Sophia the barn owl, who makes her home at Audubon Sharon, turns her head away from the crowd during the Earth Day Festival at Newtown Middle School on April 30. (Bobowick photo)
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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)
