The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Church holds last service before merger
The final Sunday service for Lorain’s First Congregational Church United Church of Christ was celebrated.
The final Sunday service for Lorain’s First Congregational Church United Church of Christ was held June 25 where parishioners and a few special guests celebrated and honored the church’s 145-year history.
The final service featured remarks by Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer, pastor Jimmy Madsen of Lorain’s First Lutheran Church and longtime First Congregational pastor David Wheeler.
Interim pastor Jim Cunningham related the mixed emotions among the congregation in this transitional period but said he expects most members to join the new merged congregation to be based at the former location of the Amherst Congregational United Church of Christ, 379 S. Main St., in Amherst. The new congregation will be renamed at a later date.
Cunningham has been serving as the preaching pastor of the church for the past three months in this transitional period leading up to the merger following the retirement of previous pastor Karen Farthing.
“The congregation has a proud 145-year history of ministry and service to the community. I am pleased that the newly merged congregations will be based at the Amherst location, have pledged time and resources to continue to minister to people in need in Lorain as well as Amherst,” Cunningham said in a statement.
“It’s good to be together in this sacred space one last time as this chapter closes and we open another chapter,” Cunningham said.
Ritenauer addressed the congregation and issued an
The final service featured remarks by Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer, pastor Jimmy Madsen of Lorain’s First Lutheran Church and longtime First Congregational pastor David Wheeler.
official proclamation by his office.
“I know change is difficult. It’s tough; 145 years of history but in life the only thing that is constant is change and I look out here and see in this crowd what I believe are true believers in the city of Lorain, the spirit of Lorain and what the community has to offer. I believe the faith-based community in this merging as something I hope to work with in the future,” he said.
The main sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, the United Church of Christ Western Reserve Association Associate Minister for Church Vitality and Development. Cunningham said Bates had been a vital consultant to the congregation during the transitional period, and spoke about life, ministry and faith as a journey, leading the congregation toward a new chapter after 91 years at its Washington Avenue location.
Wheeler made a surprise appearance at the final service. Wheeler served as pastor of the church for 11 years between 1991 and 2002.
The church officially closes on June 30 and the first service of the yet-to-benamed new merged congregation will take place July 2 at 379 S. Main St. in Amherst.