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The congregation's red brick church building stands at the offset junction of Sturm and Filion roads in Huron County's McKinley Township.

Clark Bedford will provide the music for the 11 a.m. worship service.

Bedford, a 1952 graduate of Pigeon High School, has undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and did post graduate studies at the Julliard School, New York. In 1998, La Roche College awarded him an honorary doctorate. Although trained as a classical musician, he has enjoyed a wide range of musical activities both in this country and in Great Britain.

Later that afternoon, Bedford will be joined by Howard Bedford and Charles Leipprandt for music in an informal setting, which begins at 1:30 p.m.

Some interesting tidbits from the church history:

Rev. Varnum conducted the first religious services in this community in a lumber camp on the Pigeon River in 1854.

Rev. D.C. Challis held a few services in the Mud Creek School in 1873.

During the years 1880-82, Rev. R.L. Cope, who was pastor at Caseville, preached occasionally in the old log schoolhouse, which was originally known as the Leipprandt School. Later, the school became known as the Hayes School and when Rev. John Sweet organized the church in 1882, it too was called the Hayes M.E. Church. William, Richard and Maria Gwinn were the charter members.

Current Pastor Doug Mater described the congregation as "warm and welcoming" with traditional Scriptural beliefs. The church members are strong givers, active in missions and in support of missionaries, and believe in reaching out to the world.

Many of the patrons at the Hayes UMC are life-long members of the congregation, which was founded by their families, explained Mater.

The church conducts weekly worship services and Sunday School and throughout the year, short-term Adult Bible studies.

For details about the celebration, call Virginia Leipprandt at (989) 856-2481.

For more information about Hayes United Methodist Church, call Pastor Doug Mater at (989) 656-2151.