‘Living portrait' part of Founder's Day festivities

9/12/2009

First United Methodist Church of Sylvania, 7000 Erie St., will celebrate its 175th anniversary with a Founders' Day event on Sept. 20.

At 9:45 a.m., a “living portrait” will be created on the church lawn, depicting the first Methodist meeting held in Sylvania in 1834. The Rev. Larry Clark, pastor, will be on horseback portraying a Methodist circuit rider, and the living portrait will conclude with the singing of old-fashioned Methodist hymns.

A special service will follow in the church sanctuary, after which the church will honor those with 30 years or more membership at First United Methodist. A potluck dinner begins at noon and a documentary film on the church's history will premiere at 1 p.m. Church tours will begin at 2 p.m.

First United Methodist recognizes 1834 as its founding year when a circuit riding preacher, the Rev. Elnathan Gavitt, held a meeting at a saw mill in what was then known as Whiteford, Michigan.