150th YEAR SOUVENIR WITH ADDITIONS
Upon this three times golden jubilee
To God our heartfelt thanks and praises be,
For He who kindly gave amazing grace
To those who built this now old worship place
Still lives as in those distant days long gone
And gives us life today in Somerton.
Here, where the banners hang upon the wall,
And friendly greetings welcome all who call,
Here, in the worship, service, praise and prayer,
In sermon, singing, fellowship and care,
Here Christ we find, himself the Living Bread,
Our life, our way, who raises from the dead!
John Young 1995
Minister at Somerton 1990-1993
GREETINGS
REV. DR. LESLIE GRIFFITHS, M.A.
To friends at Somerton Methodist Church
I'm delighted to receive word of the celebrations which will mark the 150th Anniversary of your Church. May is the month of poets; Spring gives full expression to the beauties of the English country side; and Somerset will be the jewel in the crowd of beautiful Britain
With warmest good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
LESLIE GRIFFITHS
President of the Conference
GREETINGS
REV. IAN T. WHITE
The District joins with me in sending you 'Greetings' on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of Somerton Methodist Church. We celebrate with you the years of worship, witness and service offered through the life of the people called Methodist'.
Anniversaries are occasions for recalling events that have moulded the life of the church and community. We give thanks for the vision of those who established and developed the work. Anniversaries are also for celebrating the present and looking, in faith, towards the future. We rejoice in the challenges set before us, our sharing with pilgrims from sister churches, the participation in the wider life of the community and the fellowship we experience together.
We pray that Peace of the Lord goes with you as you celebrate 150 years and offer, in faith and hope, the present and future witness to God.
IAN T WHITE
from our Minister
Dear Friends at Somerton,
It gives me great joy to send you this greeting as you celebrate your 150th Anniversary. I felt the very moving presentation of "From Pharaoh to Freedom" on Palm Sunday was a rousing launch to your celebrations.
Sometime ago I came across a quotation that I’d like to share with you.
"Many churches need new shock absorbers, but have efficient rear view mirrors.
Perhaps special anniversaries are opportunities to look back in those rear view mirrors and celebrate what God has done. Often however, we are tempted to look back with nostalgia to the 'good old days" hoping to move the clock back. But we cannot do this.
Rather our celebrations should be the launching stage from which to send the church into its next 150 years. This will mean change. In a changing world the last place we want to find change is in the church to which we cling as a place of security. When the winds of change threaten us we batten down the hatches and hope to ride out the storm. There is always the temptation to turn our vessel into a house-boat rather than dare sail in uncharted waters.
Going out into the deep means being willing to take risks; it means openness; it means constantly waiting on God as we learn to be obedient; it means being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I wish you every blessing in your celebrations and as, you go forward.
Yours very sincerely, ELIZABETH
GREETINGS
MR DAVID SAWYER
It is a great privilege for us to be able to share in the life and witness of our church as another milestone is reached in its history. It is our firm hope that as we all celebrate and praise God for the past, we will resolve to go forward on our Christian journey together, secure in our relationship with God, developing our worship and service to the community in which God has placed us.
SHEILA and DAVID
