First Christian Reformed Church of Grand Haven, Mich., celebrates a century and a half of ministry this year. Their anniversary theme, Rooted and Growing in Christ, unites festivities held throughout 2005.
To date the celebrations include assembling a permanent scrapbook with original articles, reuniting with five of their former ministers, and worshiping in the style of services from the 1880s and 1920s. The church’s pastor, Rev. Rich Hamstra, said a new baptismal font made by a church member and commissioned during the year “will probably last another 150 years.”
According to Hamstra, the church predates the denomination and was known as the Independent True Holland Reformed Church before joining the CRC.
Celebrations will continue through the fall with a pig roast, a float in the Grand Haven Coast Guard parade, and a service reminiscent of a church service during World War II led by Rev. Andrew Bandstra, a retired professor from Calvin Theological Seminary.
