Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 8375 Phillips Rd, rural Bluffton, will observe the 160th anniversary of its affiliation with what is now the United Church of Christ on Sunday, Sept. 12.

Commemorating the occasion with its annual Rally Day at the church, the congregation will dedicate 160 (or more) school kits to Church World Services, which supplies kits to areas of need throughout the world. For example, in the United States there currently are several disaster areas where school kits may be needed.

Pastor Jeremy Mann said the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday will include communion, recognition of a 50-year member, a photo of all available church members, as well as the school kit dedication.

Emmanuel, located four miles southwest of Bluffton on Phillips Road, is often called the “fish fry” church, in reference to twice-a-year events drawing capacity crowds. The next fish fry event is November 12.

Originally formed in 1842 in a log school building as Riley Creek Church, the congregation was independent until 1861 when it became the German Reformed Society, and adopted the constitution of the German Reformed Church in the United States.

In 1957 Emmanuel became a member of the United Church of Christ with the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches.

Emmanuel twice has been destroyed by the elements, once by windstorm and most recently by the Palm Sunday tornado of 1965. The early 1800s building was the first brick church in Richland Township. The second brick church was completed in 1903 and served until the tornado struck in April 1965.

The current building was dedicated Sept. 18, 1966, and has served more than 50 years.