Fourth Street United Methodist Church, 551 S. Fourth St. in Aurora, will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Sunday, May 1.

The public is invited said Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor and Sue Gilla of Aurora, celebration general chairman.

Activities will include a 9:45 a.m. worship service, luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a 1:30 p.m. concert by the Fox Valley Festival Chorus.

Also planned are historical displays, a silent auction and cake walk.

The worship service will feature music by guest pianist Steve McGraw of Montgomery, who grew up in the church; Mary Strong, Aurora, guest organist; and selections by Joyful Noise handbell choir and Voices of Fourth Street vocal choir. Gilla will direct both church groups.

Attendees will be invited to cast ballots for the top cakes homemade by church members for the cake walk. The top three cake bakers will receive awards.

Silent auction items will include a handmade quilt, gift baskets and gift cards from local businesses.

“Andy’s Weather Contest,” a contest to predict anniversary-day weather, will be held in conjunction with the jubilee celebration.

Created by Aurora resident Andy Hari, a church usher, the contest will invite predictions of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover and wind velocity on Sunday, May 1.

Entries will be accepted at Sunday worship services through April 17. A prize will be awarded for the most accurate prediction.

At 1:30 p.m., 60-plus voices of the Fox Valley Festival Chorus will perform pieces from “What is This Thing Called Love? Selections from The American Songbook,” the group’s summer concert set for June 11-12. Concerts are scheduled for 7 p.m. June 11 at Oswego Village Hall and 3 p.m. June 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora.

Mary Beth McCarthy directs the chorus. Bonnie Werthmann is accompanist.

The chorus is the oldest existing community chorus in Chicagoland, with over 65 years of service to the community.

Choristers recently performed at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. In June 2017, they plan a concert tour to Italy, including performances at the Vatican in Rome, San Marco in Venice, Florence and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Assisi.

Gilla announced Fourth Street UMC members who are chairing celebration committees. They are:

Aurora–Joan Crawford and Paul Eggert, luncheon; Nancy Brian, Jubilee cakes; Judy Bieritz, historical displays; Chris Martin, tickets; Bieritz and Pat Oleck, silent auction; and Al Benson, publicity

Montgomery— Louise Hari, cake Walk; and Mona Middleton, decorations.

Oswego–Dan Kenyon, parking

Tickets, including lunch and the chorus concert, are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets are available from church members and at the church office from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday. Proceeds will benefit a drive to replace the church dining-room floor.

Fourth Street UMC dates to 1886 when worshippers, tired of inconvenient Sunday streetcar service to First Methodist Church, met in various homes for Sunday School.

In 1887, with $100 from Aurora pioneer Samuel McCarty and others, congregants formed the South End Mission. The mission held Sunday School and prayer meetings in a home on Rosewood Avenue.

A year later, the Seminary Chapel was established with a small building on Seminary Avenue between Broadway and Lasalle Street. Sunday school began May 12, 1888.

In 1891, 43 members formally organized Willard Methodist Episcopal Church.

As attendance grew rapidly, the church moved in 1898 from Seminary Avenue to its current location at Marion Avenue and Fourth Street.

Current facilities consist of the sanctuary built in 1906, education wing built in 1956 and new sanctuary built in 1974.

After a 1986 fire destroyed the sanctuary, a restored sanctuary, offices and classrooms were dedicated in 1987 after a $1 million renovation.

Call (630) 897-5257 or email fourthstumc@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Al Benson

Freelance Photo-Journalist

Al Benson is an Aurora-based freelance photo-journalist. He is currently an archives research specialist at Aurora University. His work has appeared in The Voice, The Daily Herald, The Beacon-News, and the Chicago Tribune.