Community gathers to celebrate faith and fellowship at Praise in the Park

Parishioners from five churches participated in the free event at the Monessen City Park Amphitheatre.

It was a celebration of faith and community Saturday at the Monessen City Park Amphitheatre.

Members of the Gate of Heaven Church of God in Christ of Monessen sing during the Praise in the Park event. Michael Vinsick / Mon Valley Independent

Residents came together for the Praise in the Park event, which featured praise, music, fellowship with members of The Christian Center Church, Gate of Heaven Church of God in Christ, Journey by Grace, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church and The Orchard Christian Fellowship.

Jon Kozik, music coordinator for the Christian Center, said they were grateful to participate and lead the crowd in singing Christian songs and expressing their faith.

“We were pleased to be here today to honor our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love God, and we want to sing our praises to Him, and allow Him to minister to the people in the Mon Valley area. We’d like to see all people come to know God and have a close relationship with them,” Kozik said.

Ruth Bass, minister of music for Gate of Heaven Church of God in Christ in Monessen, also stated that the church felt grateful to lead the crowd in singing and expressing their faith.

“We’re excited about thanking and giving God praise and glory. Our church is a Pentecostal church, and we believe in having church and praising God, so we’re excited to be here.”

While the churches led the crowd in worship and sang Christian songs, Memaw’s Sweet Creations sold sweet treats. Owner Betty Strickland started the business in November 2025, where she ran it directly from her home, before gaining enough customers to open the Memaw’s Sweet Creations Baker’s Stand on Athalia Avenue in May.

“Actually, the mayor’s wife reached out to me to ask me to do it. They’ve been to my bake stand at my house and wanted me to come here,” Strickland said. “It’s a micro bakery, and I have a stand outside my house. I have everything out there and it’s on an honor system, where everybody just comes in, pays and leaves.”