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Faith Presbyterian Church to host Diamond Celebration this Sunday

By MEGHAN BRADBURY - | Nov 12, 2021

Faith Presbyterian Church is located at 4544 Coronado Parkway in south Cape Coral. The church will be celebrating its 60th anniversary Sunday. CHRIS STRINE

The community is invited to help Faith Presbyterian Church celebrate its 60th anniversary during this weekend’s Diamond Celebration.

The history, past, present and future will be celebrated Sunday, Nov. 14, during two identical services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., which will also feature the Faith Ringers, Faith Choir with a brass quintet and music composed by Faith’s Director of Music Michael Helman.

Having served at the church for 16 years, Helman said he still loves the people and working with them, as it is wonderful working at Faith.

“I enjoy working with the choir people, chorus, hand bells. They are a joy to be around. A wonderful place,” Helman said. “We prepare music for every week, something special for every week.”

The moments that stand out are any time they have joyful celebrations, such as the 60th, where he can present special music.

“I enjoy writing music for these special occasions. I am a composer,” Helman said. “That gives me a lot of pleasure.”

For the Sunday service, he said there will be an arrangement of “Ode to Joy,” special arrangements of “Praise the Lord Almighty,” “The Church’s One Foundation” and an arrangement with brass and organ with one of the movements from “The Water Music” by Handel.

The Diamond Celebration will feature a catered barbecue luncheon, live music by River Boat Jazz, raffle baskets and games following the 11 a.m. service. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the church office, 4544 Coronado Parkway.

In 1960 there were only approximately 200 residents in Cape Coral, and they received a letter inviting them to the first “official” worship service of Faith United Presbyterian Church at the Nautilus Motel. That invitation also stated that the future home of Faith had been purchased on Coronado Parkway.

With 71 members, Faith United Presbyterian Church of Cape Coral was officially chartered on Sunday, Feb. 19, 1961. On Easter 1963, Faith Presbyterian Church moved into its first building.

The church bought more land and designs began for the new church sanctuary by 1968. Faith continued to grow over the following decades with Family of Faith Daycare, Faith Center/Halverson Hall and YOF house, which houses a community room and We Care food ministry.

In addition, various programs are also offered, such as fitness classes, choir and bell choirs, Bible studies, Sunday school from P-K to adult, Presbyterian Women, prayer shawl ministry, congregational care programs, new members classes and men’s breakfast.

Mary Lou Griffith, an early member of Faith United Presbyterian Church, said it’s a wonderful church. One of her fondest memories over the years is, “I enjoy meeting my friends. We always sit in the balcony together. About 10 to 12 of us. We all sat together.”

Griffith, still an active member, said she has seen a lot of ministers come and go, as well as seeing the new memorial building being built two years ago.

“I remember the fish frys that they hosted. The best fish,” she said.

For one man, getting married at Faith Presbyterian Church in 1999 began his journey of being a member of the church.

“It was a much older congregation at the time. It just slowly grew. It’s a warm place to worship at. We just kind of felt at home,” Michael Seneca said. “I came from a religious background of faith, my wife really didn’t. The fact that it was so warm, it helped draw her in and build her faith.”

The memories have built over the past several decades, as his children were also baptized and had their confirmation at the church.

“When I walk into the sanctuary there is a lot of memory for me and meaning there. With all the events that we have done there. The place means something, just as much as my faith does. The building means something to me. There are a lot of memories there,” Seneca said.