Banquet And Choir Will Help Celebrate Church Milestone

Millwood Community Presbyterian Church has served Valley residents for three quarters of a century.

The church will celebrate that fact later this month with a banquet, handbell choir performance and a special anniversary service.

“It’s quite a milestone for us,” said the Rev. William McIvor, the church pastor.

According to McIvor, the church had just 98 people attending its first service. Now, the church boasts a membership of 600. During the church’s life, a total of more than 5,000 worshippers have joined the church rolls.

McIvor said he wanted as many people to know about the anniversary as possible - but tracking down former members can be tough. So far, though, volunteers and staff have been able to track down and invite nearly 300 former members.

The celebration begins April 28 with a reunion slide show starting at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow.

“Quite a few people are pretty excited about this,” McIvor said. “It will be a chance to see and visit with a lot of people they may not have seen in a long, long time.”

The next day at 6:30 p.m., the church will hold a banquet and a handbell choir concert, featuring both present and former choir members.

Advance tickets are required to attend the banquet. Tickets are $15 and are available at the church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, or by calling 924-2350.

On April 30, the 10 a.m. service will feature a guest sermon from Rev. Robert Mills, who was pastor of the Millwood church from 1960-69.

Easter dramas planned

Valley Assembly of God, 15619 E. Broadway, will host a dramatization of the last supper on April 14 and 16.

“The Living Lord’s Supper” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Good Friday and at 6 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

Church spokesperson Jan Marcus said the drama was a church tradition until two year ago. Now, church elders decided to bring the idea back.

“Everyone involved in the play is an elder in the church,” Marcus said.

For more information, call 924-0466.

Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road, will also host a reenactment of the last supper on April 13 at 7 p.m.

According to church spokeswoman Sheila Juliano, the drama will be followed by a communion service. She said the public is invited to come early and attend a soup-and-bread dinner at 6:15 p.m.

For more information, call 924-9750.