Congregational Church of Patchogue offers thoughtful outlet for hope

The black chain-link fence in the parking lot behind the Congregational Church of Patchogue has been crashed into regularly by drivers of cars—backing up, rounding the pass, misjudging the turn.

Call it hope. It’s still standing.

Now it has about 30 pieces of colorful fabric, since Rev. Dwight Wolter’s announcement on Sunday announcing Ribbon of Hope. The hope is that others will stop a minute and insert a bit of spiritual calm by devoting a ribbon in the orange bucket, or a personalized ribbon to whatever intention they choose.

“I’m always looking for what can I do to help,” said Wolter. “We can do very simple things, and these acts are like an opening. I call it an unfurling. We’re unfurling hope.”

The initiative was officially launched the first day of Advent but went up on Thanksgiving. The ribbons will remain tied to the fence through New Year’s.

The fluttering bits of material got Jimmy Lennon’s attention on Monday. Lennon owns Yoga Sanga on North Ocean Avenue. A Patchogue resident, he was walking by, saw the sign, and hung a ribbon for a family member.

“I commune with nature and the Congregational Church,” he said, standing inside its beautiful sanctuary after a conversation about the healing properties of trees and the peacefulness of the sanctuary. Lennon contributes regularly to the church’s coat drive.

“Just being with Dwight is calming,” he said.

Talking with Wolter, who had several ribbons he made fashioned from pillowcases and T-shirts resting on his shoulder, always leads to interesting discourses. He explained the challenges of keeping the church functioning and alive when its doors are currently closed due to COVID. He learned how to utilize equipment and technology so that the Sunday services are live on Facebook, a procedure many clergies have utilized.

The Nov. 29 service was an uplifter, with Craig Coyle on piano, playing “When You Wish Upon A Star,” an a cappella choir song that was taped, then back to the church with a soloist and Coyle on the organ. Wolter said he gets 4,500 views on Facebook.

“The first candle we lit was for hope,” Wolter said of the four leading up to Christmas. It sat on the beautiful oak altar presided by a silver angel.

“At the end of the service I said, ‘I’m tying this ribbon for you. Then I look down and the word ‘united’ was on it,” he said of the celestial synchronicity from one of his T-shirts. “We also created an email link, Rags and Ribbons of Hope.”

As for the response, it’s still in the early stages. About 20 have come in from all over the U.S., requests for a ribbon in someone or something’s honor, including one from Janelle for a dog named Chip.

“People usually wait for an invitation to do something like this,” Wolter said. “So this gives them permission to give themselves permission.”