First United Methodist Church, on the square in Shelbyville, turned 200 years old in 2020 but was unable to hold its planned celebration due to COVID.
Now, the church is holding a “Bicentennial Plus Two” celebration, and County Mayor Chad Graham signed a proclamation honoring the church for two centuries of local service.
The Bicentennial Plus Two observance will include two separate events. The first, this Sunday, Sept. 18, will be a worship service at 10 a.m. which will include the premieres of two new arrangements specifically commissioned by the church – a work for piano to be played by the church’s keyboardist, Lori Schuler, and a choral composition for the church choir, under the direction of Jon Brock. Both compositions are to be published as sheet music and will note that they were first performed for the church.
The Rev. Chip Hunter, Stones River District Superintendent for the United Methodist Church, will preach during the service.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, church members and any other interested volunteers will pack 10,000 meal kits for the charity Rise Against Hunger.
Photo: Graham presenting the proclamation to the Rev. Abe Zimmerman, the church pastor