On May 18, 2024 former members of the Shiloh Methodist Church gathered for a last ceremony in the church. The building could no longer be maintained at a reasonable cost and plans were being implemented to raze the building and replace it with an open-air chapel.
The church was decommissioned in 2002 and had been maintained by special gifts until 2024. When the decision was made that the church needed to be razed, the cemetery board wanted to offer one last chance for former members to be in attendance in the building.
A ceremony of Leave-Taking was led by Larry Gunnell and Lee Hartz. The program included time of prayer and also a time of remembrance. Former members recalled events at the church and favorite activities.
Some of the items recalled included:
- Chasing carpenter bees with Bee-Boards to keep them from devouring the building.
- Dinners “on the grounds”
- Playing among the headstones in the cemetery
After a final prayer, those assembled adjourned from the building and enjoyed cold drinks “on the grounds.” Members were encouraged to take hymnals or other small items from the church as a memento of their time spent there.
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