Stowsentry.com - Stow Presbyterian to celebrate golden anniversary

Stow Presbyterian Church is celebrating 50 years of worship and ministry in the community this year with a full slate of activities through 2010.

The anniversary theme, "Rooted in the Past, Growing into the Future," is a reflection of the church logo, a tree formed out of a cross and the continuation of the church's mission statement. The five leaves on the tree represent the five goals of the church's ministry: To help people 1.) know Christ and 2.) grow in relationship with Him in order to 3.) go out and 4.) show His love, and thereby 5.) sow the seeds of faith in others.

The festivities will begin Feb. 14, the church's founding date, with an anniversary worship celebration that will include many elements from the original dedication service of 1960. Services will be at 8:15, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. with an anniversary tea and historical slide show taking place in the fellowship hall thereafter.

"We will sing the same hymns and read the same scripture that our founders used in that service 50 years ago," said Dr. David Weyrick, the church's pastor. "It will be a unique moment to reflect on how their hopes and dreams for this church have come to fruition, even as we continue to look forward with hopes and dreams of our own."

The church's ties to its past are also alive in the five charter members who still attend services and are involved in ministry there.

In March the church will host a game night for young and old alike. In April, a celebration and reception dinner is planned, which will also feature a video of the church's history and its impact on the community. May will feature a flower festival on Mother's Day Sunday, with flowers to commemorate loved ones or a special church memory. In June there will be a church potluck picnic at Silver Springs Park and in September, the church's Wednesday night program will kick off with an ice cream social.

In November the church will host a community celebration. A gold-embossed commemorative mug with the anniversary seal will also be available for purchase by church or community members.

Stow Presbyterian Church was founded as a daughter church of the United Presbyterian Church on Hudson Drive in Cuyahoga Falls. Before and during construction of the church building, the congregation met for worship for two years at Woodland Elementary School on Graham Road. The congregation consisted of 30 people at that time. It has since grown to 300.

The original church building, which still stands today, was dedicated on Feb. 14, 1962. Additions to the building included extending the sanctuary in 1967, adding a fellowship hall and classrooms in 1998, and adding a 16,000 square foot worship and education center in 2008.

Dr. Weyrick has served on the church staff as pastor since 1992, and is responsible for many developments in the church, including expanding its mission outreach and educational opportunities.

"I was originally hired to serve six months as an interim pastor," Dr. Weyrick joked. "In fact, I think that is the only contract I ever signed. Yet, here I am 18 years later serving in this wonderful church with some amazing people."

Stow Presbyterian Church is located at 4150 Fishcreek Road in Stow. Sunday worship times are 8:15, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. with Sunday school and adult Bible fellowships during the 9:30 hour. Worship childcare is available. A midweek program on Wednesday nights that includes dinner and educational programs for children, youth and adults runs from September through April.