A Brief Chronology 1943-2006


 

Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian

 

Pioneers settled in Orchard Lake 1825-30.  Orchard Lake Chapel cornerstone set October 1871.  Dr.Charles Louis Loos, Sr. preached dedication service on July 18, 1874  A Summer Chapel until the 1930's. Sunday School and Worship irregularly then. Chartered and Organized as a Presbyterian Church in 1943, October 24, 1943.  Juanita Thompson a charter member.

 

1943              66                      Reverend Barney Roepke installed as Pastor 10-31-1943  (

1944              91                      Church basement added; Women's Association formed

1947             143                     Detroit Presbytery financial subsidy no longer needed

1949             243                     75th Anniversary of Orchard Lake Christian Church observed 7-17-1949

1954             493                     Two worship services begun;  Construction of basement addition begun

1955             536                     Pews turned around in sanctuary to face North

1956             559                     Reverend Barney Roepke resigned as Pastor 8-15-1956

1957             644                     Reverend Edward Auchard installed as Pastor 2-17-1957

1959             762                     Education wing dedicated

1960             857                     Manse on Green Lake Road sold; red house next to church bought

1963             937                     Reverend Raymond Rosche installed as Assistant Pastor 11-17-1963

1966            1010                    Reverend Henry Jones installed as Assistant Pastor 5-1-1966

1969            1161                    First Handbells purchased as memorial to Margaret Koch

1970            1218                    Reverend Michael Dunkelberger installed as Assistant Pastor 6-14-1970

1973            1049                    Centennial Celebration, Pledges for new sanctuary,  Rev.Edward Pierson installed Ass. Pastor

1975            1133                    New Sanctuary dedicated 6-29-1975, Cornerstone laid 6-29-1975; Carolyn Thibideau  Organist

1977             928                     Reverend Mark Allen installed as Pastor 3-20-1977

1980             910                     Schantz Organ dedication 9-7-1980

1985             873                     Reverend Philip Hazelton installed as Pastor 10-20-1985

1987            1010                    Reverend Janet Sonnaburg Ass Pastor 1-11-1987;  $450,000 loan for parking lot, Narthex, etc.

1991            1217                    New Chapel and Columbarium dedicated

1992            1248                    Reverand Gary Coppedge installed as Associate Pastor 11-22-1991; 

1993            1263                    Share the Light Financial Campaign - pay off 1987 loan and repair roof ; Rohrbachs employed as

                                                  Organist/Director Music; Reverend Gary Coppedge resigned as Associate Pastor 4-18-1993

                                                   Reverend Jennifer McLaren-Saad, Temporary Supply; Reverend Philip Hazelton resigned as

                                                   Pastor ;Reverend Jennifer McLaren-Saad, Stated Supply, (Head of Staff) 1-1-1994

1994            1293                    Reverend J. Thomas Green, Interim Pastor 5-11-1994 to 6-26-1995, Steve Kopcha Youth         

                                                   Director; Reverend Jennifer McLaren-Saad, Interim Associate   

1994            1049                    Session downsized from 30 to 15 members on 8-6-1995

1995          1047                      Dr. David W. Robertson installed as Pastor 10-1-1995; Jean McCutcheon Gift  250,000 – ˝ to

                                                  Mission, ˝ to  Memorial Endowment Fund,- ˝ of interest yearly to Mission, ˝ to Program.        

                                                  5,000 used for McCutcheon memorial gift.           Stephen Ministry begins; 25th. Messiah Annv.

1996             995                     Memorial Zimbelstern dedicated 3-31-1995(Windschiefs for Kurzweil) ; Heritage Sunday             

                                                  celebrated; Share the Light,  450,000 mortgage was burned; Bruce Snyder hired as Director of

                                                   Music 8-15-1996; Buzz Matthews hired as Youth  Director; Rev. Maryla Meagher, installed as

                                                   Associate Pastor 9-22- Bethel Bible Program begins; Margaret Bell hired as accompanist 9-1-97;          

                                                  Logos program launched in place of Youth Club;

1997           1090*                   Memorial and In Honor of Pew Bibles (NRSV) provided; Bethel Bible Program begins.

                                                 Margaret Bell hired as accompanist 9-1-1997; LOGOS program begins; First Mexican Mission

                                                  Trip – Xpujil      *no members removed this year

1998             995                     New Choir Robes purchased 4-1998; Market Place 29 AD VBS begins; Second Mexico Mission

                                                  Trip; Reverend Maryla Meagher resigned as Associate Pastor 10-1-1998

1999             950                     The Reverend Anne Schaefer hired as Interim Associate Pastor 1-1-1999; 125th Anniversary of

                                                  dedication of Heritage Hall 7-18-1999.  Three of former pastors return - Roepcke, Auchard,

                                                  Hazelton (Allen had heart surgery);  Heritage Hall Refurbishing Fund raised 40,000 for the

                                                  project, delayed by lead paint abatement;  10,000+ for local mission projects.  3rd Mexico trip

2000             973                   25th Anniversary of Sanctuary celebrated - Associate Pastor Ned Pierson returns;  Parish Nursing

                                                Program begun with Carol Ballert, R.N. Church van purchased. Elizabeth  Montgomery  Mem. 

                                                 Sanctuary air-conditioned gift from Lucille Young (Charter Member); 4th Mexico Mission Trip

 2001            950                     Fifth Mexico Mission Trip – Kimbila; 130th Anniversary part of Heritage Sunday; Clavanova

                                                 purchased, Contemporary Worship Service begun on weekly basis as third offering.

2002         1009                     Sixth Mexico Mission Trip – Xpujil; Katy Doyle received as Candidate for Ministry by Detroit

                                                 Presbytery.  Long Range Plan Adopted. Buzz Matthews Youth Director leaves for Seminary.

                                                Sabbatical provided for Pastor Robertson, Sabbatical Policy proposed for FT Program Staff.

2003          1003                    Seventh Mexico Mission Trip to Tobasco; Gary Forhan hired as Service Ministry Coordinator

                                                Sally Keller hired as Youth Director and  Service Ministry Director; Long Range Facilities

                                                Committee formed, response to Long Range Plan from 2000. 

2004           1014                   Eighth Mission Trip  -  Chiapas Mexico – Purpose Driven Life Program,  Marjorie Wilhelmi hired       

                                                as Pastoral Assistant ( Student at Ecumenical Seminary Detroit and McCormick Seminary, 

                                               OLCC,P Member.  Sally Keller resigns.  Linda Eldridge Interim Youth Director.

2005           1001                   Ninth Mission Trips – Honduras, D’Iberville MS  Marjorie becomes Assoc Pastor, Bill Baker as

                                               Youth Director.  Master Plan Report received.  Architect engaged. Chris Cosnowski new Par. Nr.

2006           1005                  Tenth Mission Trips – Xpujil Mexico, Gulf Coast  Pearlington MS 2x, Uganda.  Anne Schaefer                 

                                               adds Interim position in Warren.  Master Plan Phase I Faith Enrichment Center campaign seeks to

                                               raise  3.2 Million for Faith Enrichment Center.  Bill Baker resigns as Youth Director. 33 Messiah 

 

 

 

 

 

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