Happy Birthday, Pastor Joe

St. Stephen parishioners surprised Pastor Joe last Sunday with a very special birthday cake for his milestone 30th birthday. The elaborate confection, created by Glenn Maston, was inspired by the Jeopardy game board– and the 2006 appearance by the then 17-year-old Joe Graumann’s appearance on TV’s Teen Jeopardy. He advanced to the semifinals of the popular show. 
    A top layer of the sheet cake, made from icing-covered and removable graham crackers, indicated three categories: pop culture questions from 2006, birthdays, and biblical numbers (answers: 30).  By carefully removing the crackers, the answers were revealed in the cake below. Those attending the post-service coffee hour had a choice of devouring either white or chocolate cake below.
    Although the cake was baked and decorated by Glenn, a cake enthusiast whose avocation is to  create fancy, simple, and even strange cakes for all occasions, it is obvious that St. Stephen’s youth played a part – many of them have Pastor Joe’s Jeopardy photo on their phones, Glenn noted.
    Check out the photos to see all the details in this incredible cake!
-Barbara Parente