Doors of the new Methodist church in Choteau will open for the first time to the congregation and all interested friends this coming Sunday morning, Dec. 18, for a Christmas service at 11 o'clock, the Rev. H. L. Engdahl announced today. The choir, which will number about 40 voices, will sing a Fred Waring arrangement of three Christmas carols, and the anthem, "Let Mount Zion Rejoice," which they have been rehearsing, under the direction of Vernon Alf, for many weeks. Mrs. Marion Averill is pianist for the church and choir and will provide instrumental music for the service.
Rev A. L. Stevenson of Atlanta, Ga., will be the morning speaker. Rev. J. Homer MaGee, superintendent of the Glacier district of the Methodist church, will be present and take part in the service. The local pastor, Reverend Engdahl, will preside. A feature of the service will be the presentation, in a solemn manner, of gifts for the fund necessary to complete payments on the building, Reverend Engdahl said.
Sunday school will still be held in the Masonic hall and at other temporary places this Sunday to avoid confusion on the first day of occupancy of the new sanctuary, Engdahl said.
To be Used Weekly -
The church, although still not finished throughout, will be used for all subsequent services following the opening service Sunday. Ground was broken for the church last May, and construction was begun almost immediately by the contractor, Dale Blakely.
In July the church, which had been in use for over 50 years across the street, was moved to part of the foundation to be built into the new structure.
From the Choteau Acantha