In 1957, the Synod of Nebraska, the Presbytery of Omaha decided it was time to establish a new church in west Omaha. They bought land south of Frances street between 110th and 112th streets. Later in 1957, it became known that the interstate highway would pass that way. Therefore, a new tract of land was purchased on 114th street between Shirley and Pacific streets, which included a farmhouse. The Presbytery began making plans to start a new church.
This new church was to be the 26th Presbyterian church in Omaha. The National Missions Church, The Board of National Missions gave its full support to a minister for one year. They chose Reverend Charles (Chuck) Young and sent him to Omaha to become the organizing pastor. He was an excellent organizer and was a good preacher. He made "thousands" of calls to homes in the area. He found many people who were Presbyterian but they all belonged to Presbyterian churches downtown or at Countryside Community Church which had been established several years earlier. Under the leadership of Rev. Ed. Stimson, Senior pastor of Dundee, Dundee members living in this area were encouraged to join Church of the Cross. The Church of the Cross was officially organized by the Presbytery of Omaha, United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., on March 30, 1958, in a formal service held in the Dundee Presbyterian Church. There were 172 charter members.
The Presbytery of Omaha bought the house at corner of 114th and Shirley (1604 S. 114th) and "fixed" the basement as a sanctuary. It was especially adapted for this because it had a "walk-out" basement. Many volunteers spent Labor Day weekend in 1957 painting, paneling the basement and tiling the floor. The first worship service was held September 22, 1957 and 71 persons attended. Reverend and Mrs. Young and their three children lived upstairs. All meetings met in either the basement or the living room of the Manse. By February 1958, it was necessary to have two services. Sunday school classes were held in member homes, some of which were several miles away from the Manse. The "Farmhouse" on the property was also used for the youth programs and preschool program, which we now know as Discovery Preschool.
THE NAMING OF THE CHURCH
Early in 1957, Reverend Charles (Chuck) Young recruited Virginia and Cal Wheeler and a number of other couples to help organize a new Presbyterian Church in southwest Omaha. We met in the basement of the Manse at 11415 Shirley which was soon converted into our first Sanctuary. Virginia volunteered to obtain the loan of a communion table from another Presbyterian Church, and Cal volunteered to make a wooden cross and a pair of candelabra for the table. Later, 40 or 50 persons met to select a name for the new church. Three persons suggested names. Cal Wheeler's suggested name was "Church of the Cross". The significance of the cross in our Christian Heritage really struck Cal as he made the cross for the communion table. "Church of the Cross" was selected by ballot. In order to identify our church as a Presbyterian Church, "Church of the Cross" was followed by "Presbyterian". Later, "Presbyterian" was placed in front of "Church of the Cross".
Our first communion table was borrowed from the Wheeler Memorial Presbyterian, but was never returned or reclaimed by the Church. It was repaired and refinished by Bob Pierson and Cal Wheeler and is now located in the Narthex of our Church. The wooden candelabra disappeared, but the wooden cross now stands on top of the same communion table where it first stood in 1957.
During January 1958, a building committee was organized to plan for the first building unit of the congregation. A building fund canvass was conducted in June of that same year. Despite the upcoming changes in the leadership of the church, members moved forward with ground breaking ceremonies for the present Fellowship Hall building on March 22, 1959. The Fellowship Hall was designed by James Hunter and Associates of Boulder, Colorado. The building is styled with a residential appearance to blend with the suburban residential area in which it is located. This first unit was constructed for a total cost of $118,000. The Timmons Construction Company was the general contractor.
Late in winter 1959, when there was a change in leadership, Dr. Ralph Gerber, pastor in Lexington, Nebraska, who was chairperson of National Missions Synod of Nebraska, was contacted and asked to send someone to be the interim. Dr. Gerber contacted Rev. Harold Wilson, Nebraska Missionary-at-large, to come immediately. In the meantime, a pulpit nominating committee was elected and it began its search. This committee arrived in Lexington and tried to persuade Ralph to be its pastor. Ralph did not accept the call immediately, for he was happy with his work in Lexington where they had just completed building of a new wing which included a stage for many of Elinor Gerber's musical productions. The nominating committee came back again. Ralph involved his whole family in the final vote and the kids unanimously decided to accept the call to the Presbyterian Church of the Cross, Omaha, Nebraska.
