The Denver, Colorado, congregation commemorated its 50th anniversary on Aug. 5. This was actually a few months after the actual anniversary, but was the best time for most to keep it. As early as 1953, occasional services were held by Herbert W. Armstrong and others, mostly in the home of Dwight and Marguerite Webster.

A full-time minister, Raymond Cole, began to hold regular services beginning with Passover and Unleavened Bread in 1956 in Longmont. Very shortly thereafter the location was changed to a tent on 70 acres of property west of Lyons donated by the Websters. When the weather cooled off, the location was shifted to Montgomery School, east of Lyons. Interestingly, there seemed to be more brethren from Wyoming than Colorado in the first year or two.

Early on Lyons was part of a three-congregation circuit of 1,000 miles! Services were conducted on Friday night in Garden City, Kansas; Sabbath morning in Pueblo, Colorado; and Sabbath afternoon in Lyons. The congregation was moved from Lyons to Denver in 1958 or 1959.

Following afternoon services, during which previous Denver pastors Doug Horchak and Burk McNair gave split sermons, about 215 enjoyed a nice meal of barbecued beef brisket and chicken. A number of those with us were guests, and everyone experienced a wonderful opportunity to fellowship and renew old acquaintances.

Many old photos and Denver-Pueblo Church of God News articles were displayed, along with other memorabilia. Plaques were presented to several individuals, including the one original member who was able to be present, Shirley (Skufca) Schmidt.

The evening was capped off by addresses from Burk McNair, Greg Sargent and Doug Horchak, all of whom served in Denver in years gone by, and a number of pictures projected onto the screen, narrated by Steve Grabowski.

The entire occasion, which was held at Northglenn Recreation Center, was very upbeat and encouraging to everyone involved.