Date: 10/20/2009
Author: Devin
Title: Homecoming 2009 - 60th Anniversary
There is something special about the word Homecoming..... just hearing it spoken is sort of like eating a bowl of warm homemade chili or soup on a cold winter's night ..... it just warms the soul. Once uttered, this word begins to bring back precious memories of days gone by. It is a reminder of people, places and things that will forever own a little piece of your heart. As a congregation, we hope you are making plans to spend Sunday, November 1 with us for a period of worship, fellowship, remembrance, and just some good 'ole catching up. Even as this is being written, a number of plans are being put into place and a great deal of work is going into trying to make this special day one to truly remember.
60 years ago, on the second Sunday of February, 1949, the Fairfield Church of Christ first met as a congregation across Hwy 100 in what is now part of the Fairfield Baptist Church. Bob Yeager preached the first sermon in the new building. When regular worship began the next Sunday, there were 43 people present who considered themselves members of this newly formed congregation. The first contribution was $28.43. The first elders of the Fairfield Church of Christ were Clyde Beard, O.J. Hudgins, Everett McCoy, and Cave Moss. The first deacons were J.C. Basford, Loyal Gossett, and Elgie McCoy. In just a little over 10 years this small group of people had outgrown their original building and the decision was made to purchase a larger piece of property across the road where the Fairfield Church of Christ presently meets. In 1987, an educational wing was added to the church building which included offices, a library, classrooms, and additional restroom facilities. The most recent building project is a new fellowship hall which includes kitchen facilities, restrooms equipped with wheel-chair accessible showers, and a large hall designed for fellowship activities, weddings, banquets, etc. Plans are also being considered to have closed-circuit television worship available in the new building to accommodate any occasion where there may be an overflow crowd. The Homecoming meal will be the first event held in the new fellowship building.
Many different men have served this church as pulpit minister over the years ..... Bill Smotherman 1953, Glen Mayfield 1954-1955, Carmack Skelton 1956, Brother Hagwood 1956-1958, Charles Collins 1959-1961, Edd Lancaster 1962-1964, Harry Owen 1965, Glen Mayfield 1965-1967, Dannie Buie 1967-1968, Don Hughes 1968-1970, Bert Mathis 1970-1992, Stan Smith 1992-1997, Mike Kelley 1997-2005, and yours truly 2005- present day. We are so very excited to have Mike Kelley once again come fill the pulpit on this special day. Mike currently works as a guidance counselor in the Hickman County School System and preaches for the Shoals Branch Church of Christ. As always, we look forward to hearing two great lessons from Mike as he preaches from God's Word.
So, all that being said, we hope you plan on spending the day with us on November 1. The goal has been set to have 600 people in attendance for this 60th anniversary celebration. Now, wouldn't you feel bad if we only had 599 that day because you weren't here? Hope to see you then!
Go the extra mile - Devin