The Gerber family which included Tim, Rebbeca, Kathy, Gail and their dog Jill arrived in Omaha and Ralph preached his first sermon September 13, 1959. Ralph was installed as pastor of the church on October 4, 1959. They moved into the Manse and adapted to the basement church meeting routine. The following routine in the walk out basement was used to prepare for Sunday morning:
The very first service in the new Fellowship Hall was Christmas Eve, 1959. The place was packed. The weather was uncooperative as Nebraska weather can be. The land around the church was a big mudhole which Harold Boker tried to rectify by getting gangplanks so people could walk from their cars. Some cars sank so deep in the mud that tow trucks were needed. But, the weather did not dampen the members' excitement of being part of a new church beginning.
Once settled in, the congregation continued to use the Farmhouse for preschool and classes. Volunteers spent time maintaining the structure. An interesting tidbit happened in September 1960. The new church had an address change without moving! The Department of Public Works of City of Omaha decided our address needed correction. An order has been issued to change our address from 1617 S. 114th to 1517 S. 114th.
The dedication ceremony for Fellowship Hall took place on Sunday, January 10, 1960. By February 1963, there was a need to expand the church in order to meet the needs of a growing membership, over 700 members. Another building campaign was begun May 3, 1963. After successful fund raising, ground was broken for a second unit on April 11, 1965, which consisted of a Sanctuary, office and education areas. The unit was designed by Irving Dana of Omaha. Total cost upon completion was $420,000. Dedication for this unit took place on May 1, 1966. The church witnessed the mortgage burning of the church at the 25th Anniversary in 1983.
Additional full time staff serving the Church of the Cross with Dr. Ralph
Gerber, (1959-81) have been Rev. James Hendrickson, (1969-71); Rev. Ronald
Kinsey (1972-76); Dana Sloan, Music, (1974 to present); Sandra Pote, Education
(1977 to 1994); Dr. Richard E. Murdoch,
Associate Co-Pastor (1977-85), and Beulah Moore served as Church Secretary
beginning in 1961 until her retirement in 1984.
When Dr. Murdoch accepted the call to the Church, a Co-Pastor system was created and functioned well while he and Dr. Ralph Gerber worked together. Rev. Les Borsay (1982-85) later became part of the Co-Pastor system. The membership began to evaluate whether this system was the best for the church.
At the March 25, 1985, regular meeting of the Session, Rev. Les Borsay began the process of dissolving his pastoral relationship with Presbyterian Church of the Cross to accept a call in Washington. At the same meeting, the Session called a special meeting on April 1, "to develop a course of action following this resignation." During the April 1 Special Meeting of the Session, options were presented and discussed. It was moved, "to call a congregational meeting for June 9th to recommend to the congregation that the Presbyterian Church of the Cross change the staffing arrangement from two Co-Pastors to Pastor/Associate Pastor". By secret ballot, the Session passed the motion 20-0.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Murdoch accepted a call in Michigan. His wife Judy, who is very artistic, designed the stain glass windows by the south doors of the Sanctuary, and many of the banners that we use throughout the year were designed by her. Church member Linda Miller sewed many of the banners.
At the Session Retreat in April, 1990, the need to repair or replace the constantly leaking flat roof was reported. The Session organized a group to assess the building needs beyond the roof to bring the physical plant up-to-date.
The committee dug in and evaluated the building from top to bottom. Their original estimate was that up to $550,000 worth of projects existed, although a feasible amount to seek would be $250,000 from the congregation for renovations.
Tom Stalnaker agreed to lead the fund raising effort, with strong backing from Martha Langenberg, the Business Administrator. People were recruited. A wonderful kick-off dinner was held for 350 members at Peony Park. When the campaign concluded, the congregation had pledged $400,000 for improvements. Ross Scholz led the Building Renovation Committee and coordinated improvements for the building. There has been hard work and tremendous results. Most building projects bring out the disgruntled side of some churches. These projects brought only cheers and support.
