It was too hard to fit “First Congregational Church” into the happy birthday song, so “oh church” had to suffice.

The 62 members joining the 100th anniversary celebration of the church building gathered in a circle around the pews and children held red balloons as they sang. The fifth and longest standing First Congregational Church building was dedicated on Jan. 2, 1916, having been rebuilt after a fallen chandelier set the church on fire in 1913.

“In the midst of World War One... these people said, ‘we can build this again,’” said Reverend Catherine Schofield. This, she said, was an example of hope overcoming despair.

Schofield led the Mass and remembrance of the history of the church building. In fact, her sermon took the congregation all the way back to the first church that began with Moses.

To suit the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites in the desert, she said, tabernacles were tents used as spaces to communicate with God. The first “church” ever built was by King Solomon, Schofield said.

She asked the congregation to think of “all babies baptized in [their] church” and the purpose the building served for the town as a gathering place.

During her sermon, she also pointed out some details in the building that “may often be overlooked,” which included the following:

• the organ and the choir, signifying the important of music

• the stenciling of leaves and grape vines as reminders of our connection to Earth and nature

• the stained glass windows - specifically with two scenes: one of Jesus teaching children, and one of Mary teaching Jesus - symbolizing the importance of education

• the plaques and markers in the building celebrating the congregations’ ancestors

• and lastly, the building itself and all it’s been through since the founding of the church

The members of the ceremony rededicated the cornerstone of the church building before ending their celebration with ice cream and cake. Many came to the church either for the first time or after a long time to take part in the festivities.