The Christ United Methodist Church is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary this Sunday.
The anniversary comes in the same year the historic downtown church was hit by a June fire allegedly set by two Tyrone teens.
The church has been involved with extensive restoration efforts to the point where services were able to return to the educational unit in the building at the intersection of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
The anniversary this Sunday will feature a special service, a sharing of goods with the Tyrone Area Food Bank and an anniversary luncheon.
According to a press release from the church, Bishop Jane Allen Middleton of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church will be the guest speaker at the 9:30 a.m. service.
Luella Krieger of Sykesville will do a dramatic portrayal of Susannah Wesley, mother of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist faith.
Pastor Bernie Bookhammer will serve as liturgist throughout the morning service. The Chancel Choir, under the leadership of Anna Marie Myers, church organist and choir director, will present special music.
“Any and all individuals or families, especially those with ties to our church family, are invited to ‘come home’ for this special service on Sunday morning,” said Pastor Bookhammer. “It’s going to be a special day in the life of this congregation and we would welcome any guest who would like to join us.”
The press release noted historic bulletin board displays have been prepared by Sara Carpenter. The boards will feature information about the church from the time of its founding in 1856 as the United Brethren in Christ to the present time.
The display will include photos of the tragic fire that burned a small part of the church sanctuary. The fire caused extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the facility.
This weekend, the congregation will also share in the annual “Apple Sunday” tradition. Members provide canned goods and other non-perishable items for the Tyrone Area Food Bank. When members present the food gifts, they receive a large red apple in return.
The church is also featuring a full-course turkey dinner following the worship service. Anyone attending the service is welcome to share in the dinner.
In order to accommodate the special worship service, there will be no church school this Sunday.
The current church is a result of a 1968 merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church.
