Name/Title
Church, First Reformed, 75th AnniversaryDescription
Church, First Reformed, 75th Anniversary. First Reformed 75th anniversary. Booklet from the 75th anniversary of the First Reformed Church in Waupun. Includes history and photos. Purchased and donated by Jim Laird from ebay. July 2006.
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75th Anniversary (1887-1962) First Reformed Church, Waupun, Wisconsin
Dedication
In memory of all those who began the work here and honoring all who unitedly work at First Church today we dedicate this booklet.
Foreword
Preparing this Anniversary Booklet has brought to us a deep sense of the loving kindness of God, who called together a group of "earthen vessels" and committed to them the treasure of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we review the past, our hearts are filled with thanksgiving to Him who was ruling and over-ruling in the activities of His church.
This is a memorial of what God has wrought among us during the seventy-five years of our history. The spiritual labors of a church can never be known or evaluated.
It is our hope that this little booklet may do three things: first, refresh your memories as to the activities and happenings of the past seventy-five years; secondly, portray in part the present program of the church; thirdly, inspire within each heart a new vision and a new consecration to the task of the church of Christ in the days which lie before us.
With humble gratitude we receive from our fathers the heritage which is ours. We pray for grace to be worthy of that which we have received. We would now be laboring together with God, His instruments, so that when we reach the 100th Anniversary, it may be evident that our talents were not hidden, but invested and increased one-hundred fold.
Church History
On the evening of Oct. 24, 1887, a meeting to organize the First Reformed Church of Waupun was held in the Free Will Baptist Church on the corner of Forest and Main streets, where the City Hall is now located. There were 44 charter members (20 families) at this meeting. On Nov. 4 Mr. Ihrman, who up to this time was acting as classical missionary, was officially elected to be the pastor of the newly organized church.
Within a few months after the organization, a parsonage was purchased with an adjoining lot on which our present church was built.
When Rev. Ihrman left in 1891, the church had grown to 38 families.
On Oct. 17, 1892, Rev. J. Muelendyke became our pastor. Rev. Muelendyke left in 1902. The church now numbered 48 families.
July, 1903, Rev. A. DeYoung, a seminary graduate, became our pastor. He was ordained and installed.
March 7, 1905, the congregation decided to build a new parson-age.
In 1906 the church became self-supporting—no longer to receive help from the Board.
July 17, 1908, the church was enlarged by 8 feet and a basement dug to make room for the furnace.
Rev. DeYoung left us in 1910.
June 24, 1910, Rev. J. J. Hollebrands was installed as our pastor. During his pastorate the 25th Anniversary was observed. At this time there were 118 families, 274 communicant members, 210 baptized members.
In June, 1918, Rev. Hollebrands left, and on Oct. 28, 1918, Rev. W. C. Walvoord became our pastor.
On Nov. 12, 1922, it was decided to enlarge the church.
Services were held in the Produce Hall until the time of dedication, April 15, 1924.
Aug. 9, 1925, the Walvoords left, and after a vacancy of only three months, Rev. J. S. TerLouw became our pastor. Again the church became too small.
A public address system was installed with an amplifier in the basement, where some 200 listened to the service.
In 1929 Rev. George Gosselink was sent out to be our missionary in Busrah, Arabia.
After Rev. TerLouw left in 1933, within five months Rev. Karreman was installed. The church that had started with 20 families now numbered 371 families. Rev. Karreman left Aug. 26, 1937.
The church had become the largest church in the classis.
On Dec. 3, 1937 Rev. Edward Tanis preached his inaugural sermon. During his pastorate, our church building could no longer accommodate its membership, and it was deemed advisable to organize a second Reformed church. Thirty-three families left to become our first daughter, namely, The Emmanuel Reformed Church of Waupun. Rev. Tanis served until April 9, 1944, and ten months later Rev. Anthony Van Harn was installed. He served faithfully until his very sudden death Oct. 29, 1951. A notable event of his ministry was the purchase of a three manual Verlinden pipe organ. "Church Echoes," a quarterly bulletin of church news items, was published during these years.
The present ministry opened in June, 1952, with the installation of Rev. William Rosenberg, and again it became apparent that the church facilities were inadequate; and on Feb. 23, 1955, another "Child in the Gospel" was presented to the community, and became known as The Trinity Reformed Church of Waupun, organized with seventy families.
Now that First Church had two daughters, established in beautiful dwellings, she decided to consider celebrating her Seventy-fifth Anniversary by erecting more commodious accommodations for her ever increasing membership. Consequently, a study committee was appointed, and on Nov. 29, 1955, the congregation voted to look for a site. On March 8, 1956, it voted to buy the Skala property, and on Aug. 18, 1960, the general sketch and plans of the sanctuary were approved. Ground breaking ceremonies were held July 24, 1961, and cornerstone ceremonies June 21, 1962.
The Church now numbers 303 families with a total number of 547 communicants.
Sons and daughters of the Church who answered the call of God to enter into His service are: Rev. Franklin J. Hinkamp, Rev. Alvin J. Neevil, Rev. Albertus Bossenbroek, Rev. Henry Van Deelen, Rev. Donald Buteyn, Rev. Gordon Damsteegt, Catherine Kastein (deceased), Mrs. W. A. Hunt, Mrs. Herman VanGalen (Joyce Leisten), and Mrs. Harold VandeZande (Rhoda Hull). We would pay them tribute as they ex-tend the influence of First Church in an ever widening sphere.
