A CALCULATED 'shout' of joy and thanksgiving probably heard all over Sandys Parish, if not in the high heavens, went up from a spirited congregation that packed the First Church of God on Sound View Road in Somerset on Sunday.

Bishop Vernon G. Lambe, Sr., who is Overseer of the First Church of God Movement in Bermuda, was the one who pitched the 'shout'. He said the congregation was entitled to a good shout and celebration because of their dedication and march of faith in reaching that golden milestone.

Initially, it was planned for the Somerset Brigade Band to march the congregation from the Odd Fellows Hall along the main road to the church. But while heavy wind and rain curbed that aspect, it failed the dampen the spirit of the singing, dancing and rejoicing in the church.

The service got under way with the procession of the robed choir, lustily singing I'm on the Battle Field for the Lord and Leaning on the Everlasting Arm. Next came the clergy, led by Bishop Lambe and the Ven. Archdeacon Emeritus Dr. Arnold Hollis, Rector of St. James Anglican Church; the pastor of the Host Church, the Rev. Leon G. Herbert, Associates Rev. Nelson Rewan and Rev. Terrence Herbert and other distinguished guests.

The celebration was highlighted by a hi-tech audio visual presentation of the history of the church, followed by a dramatisation of roles played by the founders of the congregation and early stalwarts.

Among those depicted were American missionary ministers, the Rev. and Mrs. Clement Mayes, who reaching out from their pastorate of the Angle Street Church of God in Hamilton, began house-to-house visitations in the Somerset area. The late Sis. Virginia Simons began holding Sunday school in her home; the late Vera Simmons was instrumental in fund-raising as was Sis. Ruth Bean-Simmons; and Bros. Julian Burrows and Mansfield Goins were invaluable as far as construction and maintenance of the edifice was concerned. Originally, the congregation, comprising in great part of "the saints from the Angle Street Church" in 1953 began worship services twice a week in the Odd Fellows Hall. Within months they purchased the Sound View Road property containing a little five-room cottage, demolished it and erected their first edifice.

It was dedicated on April 3, 1955. Among that Hamilton group was Sis. Ester Swan, then the 12-year-old pianist of the group. She is still on the music staff; and Mother Lucille Hendrickson-Martin, a Sunday school teacher, who is now the oldest member of the Somerset church. She had a place of honour at Sunday's service.

The first edifice stood for 32 years. The final worship service was held there on January 19, 1986, and the site was bulldozed the next day to make way for a purpose-built facility to meet the needs of the expanding community. For the next two years services were held at St. Michael's Anglican Church at Somerset Bridge, through courtesy of Archdeacon Hollis and the Vestry of St. James Parish Vestry. When construction began the congregation had raised enough money to finance the lower auditorium. On February 14, 1987 there was a roof-wetting ceremony with water from the River Jordan.

Furniture was blessed and installed on October 10 that year, and Sunday, November 22, 1987 the church was dedicated. Members and friends marched from St. Michael's to the new site for the ceremony. On Sunday, November 19, 2000 the total indebtedness on the church was paid off.

Gratitude was expressed to Bishop Lambe for his leadership throughout the building project along with the National Committee from the three local churches. He donated the church's first organ and the combined congregations helped with the fund-raising.