BOYTON Chapel celebrated 129 years of Methodism in the village on Sunday morning with an own arrangement service, leading and sharing together.

Samuel Strout welcomed everyone and then said ‘let the party begin’ which it did.

It was a double celebration as Renee Tuff was celebrating her 80th birthday. Ruth Allin presented Renee with flowers and gifts from friends at the chapel and thanked her for her loyal support. Everyone was then invited to sing Renee’s favourite hymn; ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’.

Oliver and Samuel Strout skilfully accompanied the song ‘Who’s the King of the Jungle’ on the chapel’s new drum kits, following this Ella Strout, Bella and Sybil Martyn Uglow, Grace and Lauren Cann joined Oliver and Samuel by playing percussion instruments to ‘Our God is a Great Big God’ with the congregation singing.

Once again the puppets excelled themselves and the fun, colourful, animated characters expressed themselves in song and dance.

Jeanette Turner made all think about their busy lives with a poem entitled ‘Can I Make an Appointment’.

After watching the Bible Society’s video ‘The Seriously Surprising Story’ Oliver was the question master for a quiz about the video.

‘Amazing Grace is a hauntingly beautiful hymn and Jessica McAlpine did it justice as she played a keyboard solo.

Bella and Grace delighted the congregation with a poem about robots.

Greta Davey blessed all with the thanksgiving poem ‘Thank You God For Everything’ helping them to remember that the key of life and living is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks.

The lectionary lesson for this Sunday 1 John 3 verses 16 to 24 was read by Sue Martyn.

Agnes spoke of difficult times and how the song words ‘When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul’ has helped her, knowing it was written by a Christian man who had endured countless tragedies.

Lorraine Sluggett led the service with prayers and thoughts and encouraged everyone to read James 3 verce 13 to 18.

She also presented a video clip ‘Do it Anyway’.

The verses were allegedly written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her.

The service closed with Margaret Atkinson’s favourite hymn ‘Great is thy Faithfulness’ then a hearty ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung to Renee as she blew out the candles on her cake, which was enjoyed by all with a cup of coffee.