Historical Timeline for Community UCC

Historical Timeline for Community United Church of Christ

• 1951
  
  • Charter of Incorporation is granted to the Community Evangelical and Reformed Church of St. Lawrence – 105 Charter members.
  • May 6, 1951 – first service is held by Dr. Jesse Mengel, founding pastor.
• 1952
  
  • Rev. Paul J Gerhart becomes our first full-time pastor. Worship is held in the St. Lawrence Community Hall.
  • During the next five years the parsonage is built on a 2 1/2-acre lot gifted by Mrs. Eva Brumbach Adams.
• June - Oct '57
  
  • Rev. Russell Barbour becomes our interim pastor while we search for Rev. Gerhart's replacement.
• 1957
  
  • In June the UCC is formed with the union of E & R Church and Congregational Churches.
  • In the fall Rev. Harold Ash is called to be the next pastor of Community.
  • During his 16-year pastorate the congregation's dream of a new church building of its own is realized, and the new building is dedicated in March 1963.
• 1968
  • Community UCC Preschool is established.
• June '73 to March '74
  
  • Rev. Ralph Folk becomes our interim pastor while we search for Rev. Ash's replacement.
• 1974
  
  • Rev. William Sherman is called to be the next pastor of Community in March.
  • He is the pastor of Community UCC for the next 15 years.
• 1978
  
  • Rev. Sherman starts the Christian Day Nursery School.
  • "Improvements in Progress" projects include: a new nursery, a new choir room, a parlor with kitchenette, and the installation of a three-manual Rodgers Electronic Organ.
• 1989
  
  • Rev. Paul Steich becomes our interim pastor while we search for Rev. Sherman's replacement.
• 1990
  
  • Rev. Galen E. Russell III accepts the call to become the next pastor.
  • During his ten years more changes take place.
• 1995
  
  • Ground is broken for the addition to the existing church.
  • The addition includes staff offices for both church and nursery school, Sunday school classrooms, youth room/meeting place, renovations for the nursery school, and enlargement of the kitchen.
  • An elevator and other facilities are installed to make the addition handicapped accessible.
  • The entire addition is air conditioned as well.
  • The parking lot is enlarged.
• 1996
  
  • Dedication of the new addition in September.
  • Rev. Russell is instrumental in establishing the posltion of Ministries Coordinator as well as a very active youth group.
• 2000
  
  • Rev. Frank McKenzie is called to be our interim pastor while we search for Rev.  Russell's replacement.
• 2002
  
  • Rev. Paul Jones is called to be our full-time pastor.
• 2008
  
  • Rev. Charlie Nase is called to be our interim pastor while we search for our next pastor.
  • Rev. James Latimer is called to be our revitalization pastor. This is a new program being tested in the UCC. Rev. Latimer is called for a specific time period to help turn the church around and to challenge the congregation.
• 2011
  
  • Dr. Deborah Winters is called to be our interim pastor while we begin an intensive search for the next leg of our journey.
• 2014
  
  • Pastor Zachary Jackson is called to be the next pastor in the history of our church. He is a student of Dr. Winters; he substitutes for her one Sunday, and the rest is history.
  • Pastor Jackson's journey requires a year of studies to allow him to become a UCC minister. After that, he is ordained into the UCC, and he continue his journey with our members. 
• 2018
  • Preschool celebrates its 40th anniversary with a dinner after the service filled with photos, testimonies, and memories. 
• 2019 Community UCC Preschool and Kindergarten
  • Preschool expands their program to include Kindergarten. First class of 12 students begin their journey in September. 
• 2020 - Coronavirus/Covid-19
  • March 15—we enter into quarantine as a country. Services become virtual, and we pray for a time when we will be together again under one roof.
  • Christmas Eve services of 2020 are limited to 25 people. Consistory approves three services with reserved seating.
• 2021
  • Annual Congregational meeting is held after a service via ZOOM.
  • Covid vaccines are introduced to the world and mass vaccination sites are constructed. With the arrival of the vaccines restrictions start to be lifted.
  • April 4 – Easter Sunday – Consistory approves in-person services with a limit of 50 reservations.
  • April 11 – Consistory approves in-person services to continue without reservations, and we limit worship to one service at 10:15am. 
  • In its April meeting, Consistory approves worship with no more than 100 in attendance in the sanctuary. Social distancing is still to be practiced.
  • Preschool and Kindergarten completes a full year without any students or teachers contracting the virus.
  • Consistory approves outside groups to begin meeting at the church at its June meeting. Sowers of God returns to holding services, STEM Scouts begin meeting at the end of July, and other scout troops return in September.
  • August 30 – Kindergarten kicks off with students wearing masks while in the building. September 7 sees the rest of the students back in the building.
  • Preschool / Kindergarten see both students and teachers out with the virus from September to December. Classes are notified when an individual tests positive. 
• 2022
  • January 2 – Congregational meeting is held. 2022 budget is approved, along with updates and clarifications to the Constitution and bylaws. 
  • January 17 – Pastor Jackson gives his notice that his last day will be May 1.
  • February 6 – Transition Committee is formed. 
  • May 1 – Pastor Jackson's last Sunday 
  • June 30 – Christine Miller retires after 20 years as the Director of the Preschool and Kindergarten program. Becky Bernas takes over as Director. 
  • November 15 – Rev. Bob Turner takes over as Community UCC's Designated-term pastor. This will be for a three-year period, after which the congregation will vote whether to keep him on board as our settled pastor.
• 2023
  • May – Grief support group is formed and begins meeting monthly.
  • November - Obtained Accessible 2 All, (A2A) certification as designated by the United Church of Christ Disabilties Ministry, (UCCDM.)
• 2024
  • Small Groups begin; Prayer Practice Group begins to meet 2x a month
  • Grief Support Group - meets 2x month now
  • Supper Club begins
  • The Joy of Adulting sessions is open to all in the community has it's first session in March