By September 1993, the original pledged money had been spent on projects already completed. The congregation will have the opportunity through the Annual Budget to continue the remaining projects.
Also important are other physical landmarks within our church. One is the story of the "Cross" on the west side of our church and how it came into being. The other is the Mary Jane Dana Memorial Windows in back of the sanctuary depicting the eight creeds in the Presbyterian Constitution, Book of Confessions.
When the Fellowship Hall was built, there was a very small cross on the roof. Elinor Gerber's mother, Mrs. Otto Smith, came to visit from Elkhart, Indiana, and could feel everyone's excitement about the new church. But one of her first questions was "Where is the Cross?"
Upon Mrs. Smith's death, considerable amount of memorial money was given in her name. Elinor conceived the idea of having a cross erected as a memorial to her. It was to be a crude cross with all persons in the church having a part in putting it together. Since all of us by our behavior crucify Christ, the idea was for every adult and child to pound a nail in this cross.
Joe Glover bought 2 poles from the telephone company, had them milled and brought to the church. The cross was placed in the Narthex for several weeks providing an opportunity for everyone to pound a nail in it.
Mary Jane Dana was an Elder, Deacon, and a member of the Women's Association who died in 1977. Her husband, Irving Dana, of Dana, Larson, Roubal, was the architect of our Sanctuary. He selected Ann Cunningham Moore, Beulah and Bill Moore's daughter-in-law, of Omaha to design the panels. Once the panes were installed, Dr. Murdoch preached a series of sermons centering around each one. The following is an illustration and a page explaining each scene.
I have designed the eight Narthex panels to symbolically represent the Book of Confessions.
The Book of Confessions was designated as Part One of the Constitution of the United Presbyterian Church in 1967.
The Book of Confessions include: The Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, the Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, The Second Helvetic Confessions, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Theological Declaration of Barmen and The Confession of 1967.
Each panel represents one of the Confessions.
Starting on the left, the first panel represents the Nicene Creed. The Triangle symbolizes the Trinity which was formalized in the Creed. The hand reaching down represents God and is taken from that part of the Creed which reads: "God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible."
The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit and is taken from that passage in the Creed. . . "We believe in the Holy Spirit Lord and giver of life."
The water symbolizes Baptism and is taken from the Creed as follows: "We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins."
The second panel represents the Apostles' Creed which is symbolic of early Christianity.
The early Christians were forced to meet in secret, often in caves or catacombs. So, the cave entrances represent the difficulty and rigor of early Christianity under persecution.
The anchor cross symbolizes security in Christ as found by the Apostles, some
of whom were fishermen.
The fish are ancient symbols of Christian faith. Perhaps a secret code word
because the five Greek letters forming the word "fish" are the initial
letters "Jesus Christ, God's Son Savior."
The third panel represents the Scots Confession. The main feature of this panel
is the burning bush which is not consumed. This is symbolic of Moses' Sinai
experience thus God's presence and call which is the chief symbol of the Church
of Scotland.
The next panel features the tablets and represents the Heidelberg Catechism. The Ten Commandment which appear in the Catechism teach that obedience is the proper form of thankfulness.
The fifth panel, the Second Helvetic Confession, is depicted by the cross which symbolizes salvation. There is an extensive discussion of salvation in this Confession. The shepherd and the lamb portray the pastoral ministry and the flocks' care for its own members.
The sixth panel represents the Westminster Confession of Faith. The triangle stands for the Holy Trinity and the eye symbolizes God's providence and control of history and life. Both are dominate themes in this Confession.
The tree and serpent are symbolic of the fall of man, sin and temptation.
The dove symbolizes the vehicle by which the covenant comes to man, the
covenant of
grace . . . where God freely offers life and salvation to sinners through Jesus
Christ.
This is an important theme in the Westminster Confession of Faith.
The seventh panel featuring the cross rising from the flames represents the Theological Declaration of Barmen.