Our Missionary program carries units of support in the following: Rev. and Mrs. George Gosselink, Basrah, Iraq; Rev. and Mrs. Garret DeJong, Saudi Arabia; Mr. and Mrs. Vern Wilkins, Kentucky; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Meyerdink, Mexico; Miss Otis Holloway, Brewton, Alabama; Miss Wilma Maasen, Beattie, South India; Rev. and Mrs. Richard VanFarowe, Ontario, Canada; Mr. and Mrs. Herman VanGalen, New Mexico; Miss La Donna Teumer, Bahrain; Rev, and Mrs. Henry Kolebrander, Canada.
Ten pastors have served our congregation thus far, and the following elders and deacons have served the congregation since its organization:
*Beek, Bernie Hartgerink, Henry Rens, Dec.
*Beekman, Klaas J. H. Milton
*Robert Hinkamp, John Ruesink, John
Beyers, Harry Hull, Carl Schaalama, Cornelius
*Blekkink, James Garret Schuppert, Herman
Bossenbroek, Henry Henry I. T.
*Braaksma, Martin Johnson, Albert Wesley
Braskamp, Allan Kastein, Ben Sjoerdsma, Joe
*Bresser, Lyle J. A. Straks, Henry
John John R. Telinde, Garret
Bruins, Albert * Marvin Ten Hope, John
John C. Myron Ten Pas,Garret
Buteyn, Cornelius Landaal, Dick TeBeest, Gordon
Leonard Leisten, Donald William
Martin Lemmenes, Alvin TerBeest, E.
Peter Andrew John
*Dalton, Walter Harold James
*Damsteegt, Cornelius Loomans, Henry VanBuren, Henry
Garret Madderom, A. VanLoo, Arnold
Garret M. Meenk, Jacob Delmar
De Motts, Harold Mulder, Louis VantHoff, John
Dethmers, Arnold Neevil, Adolph VandeBerg, M.
Harold John * Garret
Duven, C. Richard VandeZande, A. C.
Dykstra, George Thomas * Donald
Flier, Edward William * Edward
* Henry Nummerdor, Edward Henry T.
*Frens, Harry Nyhuis, Fred * John H.
James Henry Maurice
John John * Harold
Gerrits, William *Olsen, Robert Rein
*Giebink, Leonard J, Peters, L. L . William
Wesley D. *Posthuma, George VanVeen, Walter
Glewen, William Prange, John Vossekuil, Bert
*Greenfield, Jerry Redeker, Albert Henry
Gysbers, Bert Otto Wessel, John
George * Robert Zoschke, Paul
Harley
John
'Consistory members serving at the present time.
In our rapidly changing world and so-called "Space Age" we will face many a challenge. There is One and only One who changes not—Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church, the same yesterday and today and forever"—Heb. 13:8. Let us accept the challenge of His command: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Thy Kingdom come. Amen.
Organizations
Sunday School organized by Rev. Ihrman, 1887.
Bible classes were started in 1887.
In recent years summer sessions of Daily Vacation Bible School were added.
Christian Endeavor was started in 1888.
The Department of Young People's work of the Board sponsors the R.C.Y.F.
Ladies' Aid was organized in 1888.
Mission Society was organized in 1910.
"Bidt en Werk" was organized in 1922.
Helping Hand was organized in 1933.
Fellowship Group was organized in January, 1954. The Girls' League was organized in 1933.
The Men's Brotherhood was organized in February, 1944.
The Women's Guild for Christian Service was organized in May, 1961.
ANNIVERSARY SERVICES
Anniversary theme, "Upon this rock I will build my church."—Matthew 16:18
WEDNESDAY EVENING
October 24 — 7:30
ORGAN PRELUDE
HYMN—139
INVOCATION AND SALUTATION
GREETINGS FROM DAUGHTER CHURCHES
JUNIOR CHOIR
SCRIPTURE—Acts 2:37-47
SENIOR CHOIR
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN 246—Offering
SERMON—"Growth of the Past," Acts 2:47, b The Rev. John S. TerLouw, D.D.
CLOSING PRAYER
HYMN—47
BENEDICTION
Blest Be the Tie
ORGAN POSTLUDE
SUNDAY MORNING
October 28 — 9:30
ORGAN PRELUDE HYMN—18
INVOCATION AND SALUTATION
LAW
RESPONSIVE READING—521
GLORIA PATRI
SCRIPTURE—II Corinthians 8:1-9
ANTHEM—Senior Choir
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
HYMN—143
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
SERMON—"Grace for the Present," II Corinthians 8:1
The Rev. William Rosenberg
CLOSING PRAYER
HYMN—307
BENEDICTION
DOXOLOGY
ORGAN POSTLUDE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
October 28 — 2:00
Holland Services
ORGAN PRELUDE PSALM—32
INVOCATION AND SALUTATION
PSALM—36
SCRIPTURE
WOMEN'S CHOIR
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING—PSALM 68
SERMON—"Onze Zaligheid," I Corinthians 1:30-31
The Rev. John S. Ter Louw, D.D.
CLOSING PRAYER
PSALM—118
BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE
SUNDAY EVENING October 28 — 7:30
ORGAN PRELUDE
HYMN—141
INVOCATION AND SALUTATION
CREED
SONG SERVICE
SCRIPTURE—Ephesians 5:23-33
MEN'S CHORUS
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN 243—Offering
SERMON—"Glory for the Future," Ephesians 5:27 The Rev. Edward Tanis
CLOSING PRAYER
HYMN—212
BENEDICTION
God Be With You
ORGAN POSTLUDE
Miss Merle Lemmenes, Mrs. Donald Rens, Organists
