Chapter 4

| he congregation had not had a permanent pastor for eighteen
months. It eagerly awaited the choice of its Pastoral Nominating
Committee. The Reverend Dr. Stephen Shugert preached on January 17,
1982 and was inmediately accepted by the congregation. A potluck was
held so that Steve and his wife, Dolores (Dee), plus their four chil-
Gren could be met by church members. Dr. shugert was a graduate of
McCormick Seminary and came directly from Brown Memorial Presbyterian
Church in Baltimore, MD. Prior to that he had served St. Stephens
Parish Kirk in Glasgow, Scotland and Presbyterian Church of Covenant
in Racine, Wisconsin.

In the afternoon of April 4, 1982, the Presbytery of Lake Huron
held the Service of Installation for Reverend Dr. Stephen Shugert as
Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant, MI. in the Watson
Road edifice. The Reverend Peter Russell, Moderator of Presbytery,
presided. The sermon was preached by the Reverend Brad Rohwer of
Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church of Saginaw, MI. Participants in the
service included the Reverend Charles House, Christian Administrative
Commission; the Reverend Louis Briner, First Presbyterian Church of
Kalamazoo; the Reverend Katherine Epperly, First Presbyterian Church
of Mt. Pleasant; Ruling Elder William Franklin, First Presbyterian
Church of Mt. Pleasant; Ruling Elder Garry Mesler, First Presbyterian
Church of Mt. Pleasant; Ruling Elder Basil McKenzie, Breckenridge
Emerson; Ruling Elder Donald Swindlehurst, Rosebush Presbyterian
Church; and Dr. Steven Egler, Director of Music, First Presbyterian
Church of Mt. Pleasant.

 

In March, the Committee of Energy Conservation reported and recom-
mended ceiling fans for the Sanctuary and insulation of the ceiling of
the sanctuary. In September, the House and Grounds Committee of the
Session changed the top priorities to painting the exterior trim of
the church ($4500) and purchasing and installing storm windows
($5500). ‘The other two projects were completed later.

At a special meeting on April 18, 1982, the congregation took
action on the approval of the sale of the Manse located at 1513 E.
Broadway. ‘The proceeds were to be put into the Pastor’s Housing Fund.
‘The Manse sold for $54,900. ‘The Reverend Katherine Epperly, Interim
Assistant Campus Pastor, left, and Robert Decker was employed to coor-
dinate the program. Sherry Hicks assumed the role of Coordinator of
Christian Education.

‘The Reverend Dr. Stephen Shugert focused on three areas of min-
istry - Worship, Pastoral Care (into 150 homes), and Program and
Administration. He stated after ten months with the church, “The year
1982 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the First
Presbyterian Church, with the calling of a new pastor and the mar-
velous spirit shown by so many eager and devoted members with sleeves
rolled up ready to work.”

Congregational breakfasts were held monthly on a Sunday morning.
Aerobic exercise classes were held for church members and others. ‘The
church building was made available to agencies whose purposes were not
inconsistent with the purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ. The
church facility was used virtually every day by commnity groups as
part of ongoing ministry of service. Many of the congregation provid-
ed leadership to these groups or participated in them. Groups to make
use of the building included Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross,
Overeaters Support Group, Association for Inter-Faith Ministrie:

 

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Southwest Neighborhood Association, and Alcoholics Anonymous/Adult
Children of Alcoholics. A pictorial directory was completed, and the
Presbytery of Lake Huron was hosted in October. A separate Peace
Committee was established with responsibility to the Outreach
Committee. A particularly successful Adult Forum studied the book,
“The Road Less Traveled.”

It hardly seemed possible, but in 1983 the congregation had been
in the Watson Road edifice for twenty-five years. The celebration of
this Silver Anniversary, “Homecoming and Heritage Celebration,” domi-
nated the year. Co-chairpersons for the festive occasion were Floyd
and Peg Heydenburg and Roy and Anne Juhnke. The celebration was held
the week of October 23-30, 1983.

‘wenty-five years earlier, when the church building was dedicated,
the Reverend Kenneth Cutler made this profound statement, “A church
should be beautiful, but when we have said this, there is still some-
thing more to say. It raises the question, is there anything deeper
than the physical impressions, sensations, and stimili which the eyes
receive? Let us pray that this beautiful place be dedicated always to
the purpose of opening the eyes of men to the divine realities of
their lives.” Those words were just as applicable twenty-five years

later. Equally relevant was a prayer that
Cutler included that day. It was as fol-
lows:

“prayer for (of) a Church”
‘Though I am built of stone and sand and clay,
I’m dedicated to Thy service here,

To Keep this place in honor to Thy Name

and lift my spire to things that men hold
dear.