This Confession is from Germany and was written in 1934 as a protest against Nazi tyranny.
The cross rising from the flames symbolizes a protest against any effort to take the role of God and control the Church.
The flames also symbolize the suffering which follows from defense of faith against tyranny. The smoke suggests all that is fleeting because it rises in the air only to disappear and symbolically it is a reminder of the shortness of his life and the futility of seeking earthly glory.
The last panel represents the Confession of 1967.
The earth at the base of the cross is symbolic of the reconciled world at the foot of the cross. God's act of reconciliation being the starting point and theme of the Confession of 1967.
The hand reaching down, repeated from the Nicene Creed, is symbolic of Divine Omnipotence and God relating to His world.
The stars lighting the darkness of the heavens at night is a symbol of Divine guidance and favor and with the planets are symbolic of the space age setting of this Confession.
The features I've used to tie the design together are the earth, rocks and clouds.
The earth, which produces plants and trees and furnishes a habitation for man is a symbol for the Church which feeds man with spiritual faith and offers him shelter.
Rocks are a symbol of the Lord and stones stand for firmness. This meaning is derived from the story of Moses who smote the rock and a spring burst forth to refresh his people.
Christ is often referred to as a rock from which the pure rivers of the Gospel flow.
St Peter too is referred to as a rock, the cornerstone of the Church because of Christ's statement . . . "that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church."
Lastly, clouds in the heavens are the natural veil of the sky and are used as the symbol of the unseen God.
Music has always played a very important part in the Church of the Cross from the beginning. Herald Deadman was the first Adult Choir director and Judy Osterchill played the organ. When Mr. Deadman was transferred, Anne Ritchie helped with the adult choir.
Elinor Gerber started the Junior High Choir because there was no music at the first service as the membership grew. Elinor sent letters to all Junior Highs for choir practice and about 10-15 of them responded, which eventually grew to 30-40. Then Elinor started the Junior Choir; grades 4-6, which was one of her great loves, with as many as 90 children at one time.
There were many popular themes used during this time. One theme was "Hymn of the Month" where the choir would sing the first Sunday of the month, then the congregation became involved later in the month. At Christmas, the "Festival of Carols" were sung representing different lands. Carols were selected from four countries and four tables were decorated with goodies on top. In the spring, a program was presented that dealt with the mission study of the year, which involved drama and music. Elinor felt strongly that a child learned more when singing than just reading or saying words.
Eventually Anne Ritchie had to resign and June Russell became director of the Adult Choir. June later left for Kansas City, and Elinor Gerber took over the Adult Choir. In the meantime, Elinor formed the Girl's High School Chorale. She also recruited 22 men to sing for Laymen's Sunday. After this service, she asked the men if they would be willing to continue as a group, they did and practiced on Sunday from 12-1 p.m.
At a later Easter Service, Elinor Gerber borrowed a 2 octave set of Schulmerich bells (25 bells) and trained eight Junior High students to play a song. This group became popular, practice time was 7:00 a.m. before school! This group was so good that they were asked to play for the General Assembly. Eventually the church purchased its own English Whitechapel bells through donations and that amount was matched later by one member of the congregation. The delivery for these bells took 3 years. Church of the Cross now has 4 octaves of bells.
Following Elinor Gerber's retirement, the Church of the Cross conducted a nationwide search for its first full-time Minister of Music. Dana Sloan, then Minister of Music at the Blacksburg Baptist Church in Blacksburg, Virginia, interviewed for the position in April, 1974 (the actual date was the day that Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th career home run). He began his work as the church's first and only full-time Minister of Music on July 15, 1974.
During his nearly 24 years in the position, Dana has based his ministry on a 4-point philosophy of music in the church. The four points are:
It is a daunting task to condense his service at the church into a few short paragraphs. The church has gone through many changes; some good, some bad. Reflecting the life of the church, the music program has changed. It has had successes and failures. The highlights of the period 1974-1993 include:
Dana adds these personal reflections. At the heart and soul of "music" at Church of the Cross are the people who have made whatever we accomplished possible. Hundreds of singers, ringers, instrumentalists, volunteer directors, choir mothers, and other volunteers, who over the years, have touched so many lives through their music. Through the highs and lows of the church's life, they have been there. It is an honor and a privilege to have been a part of their lives. It is a joy and a privilege to have worked with so many young people; to watch them grow through their school years, to see them married; and, in some sad cases, to see them die. Music has, and I suspect, will always play an important role in the life of Presbyterian Church of the Cross.
