Yorkville United Methodist Church will celebrate two anniversaries on Sunday, Oct. 26. The first milestone is the Centennial or 100th anniversary of the Red Brick Church, which was dedicated on Oct. 18, 1914. Part of that 1914 sanctuary is the present chapel with the beautiful stained glass windows. The red brick church replaced the white frame church which was located next to the cemetery just down the road. The second milestone is the 10th anniversary of the most recent addition to the church, dedicated on April 4, 2004. That addition made the building fully accessible with an elevator and an inside stairway, plus new offices and a Christian education wing.
During the 10:15 am service Cheryl Abbott, church historian, will be in costume and share stories of the people, ministries and events which took place in the Red Brick Church. Former members are invited to come and hear the past come alive. An anniversary cake will be served during fellowship time after the service.
All the musical groups of the church will offer special music. Rhythm & Praise a cappella group will sing the introit, “We Come To Worship,” and the benediction, “May the Peace of God Be With Us.” Hims of Harmony men’s quartet will sing “The Old Landmark.” The adult choir will sing “This Is Our Church,” with meaningful words and music written by a church member, the late Lucile Vyvyan, for previous celebrations. The K.I.C.K. (Kids In Christ’s Kingdom) Choir will sing, “Ask, Seek and Knock”.
A historic photograph will be taken on this Anniversary Sunday. All persons who have been members of the Yorkville congregation (or former Ives Grove congregation) for 50 years or longer are invited to be part of a group photo to be taken in the sanctuary immediately following the service.
For 52 years the October anniversary of the 1914 church was observed with a banquet, which then evolved into a potluck social event. On October 26 the celebration will conclude with a potluck dinner downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited to bring their “signature dish”. Beverages will be provided. Hot dogs will be provided as an option for children. The potluck will begin as soon as possible, after the group photograph. All are welcome.
Following this anniversary observance, planning will begin for an even bigger celebration of the 175th anniversary of the church which will be in the year 2017. Methodism in Yorkville began in 1842, not in a church building, but in the thatch-roofed mud and log house of Hannibal and Elizabeth Shepherd who had come from Cornwall, England in May, 1841.
The church is located at 17645 Old Yorkville Road (63rd Drive, just north of Highway 20). For more information, call (262) 878-2388 or visit www.yumc.org.
-
-
-
-
-