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CELEBRATING OUR BEGINNINGS

Each year the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission recognizes churches who are celebrating significant anniversaries. The certificates of commendation are awarded to churches beginning with the twenty-fifth anniversary and continuing in twenty-five year increments. The following list contains suggestions from previous church anniversary celebrations.

                                                        • Contact the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission for a certificate of 
                                                           recognition.
                                                        • Establish a church history committee if your church does not have one.
                                                        • Locate documentation to support your founding date.
                                                        • Have your church records and church history microfilmed at the Samford
                                                           University Library free of charge, courtesy of the Alabama Baptist
                                                           Historical Commission.
                                                        • Decide on the length of the celebration (one Sunday, one week, each
                                                           Sunday during the month, etc.).
                                                        • Write a history of your church if one has not been written or bring the
                                                           existing history up to date.
                                                        • Present a drama based on the history of your church.
                                                        • Have your members dress in representative clothing from different eras of
                                                           your church history.
                                                        • Write a children's storybook or coloring book based on your church history.
                                                        • Create a newspaper with articles highlighting church history, members,
                                                           anecdotes, current events, etc.
                                                        • Compile photographs from members' scrapbooks. Identify and date the 
                                                           photos. Display photos of earlier church buildings and other church
                                                           memorabilia.
                                                        • Make a video of old photos with narration from older church members.
                                                        • Establish a church library. Donate books in memory / honor of church
                                                           members.
                                                        • Organize a family day. Include a picnic, relays, old-fashioned games, face
                                                           painting, dunking booth, moonwalk, horse and buggy rides, special singing
                                                           groups, etc.
                                                        • Create an anniversary T-shirt for the church members.
                                                        • Make an anniversary quilt. Let each square represent an event in your
                                                           church history. Display the quilt inside the church.
                                                        • Produce anniversary plates, Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, parlor 
                                                           fans, coffee mugs, pens, or key ring with the anniversary dates and
                                                           other church information.
                                                        • Compose an anniversary cookbook of old recipes and remedies.
                                                        • Video the celebration and send a copy to the Alabama Baptist Historical
                                                           Commission.
                                                        • Recognize members who were married in your church. Allow these 
                                                           couples to renew their wedding vows as a group. Ask couples to donate a 
                                                           photo of their wedding. Compile a record of marriages celebrated in the
                                                           church.
                                                        • Recognize founding members and their descendants.
                                                        • Organize a special anniversary dinner or reception. Invite special visitors,
                                                           former pastors, associational leaders, or Convention leaders.
                                                        • Submit an article to The Alabama Baptist along with a picture of your
                                                           church.
                                                        • Begin a cemetery preservation project.
                                                        • Present a special anniversary gift such as a Communion table, organ,
                                                          stained glass window, playground, anniversary tree, or garden.
                                                        • Create a time capsule with anniversary memorabilia and your church's 
                                                           history to be opened in several decades.