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MIDDLETOWN — In celebration of 200 years of preaching God's word, First Baptist Church is going to share its journey through music.

The community is welcome to help Middletown's oldest church celebrate its bicentennial through a free anniversary concert, which will feature hymns, gospel, as well as traditional and contemporary songs from the year 1800 until the present day, along with monologues from some of the early church leaders who helped to shape Middletown.

The Music Ministry's concert, "Still Singing God's Word," will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the church, 4500 Riverview Ave. Free child care is available for children through age 3.

"Founder's Day Weekend is Aug. 9th and 10th, but this service gives us an opportunity to celebrate it earlier" said church organist Christine Baird.

The concert will feature a 40-voice sanctuary choir with various instruments such as different brass, hand bells, guitar, piano and pipe organ.

Current members of the church will portray early leaders — many with names recognizable today — from the original 1808 congregation.

"With First Baptist being the oldest church in Middletown, families such as the Dotys and Sorgs helped found the church," said church member Wanda Williams.

Church members who will perform monologues include Tom Henry, who will portray Daniel Doty; Jim Orem, who will portray Francis J. Tytus; and Tina Breietenbach, who will portray Jenny Sorg, along with other church members, such as Evelyn Dell and Joanna Perkins, who will portray themselves.

"These speakers will be talking and dressed how they would back then," Baird said.

For more information, call (513) 423-5721 or visit the Web at fbcmiddletown.org.

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