This just in - another Centennial event is planned!
Yes, another 100-year celebration is scheduled for next weekend. We are talking about a special place in Sebring history, a place very dear to George E. Sebring himself, a place he gave the land to and place he worshiped at, the First United Methodist Church of Sebring (FUMC).
FUMC has been celebrating Christ for a century and they want to celebrate with all of Sebring, and share the 100-year history of George Sebring's home church.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, the First United Methodist has a fun afternoon planned with an old-fashioned ice cream social. The Back Porch Revival Band will bring you fine entertainment, there will be singing and toe-tapping, songs of old and new, sharing of memories and making new friends.
Rev. Chuck Weaver will give his remembrances entitled "Through the Eyes of a Kid." You can build your own ice cream sundae and there will be homemade cookies for all.
Then on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 10:30 a.m., there will be a Sebring Centennial worship service. The youth choir will sing as well as the adult choir, and Rev. Weaver will bring the message. Weaver grew up in FUMC serving as minister in numerous churches in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is now the assistant to the bishop of the Florida Conference. All of the community is cordially invited to attend this special Centennial church service.
Immediately following the worship service is a covered-dish luncheon. If you would like to attend the ice cream social or the special luncheon, please call the FUMC and let them know at 385-5184.
After lunch the skit "A Voice From the Past" will be presented and the singing of the "Ode to George E. Sebring" written by Mayor George Hensley will take place. It is not too late to get your copy of that soon-to-be-famous song, just visit the website www.Sebring100.com and print a copy for yourself.
FUMC participated in the Centennial Parade on Oct. 15. The theme for the float was "First Church Built in a Day." The church members re-enacted a slice of their church history by building a replica of the first Methodist Church in Sebring. They served lunch to all workers, then on Sunday morning after their regular worship service they gathered around the little church to give thanks and prayed just as our forefathers did 100 years ago.
Their float will also be in the Sebring parade this Friday at 7 p.m. in downtown Sebring in case you missed seeing the replica church in the Centennial parade.
The original "Church Built in a Day" stood on the corner where the police station is today.
It was a frame building and the people of the town rose early in the morning on Dec. 15, 1913, to the sound of a volunteer band marching through the streets to signal the day that the first Methodist Church was to be constructed. Sixty able-bodied men of various denominations volunteered their services to build the church.
For this special day, schools were dismissed and businesses were closed. Later in the day, the women joined the workers on the site and prepared food and beverages for that gave them fuel throughout the long day of building. Tables were set up under trees for meals and refreshment breaks.
By 7:30 p.m. that same day, Rev. E.P. Michener took to the pulpit and led a very tired congregation of more than 100 people. The 28-by-60 foot building sported a coat of white paint, electric lights, furniture and an organ.
In 1916, the church moved to its new location is where it stands today at 126 South Pine St. in Sebring and has changed much over the years, as you can well imagine.
As Sebring marks its 100th birthday, five generation of Sebring residents have worshipped in and have supported this church.
Thanks to Nancy Hensley for most of the information in this weeks article. Nancy is the mayor's wife, a beautiful lady, and the chair of the Church Centennial Committee. Her parents, grandparents and her great grandmother were members of this church since 1920.
If you have any centennial news, or know of someone that deserves recognition for doing something in honor of our Centennial year, please let me know. I'm available at 655-5554, or via email at JenBrown@email.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SebringCentennial/. Thanks for reading this article, thanks to the News-Sun for the opportunity to keep everyone informed. Reference this article the remaining Sunday's of this year for all updates.
Sunday, December 02, 2012 - www.newssun.com/120212-centennial-notebook