The Decades of Christ Church

                                         (History provided by Paul Schmidt)

 

First Decade:  1953-1962            A New Church Is Born

Church established by the Evangelical Synod to provide

        a church home for increasing Eastside population

First Pastor called

          First Place of Worship was in Ross Theatre on Washington Ave.

          Ground breaking for a new church

          Worship in Fellowship Hall

          Evangelical and Reformed Church (E&R) merged with

                  Congregation Christian Churches

                 to become the United Church of Christ(UCC)

          Parsonage completed

          Good Samaritan pledge drive and facility built

          Communion once a month

 

Second Decade:  1963-1972   Building for the Future

          Lincoln City Weekend

          Helping Hands quilters

          Monday night Bible Study – Bill Gulledge

          Sanctuary completed

          Civil and human rights issues discussed

          First picture directory

         

Third Decade: 1973-1982   Growing in UCC

          Rapid membership growth

          Cathy Hinkle, part-time ass’t. to pastor hired

            Merom retreats Labor Day

          Wassail Night during Advent

          55+ group meetings

          White pinafore bazaars

          Turkey Luck

          Creepy Crawlers

          Housing allowance for pastor

          Guild rummage sale

 

Fourth Decade: 1983-1992   Growing Pains

          UCC Shelter

          Two worship services

          Red Door

          Donna Tyner, second pastor’s ass’t. hired

          Lighted outdoor sign installed

          Acolyte program started

          Parsonage used for Church school classes

          West wing built

          JoAnn Chapman library

          Angel Tree  to offer aid to families with children at Riley’s Children’s Hospital

                  

 

Fifth Decade: 1993-2002   Reaching Out to the Community

          Stephen Ministries

          Rainbow Clown ministry

          Computer system            

          New storage area built

          Called to Care

          Jesus seminar

          Planned giving seminar

          Long Range Planning Committee

          Kohl’s fundraiser

          Country Dance

 

Present Decade: 2002 -  Looking to the Future

          Parsonage sold

50th Anniversary

          English as Second Language Program started

          Carolyn Fischer Trust (Scholarship program)

          Selling/moving of parsonage

          Vision Statement Written

          Visual Media Regularly Used in Worship

          Men’s Club organized

          Nursery relocated to be nearer sanctuary

          New Children’s Library Opened

          Red Door Pres School celebrates 25 years

                                      and receives awards for its program

          Concert Program started bringing widely enjoyed entertainment

                                                                                           once or twice a year

Ministers:

          Rev. Mel Ludwig – 1952-58

          Dr. Carl  Scherzer – Interim

 

          Rev. Don Orander – 1959-69

          Guest ministers during interim

 

          Rev. Don Steedly – 1970-1984

          Rev. Dr. Ernst Press – Interim

 

          Rev. Kent Knife – 1985-1991  (Received his doctorate while our pastor)

          Rev. Nelson Scott – Interim

 

          Rev. Carl Robinson – 1993-2000

          Rev. Tom Kelso – Interim

 

          Rev. Kendall Brown – 2001 -

                                   

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