In 1976, a new Christian school opened in Elizabethtown. Mount Calvary Christian School began with 100 students and has since grown in size while its Christ-centered mission has remained steadfast. The school will mark its 50th anniversary with an auction and celebration on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26. The festivities will be held at the school, 629 Holly St., Elizabethtown.

Friday's activities will begin with a barbecue dinner by Harvey's BBQ, starting at 4:30 p.m. People will have the option to dine in on the main campus or take their food to-go from the West Campus, located at 35 Elm Ave., Elizabethtown. The meal will feature pulled pork, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, a dinner roll and a drink. A food stand will open at 5 p.m., followed by an auction preview.

"Our live auction will be Friday, starting at 5:30," said Lindsay Norris, director of development and community relations. "We'll have vacations, experiences, themed baskets, class baskets and more at the auction."

An expanded online auction will run through noon on Saturday, she said.

Saturday's celebration will begin at 11 a.m.

"Saturday will have more of a homecoming feel," shared superintendent Jared Griest. "We'll have a Kids Fest with Touch-a-Truck from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then we have a number of different athletic events happening during the day."

Games will include JV and varsity volleyball, as well as two varsity soccer matches. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Chosen Brew Coffee Truck and a food stand operated by the high school will serve food and drinks.

The highlight of Saturday's activities will be a Celebration Program, beginning at 4 p.m. in the school gym.

"This will be a one-hour program for people to celebrate the 50 years of the school," Griest said. "We're collecting '50 Stories of Mount Calvary' right now, and we're going to use those stories to talk about how God has been faithful to the ministry of the school."

From 5 to 8:30 p.m., a variety of food trucks will be on-site, and the soccer games will be held, with a homecoming celebration between the two games. The evening will conclude with a drone show above the soccer field.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the ministry of the school and will provide financial assistance to students.

"We serve about 775 students in preschool through 12th grade," Griest said. "We're one of the largest Christian schools in central Pennsylvania. We have students from four different counties. Students in nine districts are bussed to us, and we have a total of 12 or 13 districts represented."

In Lancaster County, students attend Mount Calvary Christian School from the Elizabethtown School District, as well as Donegal, Manheim Central, Hempfield, Penn Manor, Manheim Township and Columbia school districts.

About 80 different churches are represented in the school, Griest said.

He attributes the school's longevity to both God's presence and the dedication of Mount Calvary Church.

"The theme of the year is '50 Years of God's Faithfulness,'" he stated. "He has proven Himself to be faithful in a number of different ways to the school. We're also thankful for the support of Mount Calvary Church. We're one of the only church-run Christian schools in Lancaster County, and the church has been unwavering in its support of Christian education. As a result, they've really helped to make Christian education affordable to families in the region."

Norris emphasized that the auction and celebration would not be possible without the support of sponsors, including local businesses. She encourages people who would like to sponsor the event to learn more at https://tinyurl.com/zn4ue76b. The deadline for sponsorship is Monday, Sept. 14.

She also underscored that the celebration is open to everyone.

"The impact of this ministry extends to the community, and it always has," she said. "This is very much a celebration for the community to come out and join us. We've set up the events that way, that everyone can come and enjoy the Kids Fest, food trucks and athletic games, culminating with the drone show. Part of our celebration is a legacy of connecting out into the community, not just here in the school."

For more information about the Mount Calvary Christian School Auction and 50th Celebration or to register for the online auction, visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/OHA.