Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsMonday, March 31, 2008 2:54 PM CDT
Comments Comments (0) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
134-year-old University Christian Church holds last service
By Bridget Flynn
bflynn@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

NORMAL -- Members of University Christian Church in Normal have heeded the book of Ecclesiastes and decided that it is time for their church, which was formed in 1873, to close.

Rev. Beth Dobyns, Acting Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin, read the Biblical verses Sunday afternoon in the last service to be given in the church, which has closed due to a low membership. The building will be sold to JSM Properties, who will build a residential/commercial building.

“In choosing this time, they (the church) have capitalized on the changing nature of ‘Uptown Normal,’” she said.

Pastor Pat Meyers, after asking the congregation to pray for several groups, including Jackson Boulevard Christian Church in Chicago, who are to receive items from the church, said “Pray for a truck that can carry these 18-feet pews,” referring to the fact that they have not yet found a means of transportation for the pews.

Members read aloud their “last will and testament” at the end of the service. The largest portion of the estate, $800,000, will go to the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin, Regional Committee for the Establishment of New Churches. A gift will be given to the Joyful Gospel Church for the retirement of their property mortgage. Donations will also go to local agencies such as Jesus Coffee House, Recycling for Families, The Baby fold, Clare House and Home Sweet Home and Safe Harbor missions. Annual support will go to First Christian Church of Bloomington and Centennial Christian Church.

Gary Kidwell, president of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ Foundation, which will be distributing the funds, told the congregation the foundation will be “stewards of (their) legacy”

James Turner Jr., a pastor who has been a member of the church, spoke to the congregation about its history. He related the story of their youth group, with the help of a Sunday school teacher, Aileen Forster (who is Turner’s mother-in-law), requesting that the board allow them to have a dance in the church basement.

“Don’t expect to hear classical music,” Turner quoted Forster as telling the board.

“There’s something about this congregation that raised youth who like to challenge things,” he said.

Several members solemnly brought items such as candles and a hymn book to the altar and deposited them in a container.

“It (the church’s closing and donations) feels like the right thing to do,” said Wendy Aur of Normal,

Aur’s, son, Travis, 12, symbolically snuffed out candles on the altar at the end of the service with the help of his cousin, Taylor Gramley, 8.

“I feel good about knowing that the right thing was done,” Meyers said after the service.

Turner reminisced with Mark Wade, whose mother, Marjorie Wade, 94, has had the longest-running membership of the church. She was baptized in the church in 1914, and attended a morning service Sunday.

Turner said the church at one time had “the most rip-roaring board meetings you ever saw.” He attributed the closing of the church to the loss of certain board members.

“I see the slow decline starting when the shakers and movers became mobile and moved out and left,” he said.

They spoke of Corson O’Brien, pastor from 1948 to 1967. Wade remembered O’Brien being devastated when they heard in the sanctuary of John Kennedy’s death.

“Other than my father, he (O’Brien) was one of those people who had a major influence on my life,” said Wade.

Take a look
University Christian Church, held its last service Sunday afternoon. The church will be demolished after items in the church have been removed for use at other churches and non-profit organizations. Attendees released balloons after the service as a symbolic releasing of the church and moving on with their faith journey. (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (March 30, 2008)
University Christian Church, held its last service Sunday afternoon. Members including Don Merritt stood to read the will of the church, passing on items in the church to other churches and non-profit organizations. (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (March 30, 2008)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 0 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy