Setting the stage for Charlie

Following Sunday’s 10 a.m. service, Julia Lamoglia was treated to a surprise baby shower in Fellowship Hall as she and her family await the soon-to-be birth of their second son, Charlie.

The congregation and even Julia’s husband, Carlos, and their son, Cadan, were in on the closely guarded secret, but Julia wasn’t aware she was the guest of honor until she left the service and was greeted in Fellowship Hall.

The Rev. Ruth Morrison presents Cadan with a sunflower plant which, she told him, he can use to measure the growth of his younger brother.

The Lamoglia family began attending our church earlier this year after Carlos started a new position as a U.S. Navy recruiter in South Portland. The Lamoglias are originally from Texas and have no family in this area.

Julia, Carlos and Cadan

Kathie Hackett helps Julia with cutting the cake that honored Charlie's soon-to-be birth.

Much of the congregation contributed to the baby shower with gifts, salads for the pot-luck lunch and donations for a gift certificate to Babies “R” Us. And as she does for so many of the church’s special occasions, Kathie Hackett baked a beautiful celebratory cake.

The Rev. Ruth Morrison presented Julia with a stuffed elephant, to which the Babies “R” Us gift certificate was attached. Ruth made the patchwork elephant from scratch the night before.

Members of Carol Hubbard’s Sunday School class made bouquets of crepe paper flowers to decorate each of the tables on which people ate their lunch.

As part of the gift presentations,  Cadan read his mother a “Top 5” list he created, detailing “Why My Parents Are Great for Charlie.”

• They will give him ice cream
• They will help with so many things
• My Mom makes great food
• My Dad can make really good Burritos
• They had to deal with me first.

Cadan reads his mother his Top 5 list of "Why My Parents Are Great for Charlie."

At the conclusion of the baby shower, everyone joined hands and the Rev. Ruth Morrison led a prayer for the Lamoglia family and the soon-to-be arrival of Charlie.