A reception will be held Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall to honor Rev. Cynthia Wickwire Lundquist, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The pastor of the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wickwire Lundquist, has announced her intention to retire at the end of December, 2019. During her 20+ years at Fredonia Presbyterian, Rev. Cynthia has done much to engage the congregation in activities to help Fredonia residents in many ways.

Best known is the Feeding Fredonia Challenge, which takes place in October and collects non-perishable food to meet the needs of people living in Fredonia. Many local businesses and offices take part in the two-week collection process, and encourage customers, clients and staff to bring in canned foods, rice, coffee, etc. Also participating are students at Fredonia Public Schools and SUNY Fredonia. Food collected is then given out at a monthly Fredonia Food Pantry held in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

Another program instituted by Rev. Cynthia is the Nativity Display and Alternative Christmas Market held on the weekend of Miracle on Main Street. This year’s nativity display included over 800 Nativities of different sizes, all displayed in the church’s sanctuary. At the same time, the Alternative Christmas Market takes place in the Fellowship Hall, and allows people to give gifts in honor of others to non-profit organizations such as Heifer Project and Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. Gifts may be purchased from the SERRV Shop, which guarantees craftspeople from around the world a fair price for their work, as well as the Equal Exchange Shop, which carries coffees, teas, chocolate, olive oil and nuts and also guarantees farmers from around the world and the U.S. a fair price. People who regularly attend the Fredonia Farmer’s Market are familiar with Equal Exchange and may know that the church realizes no profit from the sales.

Rev. Cynthia has done so much for the Fredonia community, and community members will have the opportunity to express their appreciation and wish her well in her retirement. Fredonia Presbyterian Church will host a reception for the community in her honor on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 3-5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us to celebrate her work and legacy for Fredonia.