Church to celebrate 60 years

Members of Madera United Methodist Church will play host starting at 11 a.m. today at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the consecration of their church building at 500 Sunset Ave.

The events will include a free potluck luncheon starting at noon, a bake sale and exhibits of church life in the 1950s when the church was under construction.

The public is invited.

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, a service of consecration and dedication will be conducted by the Rev. Bert Roper, pastor of the church.

While the church was consecrated and dedicated on Oct. 21, 1956, it was first used for services on Aug. 5, 1956, a little more than five years after the church’s board voted to purchase the site on which the church stands today.

The church, designed to hold more than 500 in its sanctuary, has some of the finest stained-glass windows in the San Joaquin Valley.

Each window tells a story, and those stories are related in the service program that will be distributed for Sunday’s worship.

Like all United Methodist services, Sunday’s will be open to all who wish to participate.

A recipe book with more than 300 recipes from church members, their families and friends is being prepared, and can be pre-ordered as Christmas gifts for $10 each.

Other items for sale will include baked goods.

Other events in the church on Saturday will include televising of oral histories from some church members, televising of 1950s television commercials, a photo booth and a silent auction.

All proceeds from sales will go toward the church’s building maintenance fund.