Probably the first organized group within the church, based on original church letters, was the Women's Association. A women's steering committee was formed to prepare the way for the new group. By September 1958, the Women's Association was official and by November 1958 there were 72 members. In 1959, four women's circles came into being. It was interesting to note that in 1959 two of the circles met in the evening while the remaining circles were daytime. Another tradition sponsored by the Women's Association every two years was the Fall Bazaar, held to raise money for mission programs.
Another group that was sponsored from the beginning was the Boy Scout group. The older newsletters showed there was also a Square Dancing group that had their monthly dances in the Manse in 1958-59.
In October 1958, a Couples Club was organized. On November 25th they had their first dinner meeting and the election of officers with 66 people attending. In December 1961, a new Couples Club was formed to be known as Mariners which was open to all couples regardless of age. The primary purpose of this "social" organization was to promote fellowship among married couples of the church.
At our 35th anniversary, we witness a great variety of groups for different needs. There are the 49er's, a senior citizens group, with a different focus every month.
There are Gourmet groups on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The Couples Club meets at someone's home, a fun location, or the golf course, depending on what that month's activity is. An annual project for them is decorating the Sanctuary and concourse at Christmas. In 1990, Debbie Ryckman suggested that we decorate the Christmas tree with Christian symbols called Chrismons. Several members chose patterns, cut them out of styrofoam, glued gold sequins and things on each one, and then hung them on the tree. Ribbons were made out of red and white velvet and used to decorate the garland. It was beautiful.
There have been attempts to form a Singles group for those not married, widowed, or single parents.
A men's group, called United Presbyterian Men, are well known for their annual Shrimp Dinner, Confirmand Breakfast and their Saturday morning Fellowship Breakfast.
It is interesting to note that there was a youth program for Junior and Senior High from the very beginning. These were separate programs from Sunday School and music programs. In the early 1960's, the church sponsored a boy's basketball program that played in an organized league.
In 1969, an additional program was added for the youth which is called the Mission Trip. It involved fund raising by the youth and they venture to some unknown place where they volunteer their time to improving the area. The following mission trips occurred over the years and maybe some of you were part of one of them:
1969 Peñasco Work Camp, Medical Clinic, Peñasco, New Mexico
Rev. Jim Hendrickson - Faythe Harrison - Elaine Koetter
1973 Peñasco Work Camp, Emmuel Church, Peñasco, New Mexico
Rev. Ron Kinsey - Jack Elliot - Josie Elliot
1979 Clearwater Forest Conference Center, Deerwood, Minnesota
Sandi Pote - Chet Kiehl - Jody Watt - Greg Miles
1980 Mary Holmes College, West Point, Mississippi
Sandi Pote - Fred Pote - went with the MRV Presbyterian Men
1981 Stronghold Conference Center, Oregon, Illinois
Sandi Pote
1982 Camp Galilee, Mellen, Wisconsin
Sandi Pote
1983 Buck Creek Camp, Enumclaw, Washington
Sandi Pote - Jody Watt - Don Kern - Mary Kern
1984 Camp Massensata, Harrison, Virginia
Sandi Pote - Fred Pote
1985 Navajo Indian Reservation, Kayenta, Arizona
Sandi Pote - Fred Pote
1986 Buck Creek Camp, Enumclaw, Washington
Sandi Pote - Carol Hale - Stan Hale - David Haas
1987 Holmes Presbyterian Conference Center, Denton, New York
Sandi Pote - Stan Hale - Carol Hale
1988 Tall Timber Ranch, Leavenworth, Washington
Sandi Pote - Stan Hale - Carol Hale - David Haas
