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Twenty-two of the 93 charter members of 1947 were present.
As guests from across Canada and the United States arrived and greeted one another Saturday afternoon, emcee Arnold Klassen commented this must be a foretaste of heaven, to meet again those one hasn't seen for a long time.
The church's humble beginnings and its history through five decades were portrayed on various bulletin boards and in a commemorative book containing excerpts of business meeting minutes and testimonies.
Quartets, trios, duets, solos and ladies' groups from the church's various eras sang favourites of the past like "His Eye is on the Sparrow", "For Those Tears I Died" and others. A voluntary choir, conducted by Arnold Klassen, music director for 14 years, sang "Sing and Rejoice," and "Find us Faithful" as well as a final song--"Magnify, Glorify"--in which all former choir members were invited to participate.
Saturday evening, Herman Voth of Winkler, East Aldergrove's pastor for nine years, emphasized that when God builds a church, it is the right beginning. Current pastor John Nikkel led Sunday morning's service, in which Rudie Willems, pastor of St. Catherines (Ont.) MB Church and East Aldergrove's pastor from 1970 to 1984, preached on Deut. 2:7, "The Lord your God has blessed you and watched over you." Reminding of past blessings, he encouraged the congregation to be strong and very courageous for the future.
Another former pastor, John Froese, now retired, further encouraged the congregation with the words of Psalm 145:13. If God is faithful, he said, as we know He is, He will continue to build and empower His church.
The weekend celebration also included good food: Saturday's chicken barbecue supper with a strawberry dessert prepared by the church food committee, and Sunday's borscht and dessert prepared by the youth.
From reports by church reporter
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