A service of dedication will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. A community celebration and grand reopening will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 28. The public is invited to be part of all festivities.

The building on West State Street was constructed in 1883. While some of the recent capital project included deferred maintenance, such as the roof and radiators, the church now has a state-of-the-art sound and multimedia system. Padded pews, carpet and air conditioning also was installed. Stained glass windows were repaired and new lights added.

The congregation in 2004 will celebrate its 200th anniversary. "The improvements," said Pastor John M. Trojak, "allow for ministry long into the future. They provide a better setting to participate in worship through drama, vocal and instrumental music. Visual resources stimulate thinking and recall.

"West Hill Ministries, based in the church, also benefits," he said of the cooperative outreach shared by First Baptist and neighboring churches First United Methodist, St. John's Episcopal and Church of the Sacred Heart.

The capital improvements came through the three-year "Plant the Seed" campaign, scheduled to end in June 2005.