1989 Camp Greenwood, Greenwood, Michigan
Sandi Pote - Jody Watt
1990 Camp Mattole, Humbold County, California
Sandi Pote - Irene Boomgaarden - Fred Schlingman
1991 Holmes Presbyterian Conference Center, Denton, New York
Sandi Pote - David Haas - Irene Boomgaarden - Fred Pote
1992 Government Street Presbyterian Church Urban Ministry, Mobile, Alabama
Sandi Pote - Linda Miller - Keith Hale - Jody Watt
1993 Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church Urban Ministry, Lexington, Kentucky
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Al Krabbenhoft - Sherryl Shannon
1994 The Campbell Farm, Wapato, Washington
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Bev Madison Koch - Al Krabbenhoft
1995 Council of Churches of the Ozarks, Springfield, Missouri
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Cindy Hodges
1996 Zephyr Point Conference Center, Zephyr Point, Nevada
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Cindy Hodges - Barb Adams
1997 Puntes De Cristo - PCUSA Border Ministry, Reynosa Mexico
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Margaret Osborn - Janelle Davis - Don Metzger
1998 Clearwater Forest Conference Center, Dearwood, Minnesota
Rev. Ronnie Osborn - Lee Peacock - Cindy Hodges - Sara Pickens
1999 Habitat for Humanity, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Dr. Kirk Ryckman - Don Metzger - Linda Miller
2000 Glacier Camp, Flathead Lake, Montana
Don Metzger - Jim & Linda Miller - Sarah McDougal
2001 Howell Presbyterian Camp and Wildlife Preserve, Howell, Michigan
Rev. Regina M. Maas - Don Metzger - Sarah McDougal – Linda Miller
2002 Fort Worth Urban Work Camp, Fort Worth, Texas
Rev. Regina M. Maas – Keith Allen – Sherryl Shannon – Anna Sumner
2003 Westminster Woods Camps and Conference, Lexington, Nebraska
Rev. Regina M. Maas – Angela Holdren – David Moore – Kevin Russell
2004 St. Louis Urban Work Camp, St. Louis, Missouri
Rev. Regina M. Maas - Angela Holdren – David Moore – Kevin Russell
2005 Glacier Presbyterian Camp, Flathead Lake, Montana
Rev. Regina M. Maas – Don Metzger – David Moore – Kirsten Sheridan - Kris Adler – Angela Holdren
2006 D’Iberville Volunteer Foundation (Katrina Victim Aide), D’Iberville, Mississippi
Rev. Regina M. Maas – Don Metzger – Irene Boomgaarden – Clarence Waters – Kirsten Sheridan – Angela Holdren – Cheryl and Hart Edmonds
2007 Camp Rimrock, Rapid City, South Dakota
Rev. Regina M. Maas – Don Metzger – Angela Holdren – Mike Morey – Patty Ritchie – Anna Sumner – Clarence Waters
The Wednesday night program grew out of the children and youth choir programs. The Junior High/Confirmation fellowship dinner programs were also held on Wednesday evening. During the 1970's, energy usage was a concern and to be good stewards of the buildings usage as well as individual gas consumption, the staff designed an all-age inclusive program for Wednesday evenings.
Wednesday Challenge was the name given to the first inter-age activities. Classes were formed for all ages from preschoolers to adults. The staff and volunteers helped teach the classes. Music programs were incorporated into the schedule. Parenting and film series classes drew as many as 100 persons and was designed as a community outreach series.
In 1984, the name was changed to Wednesdays: Gathered Together, however, the concept was the same to provide inter-age activities for all. In the fall of 1989, the format changed to follow the LOGOS program. Sandi Pote received training in this program. Dr. Ryckman had already received training before coming to Church of the Cross. The name was changed to Wednesdays: Cornerstone Club. The main change was that children and youth involved in the program needed adult sponsors to assist with the many responsibilities associated with dinner. A variety of classes and music activities were offered. This fall, 100-150 persons are enrolled in the activities.
