By SAVANNAH ROGERS
Staff Writer

Edgefield Baptist Church's special 128th anniversary service last Sunday was "wonderful," said pastor Eddie Thomas, attended by a couple hundred people.

But the tone of the service was altered a bit, he noted, since the church's oldest deacon Coley Starr, 88 passed away just days before. The deacon was related to about 80 percent of the church, Thomas said.

"We're a big family," he said of Edgefield, adding the church plans to be even a little bigger next year.

This close-knit congregation opened its arms last month and held a unity service with two of Fayette County's newer churches, River's Edge Community Church and Abundant Life Church of God. The service went so well at the River's Edge location, Edgefield invited River's Edge members and pastor John Hatcher to the anniversary service last week, among others.

Hatcher was even asked to preach the message for Edgefield's special celebration. His sermon was "The House of God," based on the Genesis 28 story in which Jacob has a dream about angels descending and ascending to Bethel on a ladder from heaven.

"This is none other than the house of God," Jacob exclaimed after his experience, and Hatcher's message was that a house of God is not a house of entertainment, of trade, or of iniquity; it is a house of worship.

The 2-1/2-hour anniversary service was filled with praise and worship. Edgefield's senior choir, youth choir, youth orchestra, praise team and children's Sunbeam Choir all participated in the service.

Edgefield Baptist is at 140 Church St., Fayetteville and can be reached at 770-461-0838.