Although the COVID-19 pandemic kept the congregation at Court Street United Methodist Church from celebrating the church's bicentennial last year, it isn't going unrecognized.
The church will host its Bicentennial Homecoming Celebration at 10:30 a.m. May 22, which includes the unveiling of a new musical anthem for the congregation.
The church was founded in 1821 when the congregation met in a farmhouse about four miles south of Fulton. Originally, the congregation planned to celebrate last year, but delayed it due to concern over COVID-19.
Court Street UMC music director Rev. Jim West reached out to a young composer and colleague, Dustin Dunn, about composing an anthem based on a poem by Charles Wesley written in the 1700s. The song was composed for a choir and bells. Charles Wesley is the brother of John Wesley, who is Methodism's founding father.
Dunn will be in Fulton next week to perform the piece in person. Missouri Area Bishop Robert Farr and Court Street UMC's Rev. Rebecca Dunger Peak will lead the ceremony.
Afterward, an all-church dinner will be held while youth with the church give guided tours of the building's stained-glass windows.
Reservations are required for the free dinner. Donations will be accepted.
This is only the latest bicentennial-themed project. During the past few months, congregation members donated 200 warm-weather items to Fulton Public Schools and another 200 to Our House/Wiley House, which included scarves, hats, socks, blankets and sleeping bags.
Congregation members have also worked on 200 minutes of prayer, distributed more than 200 bottles of water during local parades and shared in 200 outreach connections within the Fulton community. The children have been working on 200 acts of kindness.