May reverence abide, and contrite hearts
Rneel at my altars and Thy blood atone;

May mercy light the candles at this shrine
and justice fill the chalice at Thy throne.
Help these, dear Lord, who gather strength in

to bear forth truth unto a better day;
As golden sunlight falls through colored

panes
May loving kindness shine through those who

 

pray.
Keep wide my doors that all who enter in

‘he Reverend Dr. May know that worship leaves no room for sin!”
Stephen F. Shugert, Fleta Bruer Gonso

pastor of First :
Presbyterian church It was an occasion of re-dedication,
since 1982. not only of the church building but of the

church members and the ministry of Jesus
Christ. The week of celebration was a full one. On Sunday, October
23 the sermon was given by Dr. Harold Kaser, Moderator of the
Presbytery of Lake Huron. His sermon was on the theme of the 25th
Anniversary, “Ages Past and Years to Come.” A feature of the service
was the re-dedication of the original church bell. It had first been
installed in the tower of the frame building on Court Street in 1879,
a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight May. When the new brick building was
erected on Main Street in 1907, the bell was installed there and hung
for over fifty years. The Donald Goulds then had the bell for the next
twenty-five years and returned it as a gift. Four generations of the
Theunissen family took part in the “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony.

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‘These individuals were Iucile (held the most seniority in the church),
Bill (son), Chris (grandson), and Craig (great-grandson). It could
be noted that on October 22, 1988 the bell was raised to its place
beneath the Silver Spire. Thirty-three former Cadet and Chancel Choir
members joined the present Chancel Choir. Extra music included an
anniversary celebration anthem, “Psalm 150” (composed by Dr. Austin
Lovelace from Denver, CO). The anthem was performed this day by the
Chancel Choir under the direction of Dr. Steven Egler. It was accen-
tuated by the brass ensemble composed of Tim Bender, David Bush, Craig
Heydenburg, and David Jansen. Harriet Abrahamson gave added beauty
with the printed poem, “The Message of the Bell.” The day was con-
cluded with a dinner and a vesper service.

On Monday, October 24, there was a Chili Dinner in the Fellowship
Hall. On Wednesday, there was a United Presbyterian Women Tea and an
Apple Fest for Youth. Friday included a Halloween Hop and
Refreshments - a Youth Retreat.

Sunday, October 30, was Reformation Sunday. The anniversary cele-
bration concluded with a Festive Presentation of Historic Banners.
‘This also commemorated the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther. Each
banner was expertly made from fine fabric, hand-sewn, and brilliantly
representing a particular Confession. Banners had been presented to
the church as a gift through Memorial Funds. Makers of the
Reformation Banners included Harriet Abrahamson, Pearl Armstrong,
Nikoline Bye, Muriel Lakey, Louise Decker, Sue Ecker (chairperson),
Mary Franklin, Becky Majeske, Peg McFarlene, Jean Mesler, Norma
Richardson, Charlotte Schenkhuizen, Maxine Tanner, and Ruth Wolf. The
eight banners now hang in
the church sanctuary and
have represented the fol-
lowing historic church con-
fessions:

1. The Nicene Creed

2. The Apostles Creed

3. The Scots Confession
of 1560 (Scotland)

4. The Heidelberg
Catechiam of 1563
(So. Germany)

5. The 2nd Helvetic
Confession of 1566
(Switzerland)

6. The Westminster
Confession and
Shorter Catechism of
1643 (England) .

7. The Theological
Declaration of
Barmen, 1934

 

(Germany)
8. The Confession of

The original church bell that has called go oes
First Presbyterian worshipers to service
since 1879. Tt was re-dedicated at the ‘The Silver Anniversary
Watson Road church in 1983 and raised shared emphasis in 1983
to its place beneath the Silver spire with the $250,000 goal
in 1988. Capital Fund Campaign.

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Clarence Tuma was General Chairman, and his committee consisted of
Glenn Lowery, dobn Yantis, Bill Theunissen, Gerald Cassel, Aubrey and
Hope Carlson, Mary Franklin, and Vern Austin. The drive realized 175
pledges for $207,012 (over three years). ‘The implementing of the
improvements fell to a new Capital Improvement Comittee. Frank Ingram
chaired this important committee which also included Gerald Cassel
(Pinance Chairman of Refurbishing Committee), Glenn Lowery (Chairman of
House & Grounds Comittee), Mary Franklin, Jean Mesler, Marilyn Johns,
Clare Lyle, Dick Moose, and Vern Austin. Their charge was to bring a
proposal to Session which would prioritize projects to be undertaken.
It was an advisory group to establish priorities, and oversee and rec-
commend to Session the capital improvement expenditures within the money
raised. This committee was kept busy over the next three years. The
Capital Fund Drive had been held in conjunction with the Annual Pledge
Campaign. The latter campaign totaled $121,927 in 1983.

 

 

A Capital Fund Follow-Up Comittee was appointed by Session in the
fall of 1983 in conjunction with the Capital Fund Campaign. The pur-
pose of the committee was to monitor pledge contributions during the
three year period through October 1986 and to insure a high percentage
of payment. It later included the tracing of unpaid pledges beyond the
three year payment period.

During the year Cindy Miles replaced Sherry Hicks as Christian
Education Coordinator, following Sherry’s move to Texas. Pat Latus was
employed for campus work. A contract was signed with I.C.7.C. for bus
service to and from campus.

 

A festive presentation of historic Banners. Part of the
1983 celebration of the Silver Anniversary of the Watson Road
church building.

‘The Board of Deacons started a Healing Grief Program. David Kerr
gave leadership to this program. It offered a chance to take part in
discussions and to share experiences with a bereavement group. It has
continued to serve those who have suffered a loss by death. Group
sharing, support, and education are the main parts of the program. Two
other groups started within the church have included a singles group
and a young couples group.

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