Upcoming festivities at Smyrna First United Methodist Church....thanks!
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Smyrna First United Methodist Church Celebrates 175 Years
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Smyrna First United Methodist Church, 1315 Concord Rd. in Smyrna, is celebrating its 175th Anniversary throughout the months of August and September, culminating with a special worship service on Sept. 29 at 10:00 a.m.
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“We look forward to sharing our church’s rich and storied history with its members and the community through our 175th Anniversary events,” said senior pastor Rev. Steve Lyle. “At the same time we are excited about our future as we see God’s blessings being multiplied as our church grows in number and in spirit.”
Wednesday, August 21, at 5:30 p.m. is the "kick off" of the Anniversary Celebration with a Family Dinner and Game Night. Games of yesteryear to current day will be played and everyone is welcome to bring their dolls for the Doll Display. It will be an evening of fun for all ages.
From Sept. 8 through 29, a "brush arbor" will be displayed on the front lawn of the church to depict the church's start at the Smyrna Campground in 1838. In addition, a large display of historical photos of the church will be displayed in the Fellowship Hall. Throughout the month of September, ministers who served at the church will take part in the Sunday morning worship services and parishioners will enjoy music from various eras.
On Sunday, Sept. 29, the church family may dress in church-going fashions to represent any of the past 175 years. Those who have been continuous members 50 years or longer will be presented with commemorative lapel pins. At noon, there will be a Celebration Barbecue Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall, games for young and old and a slideshow of historical photos.
The Smyrna First United Methodist Church traces its roots back to 1833 when Methodist pioneers established a meeting place near the present-day downtown Smyrna area. Traveling ministers held worship services in a brush arbor built near a fresh water spring that ran through the area. It was through these gatherings that a fellowship of believers began to emerge and around the year 1838 this fellowship would become the Smyrna Episcopal Methodist Church and later be renamed the Smyrna First United Methodist Church. All historical records and deeds during these early years were housed in the Marietta Courthouse and were burned by General William Sherman during the Civil War so the exact dates and purchases of property during those earlier years no longer exist. It is believed that in 1846, a log cabin church was built on this site and the Methodist congregation established the Smyrna Memorial Cemetery as well. The church expanded its facilities in 1911 and again in 1967.
“In the narthex of our church, we have pictures and paintings of the church facilities and how they have changed over the years,” said longtime member and past church historian Harry Mickleboro. “But of greater importance are the pictures of church members who made up the congregation during the years of transformation. They represent the thousands of men, women, and children that have been and are being blessed through the ministry of the Smyrna First United Methodist Church.”
For more information about the 175th Anniversary events, please contact the Church office at 770-436-4108.