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The First Church of God is inviting its congregation and neighbors to its 25th anniversary of the church’s relocation to 2500 Colby Road. 

25 years ago, on Palm Sunday 1999, the church gathered at its location on Hickman Street and loaded up in cars to be led by the senior pastor then, Pastor Bill Konstonpolous, in a procession to the church’s new location across town on Colby Road. The church had originally built the Hickman Street Church in 1925.

Pastor Allan Hutchinson said that to celebrate this, the church is going to have a reenactment of that procession on Sunday, March 24. It will once again be led by Konstantopoulos and will include individuals in the crowd from that 1999 Palm Sunday in addition to newer members of the congregation. 

The church will meet at the parking lot adjacent from the Hickman Street location so they do not bother a different procession that meets at the old church. 

“So it’s kind of a reenactment and the new folks who are in the church now will greet the procession when they get there and they’re gonna pass palm branches to each other just as a symbol of peace,” Hutchinson said. 

After that, there will be a worship service where Pastors Bill Kostantopoulos and Allan Hutchinson speak in a two-part sermon.

“He’s gonna talk about how God has blessed the congregation in the past up to the present. I’m gonna talk about how God is blessing us in the present going into the future. It’s just kind of a passing the piece, passing the palm, passing the baton to the next generation and he’s been very gracious to be willing to do that. We’re really excited about it,” Hutchinson said.  

In addition, the church will hold an Anniversary Banquet the night before on Saturday, March 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. with special guest speakers recalling the efforts put forth to accomplish the new building.