CHURCH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION - "Celebrating Our Past, Believing In Our Future" - We are celebrating our first hundred years as a Presbyterian church with events lasting throughout the 2008-2009 program year (September 2008 - April 2009).  First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton was accepted as the 100th congregation of the Chicago Presbytery on April 20, 1909.

As part of our Centennial Celebration we're sharing some brief nuggets of various families' favorite church memories.  Just click here for information about how to have your family's favorite moments in your history with the church added to the website for others in our church family to enjoy.

Memories from Andie and Jeff Alvis

Our family has had a long tradition with 1st Pres.  Andie grew up in the church along with her brother, Jim, and her parents, Dote and Ralph Raddatz.  Andie was baptized when she was 7 by Dr. Cecil Lower and has enjoyed a strong connection with the church, having served as a deacon and helping me out occasionally with 5th Sunday ushering duties.  Dote, at 89, lives with us and remains somewhat involved with church thanks to the kindnesses of her friends, who bring her to a circle meeting or luncheon. 

Andie and I were married in the church by Reverend Bob Christ on March 1, 1980, on a cold but beautiful day.  Our three girls, Lindsay (now 26), Lauren (24), and Katie (23), were all baptized at 1st Pres by various pastors who were serving at the time.  I’ll always remember standing up there, usually holding one or two of them – and hoping they wouldn’t cry – as we were led through the ceremonies.  It was always comforting to look out in the pews and see so many friendly, warm faces that we knew were going to help us raise our family in the church.

Our kids went through the usual Sunday School, pre-school, and youth programs; and we are very grateful for the wonderful teachers and parents who volunteered their time to help them gain a spiritual footing.  It was in the mid-90’s, though, that our bond with the church really grew.  We were very fond of Doug Brouwer and the enthusiasm he brought to the congregation and, in particular, the rejuvenation of the youth program through Shelley Iliff and Diane Slocum.  While Andie and I were somewhat involved, it was the deep commitment of Lindsay (and later Lauren and Katie) to WF that brought us much closer to the church.

Throughout our girls’ teen years, I was able to be a volunteer “adult leader” for WF.  I always joked with Diane that I was asked because they needed a “token heathen” to balance the others in leadership.  However, that experience really changed my life.  There were several mission trips to different parts of the country and the camaraderie each Sunday with the kids and the other leaders – Sue Massaro, Gary Graham, Barb Gassensmith, Sandi Gifford  – and countless others who went along on various trips.  I’ll never be able to thank Doug and Diane for the many talks that clarified and solidified my spirituality and helped me grow in so many ways.  Mostly, though, I’ll always be in debt to the WF kids for what they taught me about sacrifice, compassion, caring, and giving of themselves to others.  It was truly a great time for me and the rest of our family who all were involved with WF in a meaningful way.  Finally, I was fortunate enough to be part of the Transitional Housing ministry for a few years and work at PADS on a few occasions.  Again, each experience was very fulfilling for us and testament to the many missions available at 1st Pres.

Andie’s favorite time was that spent as a Deacon.  She was able to meet and serve many in the congregation and develop wonderful friendships with her Deacon colleagues.  The only dark moment was when she and Robb Frank, after several warnings – were  scolded for excessive talking in the Quiet Room at the Cenacle House during one of the retreats.  If you know either of them, you’ll know they richly deserved it.

Now we are helping to execute the final stages of the Centennial Celebration.  Andie and I feel it’s the least we can do to pay back a small bit of the blessings we have received from the church and all of the wonderful people who have passed through our lives.

Memories from Edwin Tweedie

Edwin Tweedie was baptised at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton in 1921.  At that time the church was located in its prior building at the corner of Hale and Seminary Streets in Wheaton.  Dduring the 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services on January 25, 2009, Ed shared some of his memories of the old church building and the people involved with the church in the 1930's and 1940's.  Robb Frank is the person introducing him. Just click on Edwin Tweedie's Memories to listen to them in mp3 audio format.

A Centennial Moment from the
Joseph and Wilson Families

This photo, taken in the rose garden, is of the family and friends who were present at the baptism of Rachel Elizabeth Wilson on September 26, 2004.  Rachel is the daughter of Meghan and Caleb Wilson, who were married at First Pres on April 8, 2000, and is the granddaughter of Marty and Betty Joseph.

Centennial Moments from Cindy Heisler

Cindy Heisler presented her memories of First Presbyterian Church, her Church Home, during the 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Good Morning!  I’d like to share a story of changes and constants.  Unlike your other Centennial speakers, I have only been a member since 1977, when I decided to end our stalled search for a church home.  After a few visits including ones where we sat in the choir loft (now the balcony) in front of the occasionally functioning organ, Tom Tewksbury pointed to where one would meet the elder to join.  After my letter of transfer came, I was told to come for the Maundy Thursday service to join the church just as 15 years earlier when my communicants’ class had joined our church on Maundy Thursday. 

My then-perfect life deteriorated rapidly as my beloved mother-in-law died the Sunday after Easter.  I was forced to resign my job as a school social worker due to lies about my work.  My new pastor, Dr. Lower, announced his retirement.  As I worked through the grief, Margaret Fox, director of Christian Ed., and others quickly put me to work.  I developed new skills cutting communion bread into cubes and getting most of the juice into those tiny cups as well as raising funds for the new organ.  I taught Bible school outdoors at an apartment complex in South Carol Stream.  Now we have Outreach Community Center and a roof and much more!  Working with Junior High youth on Sunday evenings, with all normal kids (now parents) that did not need my professional skills, I learned to make super haunted houses in Margaret’s basement in the little manse north of Madison Street that has been transitional housing.  I found UPW and modeled a dress that I had just made in a fashion show for only home-made fashions.  I found Dorcas Circle, which is now Hannah. 

