LISBON FALLS — Luke Bryan sang the national anthem, the Thunderbirds took flight and the Super Bowl party at the Church of the Nazarene was just getting started. 

“We haven’t done this for a few years, but we’re trying to start it back up again,” the Rev. Bill Bailey said. 

He said the first Sunday of every month the church holds a potluck supper after the service, “so for Super Bowl Sunday, we do this.”

“This” being a party with plenty of food, drinks and seats. There were pigs in a blanket, nachos, mini meatballs and Bailey’s famous homemade chili. 

There was also a fair amount of knitting.

“It’s a time for us to get together and have good food,” Bailey said. “Kinda hard to compete with that. It works out well. We like to get together and it’s an activity to involve the community.”

“I like the actual game,” he said. “I’m a big Patriots fan.”  

He added, “I’d like to think they’ll do well, but it’s hard to tell. Until the teams get out there and you see how they play, you can make all the predictions you want.

Asked who they were rooting for, he said, “Patriots all the way.”

Bailey said only one member of the church is not a Pats fan — “just one defector,” he joked. He unfortunately couldn’t make it to the party.

Church Trustee and Music Director Dustin Wood said his favorite part of the game is the whole thing. “The Lord’s gonna be with everyone on the field,” he said. Wood is working on his local minister’s license. 

Don and Laurel Grant are members of the church and were excited attendees of the Super Bowl party. “I’m here for the game,” Don said. “My wife, that’s a different story. She’s here for the halftime show.”