A Brief Chronology 1943 to Present


 
Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian
 
Background: Pioneers began to settle in Orchard Lake in the period 1825-1830. The Orchard Lake Chapel cornerstone was set in October 1871. Dr. Charles Louis Loos Sr. preached a dedication service on July 18, 1874.  The Orchard Lake Chapel was a summer chapel until the 1930's with Sunday School and Worship services held irregularly.
 
Year Membership Event
1943 66 The church was chartered and organized as a Presbyterian Church October 24, 1943 Juanita Thompson a charter member
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
1953 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 Hand bells 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 Asst. 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 Reverend 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
1994 1293 Reverend Jennifer McLaren-Saad, Stated Supply, (Head of Staff) 1-1-1994
Reverend J. Thomas Green, Interim Pastor 5-11-1994 to 6-26-1995
Steve Kopcha Youth Director
Reverend Jennifer McLaren-Saad, Interim Associate   
1995 1047 Session downsized from 30 to 15 members on 8-6-1995
Dr. David W. Robertson installed as Pastor 10-1-1995
Received Jean McCutcheon Gift of $250,000 (˝ to Mission, ˝ to Memorial Endowment Fund, ˝ of interest yearly to Mission, ˝ of interest yearly to Program), and $5,000 used for McCutcheon memorial gift
Stephen Ministry begins
25th. Anniversary of Messiah presentations
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 9-22-1996
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 in place of Youth Club
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 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 - Roepke, Auchard, and 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 Mission trip to Mexico
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  Memorial 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, in 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), and OLCC,P Member
Sally Keller resigns
Linda Eldridge appointed Interim Youth Director.
2005 1001 Ninth year of Mission Trips – Montana del Lus, Honduras and  D’Iberville, MS. 
Marjorie Wilhelmi becomes Associate Pastor
Bill Baker hired as Youth Director
Master Plan Report received
Architect engaged
Chris Cosnowski hired as Parrish Nurse
2006 1005 Tenth year of Mission Trips – Xpujil, Mexico, Gulf Coast  Pearlington, MS. (twice), and Uganda
Anne Schaefer becomes Interim Pastor in Warren
Master Plan Phase I Faith Enrichment Center campaign seeks to raise $3.2m for Faith Enrichment Center
Bill Baker resigns as Youth Director
33rd year of Messiah presentations
2007   Ground Breaking for new Faith Enrichment Center
Mission trips to Pearlington, MS., Gulf Coast and  Ocosingo, Mexico
Scott Hobart becomes Youth Director and Tech Supervisor
Session adopts and congregation approves election of a Transitional Co-Pastor Nominating Committee of 10 people to seek Dr. Robertson’s successor – person to serve a brief co-pastorate, and become Pastor upon Pastor Robertson’s Retirement.
2008   Corner Stone Inserted Faith Enrichment Center Dedicated
Mission trips to Gulf Coast and Montana del Lus, Honduras and Uganda
Christian Educator Linda Eldridge concludes service
Scott Hobart, with assistance from Joanne Starnes, becomes interim CE director
2009   Refreshed! Encircled by Hope debt retirement campaign raises $750,000