Fairview Church of the Brethren marks 150th
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The congregation of the Fairview Church of the Brethren, 1022 Fairview Road, Williamsburg, will celebrate the church's 150th anniversary July 19-21. Admission is free. The theme for the celebration is Hebrews 13:8 -- "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Homecoming festivities will be held Friday, July 19. Concessions and grounds will open at 5 p.m., with activities to follow at 6 p.m. There will be a recognition of mother churches, a time of reflection for the history of the church, recognition of past pastors and an open mic for reminiscing. Fairview's mother church is the Clover Creek Church of the Brethren, and Fairview is the mother church of both the Williamsburg and Smithfield churches.
A strawberry and music festival will be held Saturday evening, July 20. Concessions and grounds will open at 4 p.m. Activities will begin at 5 p.m. Music will be provided by Julie Nevel, the Brethren Brass and The Perrys. There will also be a beard competition to benefit the Good Samaritan fund for the Village at Morrisons Cove.
Sunday, July 21, begins with a church group photo at 9:15 a.m., followed by the church service at 10 a.m. The service will include keynote speaker David Steele, general secretary for the Church of the Brethren, and District Minister David Banaszak. Music will be by Julie Nevel. A free community meal will be served after the service.
A number of pastors who had served at the church throughout the years plan to attend the weekend events.
Those attending the events are urged to bring lawn chairs for seating.
Church history
The church was dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 25, 1874, as snowflakes filled the air, according to a flier from the church's 100th anniversary celebration. The small, primitive meeting house was located at the foothills of Tussey Mountain, two miles south of Williamsburg in the Clover Creek Valley.
The service was opened by the singing of the hymn "To the Temple We Repair," and included a reading by S. Hildebrand of I Kings 8:12-30 and a prayer by H.R. Holsinger. Brother P.S. Myers led in preaching, followed by brother H.R. Holsinger on the text of I Kings 8:29-32. After the service of dedication in the morning, all members were greeted with the Holy Kiss.
By evening time, all returned to the house of worship and after devotions of singing "Count Your Many Blessings" and reading Luke 24:27-53, followed by prayer, all ministers present were chosen by lot to preach from Luke 24:48 -- "Ye are witnesses of these things."
The day closed with the preaching of Henry B. Brumbaugh of the James Creek congregation of the Church of the Brethren, the history brief states.
During the 100th anniversary, held over the weekend of July 20-21, 1974, an All Night Sing featured music by the Melodettes, Gospel Aires, Spiritones, The Jacobs Bros., Valley Four & Linda, Vicksburg, Traveliers, Masters Trio and other quartets, according to the flier.