SUQUAMISH — The first gathering of the faithful at Suquamish United Church of Christ was on April 22, 1916.

Next weekend, the congregation will gather with friends and community to celebrate the church’s centennial April 24.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the next 100 years,” church member Ginelle Todd said.

Members invite the community to the church, at 18732 Division Ave. NE Suquamish, to celebrate with a special Sunday worship service beginning at 10 a.m. on April 24. The service will be followed by an open house around 11:30 a.m., with refreshments, including cake. A historical timeline with photos will be on display.

The peace garden project is something the church hopes the entire community will enjoy. The church intends to make the backyard more family-friendly while encouraging youth and adults to attain spiritual enlightenment.

At the centennial event, a dedication of church land to the peace garden will include a drumming and blessing by the Suquamish Tribe. The garden, to be complete with a 30-foot concrete labyrinth, peace poles, harmonic landscaping and a bench is currently under renovation. The project will be completed by the end of this year.

“We have invited members of the Suquamish Tribe to take part in the celebration,” Todd said. “This is something the whole community can enjoy to sort of renew a relationship.”

As members reflect on the history of the Suquamish United Church of Christ during the past 100 years, they also look forward to the future for one of the community’s oldest institutions. It’s a symbol of stability in a world of change — an example that some things, like the importance of acceptance in the community, remain.

“This shows there’s stability in our community,” said Sally Nelson, longtime member of the church. “Friends through the church have come and gone but those friendships are lasting. It really is a community thing.”

David Todd, who was baptized in the church in 1949, has been a member since 1963. His many memories of growing up in the church are a highlight of his faith.

His grandfather, Roscoe Todd, was instrumental in acquiring the bell the church still uses 75 years later.

“He brought the bell up in 1939 and they had a dedication in 1940. That same bell rings every Sunday and Christmas Eve at midnight,” David Todd said. “My grandfather even helped remodel this church.”

David Todd married his wife, Ginelle, within these same sacred walls and they raised their children in the church.

“When you think about 1916 in Suquamish, most people got around by foot or boat. For them to have a vision to build a church in the center of a community just starting out — and still, people have a desire to keep it going. That’s a great church,” he said.

Although the original church building has undergone changes during the years, such as remodels, an ebb and flow in membership, and adaptations in the congregation, the church’s place in the Suquamish community has stayed consistent.

“This is a very strong church,” said the Rev. Bill Comfort, interim pastor.

Comfort has been with the Suquamish United Church of Christ since June 2015. He said it’s a happy, friendly, welcoming congregation.

“Even new people feel comfortable here,” he said. “In general, we’re sort of the liberal end of Christianity. We’re an open and affirming church and that’s a very splendid thing.”

In addition to being an open church, members actively explore other faiths and religions through the church’s sharing space with Unity Church and welcoming of groups including AA, Yoga and Reiki, Five Rhythms and Movement Meditation, Voice in Silence meditation, Dances of Universal Peace, Sound Spirit, book clubs and a youth musical club, that all practice within the same walls.

“We’ve had rabbis, Buddhist monks, and priests,” Todd said. “It was interesting and eye opening.”

Suquamish United Church of Christ also prepares free weekly community dinners and supports the Fishline Food Bank with volunteers, food and donations.

Nelson, who has also spent a majority of her years practicing her faith at the church, described the atmosphere as faith-based with deep spiritual roots.

“We are a dedicated, spirited, open and affirming spiritual group of people from many walks, sharing our journey and living in hope and blessing of God’s love for all God’s people,” she said.

“As stewards, we are called to be a caring people, living in harmony with the environment, respecting and honoring the gifts of God’s creation.”

As the church looks toward the future, members say this is an exciting time.

“It is exciting,” Nelson said. “We have photos and they keep our memories. I think growth and change is good.” As she pointed out the various stained glass and donated art pieces strewed in the chapel she said you can see here they add over the years.

David Todd agreed, as he said the church is sustained by that core of community support.

“We hope that there will always be somebody here still wanting to reconnect with that,” he said. “To be sustained by that core.”

For more information about the Suquamish United Church of Christ, go to www.suquamishucc.org.