TILTON — The United Church of Tilton will celebrate its 150th anniversary next weekend.

The anniversary celebration begins June 28 with a night of music, provided by the Rejoice Quartet and Stone Creek Bluegrass.

The time for this event is 7 p.m.

The celebration begins with Sunday School at 9 a.m. There will be a potluck at noon in the new Okie Boyd fellowship hall, and an afternoon service at 2 p.m. Former ministers will be at the church, and photos from years past will be shared.

The Rev. Marvin McCormick invites anyone who has ever attended the church to come and be apart of the anniversary celebration.

Church history

The Tilton Christian Church began in 1858 with meetings in homes and a local school in the Grape Creek area. The Hodge and Butler families were the first members.

The Rev. John Green was the first pastor. The first building was dedicated in 1872 as the New Light Christian Church. It was near the corner of Tilton Road and 8th Street.

The building then moved to Sixth and South L streets in 1929. The Christian churches and the Congregational churches merged in 1931, and the Tilton church became part of both churches.

In 1963, the church purchased 30 acres of land on the west edge of Tilton. The Tilton Methodist and Christian churches often exchanged services, so another merger took place and was called the United Church of Tilton.

Friendly folks

McCormick has been at the church since August 2006. He and his family came from Fairfield. He and his wife, Connie, are parents to Jedidiah, a college student, and two married daughters, Mandy and Corey Hodges, and Luke and Stacy Morris.

“We have seen a lot of progress since we’ve been here,” McCormick said. “The friendliness of the people here is amazing.”

The church offers a youth program called Acts 29 for youngsters in sixth through 12th grades, and Alien Kids for kindergarten through fifth grades.

The church also offers two different Bible studies. These services are at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Women of Worth meetings are scheduled the first Monday of every month, and a men’s breakfast is scheduled on the first Saturday of the month.

McCormick encourages anyone to come to any of the meetings or church services. All are welcome.

McCormick said his vision for the church in Tilton is found in three scriptures: St. John 3:3, St. Mark 16:18c and 11 Chronicles 5:13 & 14.

“First we want to introduce people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“We believe that healing is available for not only the physical body, but also the emotional and men-tal part of our lives,” McCormick stated in reference to St. Mark 16:18c.

“It is our prayer that we will once again see the glory (presence) of God fill the house of God,” he added, in reference to 11 Chronicles 5:13 & 14.

Nora Ruth Dunavan has been the church’s secretary for 35 years.

“I started coming to the church because it was my husband’s church when we got married,” she said. “I like the friendliness of the people, the neighborhood and it’s close to home.”

Another church member, Doris Wantland, was on the cradle roll in 1937 when she was 2 years old.

“I’ve seen a lot of pastors come and go,” Wantland said. “I have been involved with soup and spa-ghetti suppers, Vacation Bible School and in charge of funeral dinners.”

“Everyone is friendly; everyone knows everyone, and we love our new pastor and family.”