OLD BETHEL CHURCH where services are held once a year, will welcome back its communicants and families of former communicants at the annual service Sunday, August 28 at 11 a.m. A picnic lunch will be held at one p.m., to which the congregation and friends are invited.

     Old Bethel Church will open its doors to old communicants and families of communicants at its once-a-year service on Sunday, August 28 at 11 a.m. This is the 45th annual memorial service.

     Once a year, the fourth Sunday in August, Old Bethel opens its doors to the families of worshippers who were a part of the church since 1790. This service brings back descendants of these people. They gather early, examine the graveyard and surrounding grounds on which this brick edifice stands, renew acquaintenances and then go into church to hear a message from some speaker. They pray and sing hymns from music from a hand-pumped organ.

     After the services, worshippers gather outside for a lavish picnic lunch. On a long table that flanks one wall of the church are fried chicken, country ham, deviled eggs and other items of food for a picnic lunch.

     Prior to the services there is much work to be done. The old church is cleaned, the hand-pumped organ is examined, the pewter Communion service is polished and the grounds are manicured.

     Most people know the history of Old Bethel. There are indications that there was a meeting house there as early as 1763. A history describes Old Bethel and included a reference to God's Acre on the Hill known as Old Bethel Meeting House. In 1790 Bethel was an old log building which was destroyed by fire in 1827, and replaced three years later by the present edifice.

     Inside the church, the gallery where sat slaves and free servants has long since been removed. But the pews are intact, as are the kerosene lamps and stoves.

     Sunday's service opens with the invocation by Winston L. McKay whose family has long since been identified with the church. Paul A. Yates will sing "America", and A. Mackay-Smith will introduce the speaker, the Rev. William Eisenberg, retired Lutheran minister and author-historian.

     This will be followed by a solo by Mrs. Steven Haines, and a prayer by The Rev. Carroll C. Goodridge of Bridgewater United Methodist Church, and a scripture lesson. Following the scripture and hymn, the sermon, "God's Hill," will be delivered by Mr. Goodridge.

     During the annual offering, Mrs. Haines will sing another solo, followed by the doxology, a hymn and the benediction by Mr. McKay.