Church of the Cross has always had an outstanding education program to offer to its children and youth. When the church was young our families were younger so the classrooms were filled with many children. It was not unusual to find 30 children listed on a classroom roster. In 1993, our usual classroom roster lists about 18 persons and one class listing 10 members. Our nursery rolls have only 8 infants compared to 30 infants 20 years ago.
The church school classes were offered at the 9:30 and 11:00 hours until 1989 when the 11:00 hour offerings were reduced to child care and preschool class only. Three adult classes were offered with the Adult Bible Class being in existence for over 20 years. The Session changed the schedule to encourage families to worship together at the 11:00 hour.
In April 1993, the Session voted, after congregational "listening" sessions were held to hold a separate church school hour of 50 minutes between 2 worship services beginning in September 1993. This format enables families to worship and attend an educational class without a scheduling conflict. New age groupings in the children's classes and more adult classes are now offered. It is hoped that this will encourage a community of faith to build a stronger faith foundation.
Dr. Kirk Ryckman is now the Senior Pastor of the church. His acceptance of the call as pastor to Presbyterian Church of the Cross was very similar to Dr. Ralph Gerber, he wasn't looking for a change. He accepted the call in 1986 and began serving our church on January 1, 1987. The Ryckman family includes his wife Debbie and two daughters, Kara and Lauren.
In September 1990, a major event was planned by members of our church to honor Kirk and Debbie's 20th Wedding Anniversary. On a Sunday afternoon, there was a knock at their door from Jeff the chauffeur who had precariously edged his stretch limousine into their driveway and asked them to join him for a ride! The stunned family got in the car (later they were not even certain they had locked the house).
After about 40 minutes of touring in style, Jeff brought his limo and the Ryckmans to the American Legion Hall in Millard. Their parents were flown in from Michigan and Missouri. Stories from the past were taped by friends and relatives. Gene Pugh was the Master of Ceremonies. The CrossChords provided songs and fun. Over 300 people shared this celebration and cemented the relationship between their Pastor and his congregation.
The Ryckmans began another tradition in our church with the evolution of the Advent Dinner. For years the church had not had any large scale fellowship events where over 200 attended. In April 1990, the Deacons and Session discussed the desire to make the Advent Dinner an all-congregation event with broad appeal. They determined to involve as many committees in the event as possible to ensure broad participation.
Debbie Ryckman, serving on the Board of Deacons, chaired the first dinner committee. The first theme was: A Williamsburg Christmas. Authentic recipes were gathered for people to prepare. Several traditions of that period were followed, such as the musket-firing, the grand illumination, the burning of the Yule Log (with wishes for the New Year), and a Wassail bowl to gather round.
That December evening in 1990, 5 inches of snow fell, but over 250 people came and enjoyed a wonderful time of singing, eating, and sharing in fellowship. A tradition was born. Since that time we have celebrated "An International Christmas" in 1991, and "An Elizabethan Christmas" in 1992. The Yule Log and the Wassail bowl have remained as constants in these wonderful events.
Another major change that occurred under Dr. Ryckman's leadership involved changes in our governing structure. In the spring of 1987, Art Claus, approached Dr. Ryckman about the viability of combining the Session and Board of Trustees into a single governing board of the church. Kirk was acquainted with the system for it had been in use in two previous churches he had served.
Both boards studied the proposal and in June 1987 it was passed by 2/3 majority of both groups. On Sunday, October 25, a Congregational Meeting was held after the 11:00 service. The following Sunday, November 1, between services, the proposal passed easily after some debate.
The new system brought the function of the Trustees into two standing committees of the Session, the Finance Committee, and the Building and Grounds Committee. It eliminated much duplication and improved communication greatly between the program areas and the financing of the church. The elders on Session form the corporation's Board of Directors for any necessary corporate business.
During 1991 and 1992, we received outstanding support from Rev. Don Klohr as we awaited the call and nomination of our new Associate Pastor.
On November 1, 1992, Presbyterian Church of the Cross, welcomed Rev. Ronnie Osborn as Associate Pastor. His role involves general pastoral duties, evangelism, and involvement with our church youth. The Osborn includes his wife Margaret and one daughter, Bethany, and one son, Jordan.