History of Our Church 1888 - The First Congregational Church originated as a branch of the Onawa Congregational Church. Rev. Charles Lyman, graduate of Yale University and Hartford Theological Seminary served both churches. The Whiting church had fifteen charter members - ten married women, four unmarried women, and only one man, EdwinM. Whiting. Edwin was not exactly surrounded by strange women. Among the charter members were his mother, Nancy; his wife, Helen; his married sister, Ida Cassady; two unmarried sisters, Ella and Woodson; his brother Will's wife, Mame; and two first cousins, Eva Pike and Kittie Whiting. From the original fifteen charter members, four present-day members are descendents: Don Croker, John Holmes, Charles Pike and J.M. Whiting. 1892 - The Whiting Congregation withdrew from the Onawa church and by-laws and constitution were developed for an independent church. The church was built on land secured at 425 Salem Street. 1893 - Rev. George Croker, the new resident pastor, oversaw the dedication of the new church. 1906 - Choice Recipes was published by the church women for the "benefit of the Congregational Church." Rev. Allison Ray Heaps was ordained in our church. 1911 - The concept of a new larger "Institutional Church" on Whittier Street to include a gymnasium and library was proposed with wide appeal. 1912 - Dudley Corner and the Hopkins Blacksmith lots on Whittier Street were acquired and cleared. The building contract was awarded. The basement was dug by twenty volunteers. Plans were drawn by a Sioux City Architect for a brick building in Romanesque Style with a belt of Bedford Stone above the basement windows, a tile roof, the sanctuary with stained glass windows. Rev. William H. Skentelbury was called and the cornerstone of the new building was laid. 1913 - The new church building was formally dedicated in April. The new gymnasium and library were fully utilized by the 220 members and the community. Rev. Kent was called to serve as Rev. Skentelbury resigned because of ill health. 1916 - A large new parsonage was built at 232 Bertram Street. The Men's Club purchased and installed bowling alleys in the church basement. The old church was rented to the school as consolidation brought added enrollment. Rev. George Barsalou was called.

1919 - The return of young men from military service during W.W.I gave a lift to the church and community. J.A. Howe hired to do Y.M.C.A. work and Youth Recreation. 1922 - The First Pigeon Supper was held, sponsored by the Men's Brotherhood. 1923- The Women's Philathea Society published A Collection of Choice and Tried Recipes selling over 1000 cookbooks over four years to benefit the church. 1933 - Rev. George Croker returned to preach and serve as the church celebrated its 40th anniversary. The decade of the '30s required strong austerity measures in order to support a minister and energy needs. 1935 - Dr. Raymond Swisher was called. 1938 - Our church celebrated its 50th anniversary with an afternoon program of musical numbers and the reading of poetry. 1941 - Rev. A.L. Upton was called. 1943 - Rev. Thomas A. Thompson was called. 1945 - The church placed a plaque honoring its members serving in W.W. 1956 - Rev. Reuben Trickey was called, developing monthly Church Council Meetings. 1959 - Rev. Dwight Snesrud was called and ordained in our church. The women of our church published the Philathea Cookbook included in this volume. 1961 - Major renovation to the church building included moving the Sunday School rooms to the upper level, bringing the Fellowship Hall and new kitchen to the lower level. The first annual State Conference of the new United Church of Christ was held following many years of merger discussion with the Evangelical and Reformed denominations. Our church was cited as a faithful supporter of World and Homeland Missions. 1962 - Donald Gall was called and ordained in our church. 1963-The 75th anniversary of the founding of our church was commemorated with a pageant and printing of a historical book. 1965 - Rev. William Heins, new graduate of Yale Seminary, was called. 1966 - Memorial of Pilgrim Hymnals.

1967 - Whiting Methodist Church is closed - a number of member; transferred to our church, bringing with them the altar cross and the steeple bell. 1969 - Rev. Thomas Guenther was called and ordained in his home churcr at Denver, Iowa. He was a graduate of Eden Seminary. 1974 - A new parsonage was built at the corner of West and Plymouth Streets. 1983 - Endowment Fund came into being. 1984 - New hymnals were purchased and under-pew racks built for our hymnals. 1985 - Church received new roof and heating plant improvements. 1986 - Selva Lehman served as an interim pastor. 1987 - Rev. James Stroh was called. 1996 - Rev. Patricia Minnick was called. 1999 - Rev. Earl Potts served as an interim pastor. 1999 --- Library area remodeled and converted to the church office with a minikitchen with a refrigerator; Fellowship Hall repainted, more of the paneling added, along with the crown molding; women’s restroom refurbished 2000 - Rev. Reva B. Karstens, graduate of Andover Newton Theologica School, was called from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to serve our church. 2000 --- Grand piano rededicated 2002 --- Visioning meetings led by Rev. Ken Briggs to help congregation think about its mission; adopted a Vision Statement 2002 --- Old library door refinished 2003 --- Church sanctuary air conditioning installed 2003 --- Communion plates and servers refinished; new offering plates purchased for the sanctuary and balcony 2004 --- set of 32 bells and some bell songs purchased to begin a bell choir January 14, 2004 --- Revisioning meeting about the original Visioning meetings; evaluate where we are as a church

March 2004 --- New furnace installed in church office 2004 --- Sprayed texture on the ceiling in Fellowship Hall and ten new covered fluorescent lights installed; extensive work done in parsonage due to rain damage August 4, 2004 - Opted in to the Stillspeaking Initiative of the UCC 2005 - Celebrated Pastor Reva Karsten’s 25th anniversary of her ordination 2005 - Removed and repaired kitchen roof and area; plexiglass installed on the second floor stair railing and balcony; roof repair; kitchen treated to remove mold; kitchen and storage remodeled; some new cabinets and stove installed 2006 --- Congregational Asset Mapping; visioning to consider the life of the church 2006 Outer wooden church doors sanded, stained, and varnished; church bell redone so it rings again 2006 - Our church publishes Recipes and Reflections, a collection of recipes gathered from our present church family, woven together with reflective threads of heritage and memory of our earlier members whose cookbooks faithfully served their generations. July 1, 2007 --- All-Church Homecoming: Freedom Sing 2007 --- Let Your Light Shine Project: 10 members given $100 to use in some way to let their light shine beyond the walls of our church and congregation 2008 --- Results of “Let Your Light Shine Projects” 2009 --- New roof on parsonage September 2009 --- Dedication of new cross in sanctuary December 2009 --- Let Your Light Shine Project #2 2010 --- Envisioning: planning session for the future 2011 --- Remodeling and updating of kitchen; rededication of kitchen May 27, 2012 --- Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Laying of Cornerstone 2013 --- Steering Committee Revitalization Report

2013 --- Fellowship Hall Refurbished: steps going downstairs and west wall rebuilt, new carpet, updated decorations, new doors for the back stairs and back entrance April 21, 2013 - Celebration of 100th Anniversary of Our Church Building: Remember, Rejoice, Rededicate; 125th anniversary of our ministry March 2, 2014 - Repeal of the church’s current Constitution and the enactment of a new Constitution and a Set of Bylaws. May 1, 2016 - Rev. Reva B. Karstens retired. December 2016 – Major updating started on the Church Parsonage interior. Repainted, updated bathrooms, new flooring and carpet, new kitchen cabinets, and new patio door. December 2016 – Remodeling started on the Basement Restrooms.

History of Our Church.pdf

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