Anne Bloss sits with her daughters Julia, left, and Katie after the girls had butterflies painted on their cheeks during the Earth Day Festival.
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![Sunday, May 1, offered members of Christ the King Lutheran Church another in the series of 50th anniversary activities for the Mt Pleasant Road church. The Reverend James Ilten, the church’s founding pastor, was the guest speaker during last weekend’s worship service. Pastor Ilten arrived in Newtown as a mission developer in 1959. As a result of his labor, the congregation was chartered in 1961, first meeting at Hawley School, and then Newtown High School (now home to Newtown Middle School). In addressing those gathered for his sermon, Rev Ilten called Sunday “a special day … a joyous celebration [as the church pre-pares to enter] a new chapter with a transition in pastoral leadership.” Also joining current members of Christ the King last weekend was the Reverend Robert Schipul, who began his church life in Newtown and recently retired from pastoral ministry at Christ Lutheran Church in Scituate, Mass. From left is the Reverend Schipul and his wife Sandi; Christ the King Parish Musician Elaine Perry; Priscilla and Dr Gregory J. Wismar, the current pastor of Christ the King, who will retire next month; and Nadine and the Reverend James Ilten. (Hicks photo)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Journalism/Photos-from-the-issue-31/i-XLKRZqS/1/c131f9b8/Ti/SH_Homecoming%20Sunday%20at%20Christ%20the%20King%20--%20group%20photo-Ti.jpg)
