Dziemian.

You may click on the composite panoramic photo above to view an enlarged image.

Above and below, pizza, chips, and ice cream cake were on the menu.

Above right, Jim Kornafel offers Pearl Berezniak a piece of ice cream cake (above left) made especially for the event. Below, a runner representing one of the participating churches proudly displays her church's plaque.

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Copyright © 2005, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