Thursday, November 04, 1999
Serving the Lord and oyster stew
Church wanes, tradition doesn't
BY KAREN SAMPLES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CONSTANCE — Constance Christian Church has 10 members and a divine recipe for oyster stew. It could use an organ player. For now, though, the stew is miracle enough.
Every first Saturday in November, this tiny congregation recruits helpers, ships in fresh oysters and lays out a feast. After 60 years, word has spread throughout Northern Kentucky. This Saturday,some 300 people are expected to attend.
The dinner pays the church's insurance bill and buys heat for the winter.
More important, it lifts the spirits of the faithful, Pastor Ron Showalter says.
The last few years haven't been easy for Constance Christian. The church started in 1875. During its heyday, the pews were packed and people had to put chairs in the aisles. Sunday-school rooms were added in 1968.
Now those rooms are empty, the choir has disbanded and most young families have moved away. About 100 people remain in Constance, which lies along the Ohio River in western Boone County.
Mr. Showalter sometimes preaches to a congregation of three. Once, only Ellen Black and her husband were there. On such days, the couple moves up to the second row.
“I feel like we're keeping Ron warm or something,” Mrs. Black says.
He just hopes they don't take the sermon too personally.
Pastor Showalter, a pharmacy technician with a degree in Bible studies, has preached at the church for 10 years. When the pews are empty, he simply says, “We've got to keep praying.”
And cooking oysters.
Every fall, some 15 volunteers come together to help Constance Christian pull off the feast. It's a busy, happy time, with church members well aware people anticipate their oysters.
Sandwiches, bean soup and homemade pie also are on the menu.
The stew recipe has been passed from one person to another for years. Truth is, nobody needs to read it anymore. The formula is simple: Two gallons of whole milk and three sticks of butter per gallon of fresh oysters and juice, along with salt and pepper.
Virgil Souder and Marvin Phelps will man the stirring spoons this year. They season until the stew tastes good — provided they can stand another bite.
“Half the time we'll sit back there and get it going good, and I'll say, "I don't know if I can taste any more of this,'” said Mr. Souder, a veteran of many dinners.
“We try to get five or six oysters to a bowl,” said Ruth Kottmyer, another volunteer.
“Oh, now they'll count them, Ruth,” Mrs. Black teased.
They've been together a long time, this bunch. Every wedding, every funeral, every Sunday for church. They all know, for instance, how much Mrs. Kottmyer misses her husband, Rich, who died in 1998.
He was the guiding force behind the church. They all miss him.
Mr. Souder's wife, Norene, remembers a time when she wasn't attending regularly. Mr. Kottmyer stopped by her house.
“Where have you been on Sun day?” he asked.
“Here.”
“Don't you think you belong up the road?”
“Yeah,” she said.
“See you on Sunday!” he replied.
When Mr. Kottmyer was a baby, his mother carried him into the church in a blanket. He often remarked he would hate to see it close.
Even now, the group feels his presence and resolves to go on.
This year, their oysters will be for him.
IF YOU GO
• What: Annual oyster supper.
• Where: Constance Christian Church, on Ky. 8 in Boone County, a quarter-mile past the Anderson Ferry.
• When: 4-8 p.m. Saturday.
• Cost: Oyster stew, $3. Other items range from $1 to $3.
Karen Samples is Kentucky columnist for the Enquirer. Her column appears Thursdays and Sundays. She can be reached at 578-5584, or by e-mail at ksamples@enquirer.com.
Karen Samples is The Enquirer's Kentucky columnist. Her column appears on Sundays and Thursdays in The Kentucky Enquirer. She can be reached at 578-5584 or email
her at ksamples@enquirer.com
SAMPLES ARCHIVE
