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English tea continues tradition at church
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Lois Martin-Uscianowski loves to share, and when you listen, you’ll learn something.
The former lower South Side resident touched on a range of topics including tea, her love of God and why she founded Small Town Teacup Ministry and Southside Community Garden. She spoke Thursday afternoon at an English tea in Brown Hall of Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W. Front St., hosted by United Methodist Women.
Martin-Uscianowski, now of New Springfield, began with these thoughts ... “It is what it is ... it’s all good,” “One day at a time or sometimes an hour or minute” ... and most important, “God is with you and will get you through.”
The gathering of about 20 people continued the tradition of teas hosted by UMW, said Chris Williams, UMW president. Tea sandwiches and sweets were homemade by Charlotte Beltz, Barbara Jaster, Marilyn Morelli and Williams, and tea by Wilma Daley.
Marian Engelhardt, a longtime church member approaching her 96th birthday, originated the teas more than 20 years ago when she led the UMW. In the beginning, UMW invited women from other churches and about 120 attended. Time and age of participants led to downsizing the event but the tradition remains. “Now it’s a time for us to gather socially,” Williams said.
The connection harmonized with Martin-Uscianowski’s message of how her Small Town Teacup Ministry evolved and why. That happened about 15 years ago when she came up with the idea to visit people who were alone or in nursing homes. For her, it was about making connections over a cup of tea, coffee or other favorite beverage. “It’s not about what you’re drinking, but the idea of a one-on-one conversation with someone,” she said. And, she urged, make it someone out of your comfort zone.
For her, that was the late Virginia Crooks, who was 93 at that the time. “She was feisty,” Martin-Uscianowski recalled of the woman who had cared for more than a hundred foster children. “She blessed my life so much,” she said.
Martin-Uscianowski said Crooks resisted her overture at conversation, asking what they could have in common. It ended up being teapot and cups, an interest they shared. “This is a time thing ... making time for another person and spending time with them.”
Martin-Uscianowski said such a “visitation ministry” is a means to build community and people-to-people connections. Part of the connection is giving a new friend a teacup.
She also mentioned her work as founder of Southside Community Garden, corner of Williamson and Erie streets. She said she felt God moved her to return to the neighborhood where she lived with her grandmother. It was not recognizable as her childhood home, as most of the houses were gone. She now owns half a city block where the garden is located along with a pavilion. The garden also is about bringing people together.
Having a cup of tea and how it evolved into social practices of low and high teas was another topic. She noted tea is second-most consumed beverage, with water being No. 1. Martin-Uscianowski said legend has it that tea goes back to the 28th century B.C., when a Chinese emperor was having water boiled and tree leaves fell into it. “All teas come from the same plant,” Martin-Uscianowski said. That is the Camellia sinensis plant. Growing conditions and location are factors that influence how tea will taste.
There are different grades of tea; the five categories are black, green, oolong, white and pu-erh.
In the early 19th century, the Duchess of Bedford began a personal afternoon ritual that evolved into low tea. Martin-Uscianowski said the duchess needed a “lift” in the afternoon, and took refreshments from a low table. This tea takes place between 2 and 4 p.m.
High or meat tea is from 5 to 7 p.m. and is offered from the dining table in place of a formal supper. All courses are served at the same time.