When I showed my father-in-law my new church I learned that he had worked for the Dunbars as their tree surgeon and knew our trees.  The summer of 1978, our first child, Chris was born, just after Bill Harvey came as pastor. When Chris was 6 weeks old, my father-in-law, who had seen the baby just a couple of times, became catastrophically ill.  While John’s dad was in the ICU for his last 2 weeks of his life, you took care of our new baby often.  That winter John did not realize he sold the home his family had owned for 50 years to Jeanette and Ernie Ritchie’s son, Glenn, who had grown up in this church.  That winter I became a deacon and began 6 years on the board of the Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling center then located in the basement at the Congregational church in Glen Ellyn before the years it spent in our big manse.

A group, which Barb Triebes named the “Pause that Refreshes” began.  We met weekly for prayer and study, always praying for the church and a long list of people.  When the church had a deep division among professional staff, we decided we were going to stay expecting a time when the staff would work well together again as it has since.  We learned from Jenny Hamilton that praying in a small group drew your spirits together as nothing else can.  Ten years later that group ended, and the members went into the new Stephen Ministry and small group ministries.

Just as Paul Stavrakos came, in the summer of 1980, our son, Chad, was born; and the parish unit was helping me more than I was serving it.  As he learned to walk the next year, he broke his tibia on Labor Day weekend and the femur of the other leg 2 weeks later.  We had a baby in the hospital in traction and a 3-year-old in preschool.  Pause and my circle came through, but at the point where Terry Weber was helping with the laundry again, I asked, “How can I ever repay you?”  She said, “You can’t; don’t try; just pass it on.  That is what I am doing.  When the twins were infants all 7 of us got the flu. So many people helped us.  This is what they told me to do.”  So 50 years ago, our congregation was doing what we now call Caritas ministry.

Margaret Fox was tenacious.  She recruited us to play Mary and Joseph after the birth of each of our August babies, just perfect to play baby Jesus by Christmas.  She also convinced me that I could teach a class called “unplug the Christmas Machine,” and then teach a parenting class.  I was asked to be a Pulpit Associate and to be on many committees.  I kept wondering if they were asking the right person.  I finally figured out that you would not criticize how I did it, but help me instead.

You were there for us in countless ways teaching the children not just in Sunday school, Bible school, and preschool but in the public schools as well.  There were countless carpools.  You were part of our vacations coast to coast and birthday parties. You are everywhere in the community:  providing professional services, making UPS deliveries, at workouts, as coworkers and elected officials, and many more.

I found myself UPW president following the tough act of Alice Woodward and Jean Young.  Times were changing; and I presided over the last of our major fund-raiser fashion shows that were followed by afternoon bridge; but the rummage sales remained.  A group wanted to try “mother-daughter” teas, which always included all women due to our liberal adoption policies.

At the end of my 2 and half year presidency, Ester Webster, incoming moderator of the coordinating team, Ann Herndon, Bea Grabowski, and I went off to settle the Civil War at the last Triennium at Purdue.  The larger church had reunited in 1983, but the women had not. I was thrown into the incredible multi-cultural experience of PW in the Presbytery and worldwide.  If you can join us here at our church for the gathering on Saturday, April 25, come see what it is about.

10 years ago, after attending for years, being in a ChristCare group, and working in the crib room, John joined the church.  I went to membership class with him because we did not have them when I came.

Again, you were there to help when my parents were ill with care cards, prayer, and visits. When it was time to bury them, you went with us to their church in extreme weather each time.

John Herndon’s work to get the sound just right for a harpist and the taping in the garden for our daughter’s wedding along with Bill Hamilton’s work to plant the grounds, just right, after the addition are unforgettable.  The guests never knew what the transformation had been except our church friends.  A few years ago when I needed to use a wheel chair even our children eagerly helped.
 
3 years ago, long-repressed memories invaded my brain taking me back to severe child abuse so vivid, I could feel the pain.  I had prayed for remission from fibromyalgia.  The only way out, evidently, was to experience what had entrapped my muscles so they could release.  They did, but the emotional recovery was long.  Every Sunday I would come, and the wonderful music that you make carried me back to my childhood churches with their unconditional love and acceptance that had allowed me to survive.  I had never been able to tell anyone that I was such a naughty girl that I deserved to be beaten so severely by my well-respected mother.  You continued to fulfill their baptismal vows to me, and I can now tell you the good things about my mother and be excited by the tartan heritage that came through her.

Yes, I found a church home, and with it came the church family.  Pat Locke said recently that she did not grow up in the church but she grew up in the church, and we understood.  I could never take you out of my life because you have influenced everywhere in it from the pump in the sump pit to artwork on the highest shelves, recipes to photos, Christmas decorations, my favorite tote bags, even campaign signs in our yard, my memories, my heart, and email.

 After the Kirkin’ of the Tartan, Chad’s girlfriend Amy missed the step as she went into the bright sun from the Narthex.  She fell, but said she never fully hit the ground before she was swooped back up to her feet.   I was not surprised; that is our church.

We never know what pain another has.  Let’s continue to do what you do so well working with the children, for they might not be able to tell you what is happening to them.   Together we can all keep praying, passing it on, and we will keep growing together.  Thank you so much for everything.