Congregations celebrate milestone anniversaries of ministry in their communities

Among Church of the Brethren congregations marking milestone anniversaries are:

Peace Community Church of the Brethren in Windsor, Colo., celebrated its 50th anniversary on Aug. 18.

Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, Minn., celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year, on Easter Sunday, but more recently announced a celebration with the Northern Plains District planned for Sept. 7.

An announcement from pastor Jay Steele appeared in a recent district newsletter, noting that it was on Easter Sunday 1994 that Open Circle held its first public worship service.

“Thirty years later this past Easter we marked this wonderful milestone in our congregation’s life. Open Circle owes its birth and beginning to the dreams and then early financial support of the Northern Plains District. We are grateful for that. But we knew that Easter Sunday is not a great day to invite folks in the district to a celebration as everyone is busy with their own Easter celebrations.” The event will start with lunch around 12:30 p.m. The church is providing the food, bring a lawn chair.