The Kittredge Community Bible Church is celebrating 60 years of ministry. A special weekend is planned for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The church is located in the center of the town of Kittredge onColorado 74 in Bear Creek Canyon.

Former Pastors Joe Kirby and Jack Canady plan to attend. Ray Cheyney also hopes to make the trip from Florida to join the celebration. Anyone who used to attend is encouraged to join the reunion to catch up with what has been going on in the lives of "old" friends.

A time of fellowship, sharing of memories and some grilled burgers will begin at 5:30Sept.1.On Oct. 1 at 9a.m. there will be more fellowship over donuts and coffee with the worship service at 10:30 a.m. An open house will fill Sunday afternoon and all are welcome.

The Kittredge Union Sunday School was organized in 1946. There was no church building at the time, so they met in what was then the large schoolhouse on the hill in the center of the community.

The members realized they would need a building of their own in order for the church to grow, so the unfinished home on the corner of Welch Avenue and Colorado 74 was purchased. (Today it stands as the Kittredge Animal Clinic). After extensive remodeling was done by the members, the Kittredge Union church was officially formed in February of 1955.

The first pastor was Reverend Richard A. Williams. He was followed by Reverend Gordon R. Thomas, who took over the ministry in 1958. Then came Reverend William Horey in December 1960.

In October of 1963, Reverend Ray Cheyney Jr. came to minister from Village Missions, an organization committed to glorify Jesus Christ by developing spiritually vital churches in rural North America. Pastor Cheyney was the first of a long list of pastors from V.M. to serve Kittredge.

It was during the Cheyney's time here that the school building was purchased when they no longer had enough student population. The church family was able to obtain the building and do more remodeling to turn it into a church.

Many stories have been shared by current and former members and even former pastors that have been compiled into a short book complete with many photos from the past. Those books are available at the church. The treasure of all the history had been kept meticulously by Anna Gay MacLaughlin until her death in 1986. Her husband Chuck held onto it for many years, passing it on to the church so that the records would be kept and the stories eventually told. Now that history is available to anyone interested in it.

There have been many changes and updates to the building as the church family grew. Events that are unforgettable. Special times like pie parties, baptisms in Bear Creek, annual picnics, youth groups, music ministry, hilarious programs at the annual Valentine's Dinner, women's ministry retreats and ornament exchanges at Christmastime, men's ministry times and wonderful leadership with solid teaching from the Bible for many years.

The church invites anyone with an interest in the church to join the celebration and meet again with the people who have been so important to the church family over 60 years of ministry in the community of Kittredge. Contact the church at 303-674-4060 if you can attend, or email Sandy at rsnadeau@msn.com