Holy Cross UMC (http://holycrossumc.com/), with locations in Reading and Wyomissing, celebrated its 200th anniversary Sept. 24-25. The church hosted a community block party in its Reading campus parking lot on Saturday today, where organizations that use its building shared information, activities and festive fare with the community.

Sunday’s bicentennial worship service, onsite and on Zoom, featured the bell choir, chancel choir and guest preacher the Rev. Dr. William Shillady, who grew up in the church, was baptized there in 1956 and later returned as pastor. Shillady recently retired after 43 years of service as a UM pastor, mostly in the New York Conference.

Learn more and see photos in the Reading Eagle newspaper’s Sept. 24 report and the church’s Facebook page.