2002 Events

This page includes information and pictures about events that either took place at First Presbyterian Church or involved members or supported organizations in 2002.  Please contact Susan Miller at 630-682-0108 or by email at GGM81@aol.com with any items and photos you would like to contribute.

Past events from 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 are also online, as well as upcoming events for adults and for youth.  Some information and photos about events prior to 2002 can be found in our Church History Section.

December 29, 2002 - Denny, Debby, Kate, and Pete Lawson provided the music during both of our morning worship services.

December 24, 2002 - Photos are online from our Christmas Eve Intergenerational Worship Service, which was held at 5:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center. Photos from the 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service and other photos from our advent services can be found on our 2002 Advent Music page.

December 15, 2002 - Partners in Pathways presented “Crusades, Constitutions and…Chaos,” a spirited discussion by historical celebrities - Eleanor of Aquitaine, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Abigail Adams, Ned Chapman and Jules Henri Poincare - in the Ministry Center at 10:00 a.m. Both the 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. worship services included a men's chorus conducted by Paul Burgess. Our Logos children also provided music, with kindergarten through first grade at the 8:45 service, and grades 2-3 at the 11:15 a.m. service. Photos of the men's choir and both children's choirs are online.

December 8, 2002 - Members and visitors enjoyed fellowship, music, refreshments, and information at our Pathways Third Annual Christmas Festival in the Ministry Center. Our advent music celebration, "Waiting With Wonder: Celebrating With Music," was held the same day during the 8:45 and 11:15 worship services.

December 1, 2002 - Our Genesis Girls Choir sang at both the 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. worship services, and photos are online.

November 28, 2002 - First Presbyterian members shared their Thanksgiving with about 80 Navy recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

November 24, 2002 - Our Genesis Guitars Group played during the 11:15 worship service.

November 17, 2002 - In observance of national Donor Sabbath, we had a memorabilia table in the rotunda to honor those whose lives have been touched by the gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation.

November 7, 2002 - Alberta Adamson, the Executive Director of the Wheaton History Center and a well-known Wheaton historian, gave a slide show presentation of the last 100 years of Wheaton's history, progress and change. The intergenerational audience thoroughly enjoyed the fascinating hour she spent with us, and some even remembered and reminisced about our town's historical highlights. Alberta said that our church is one of the few churches in Wheaton of which the Wheaton History Center has no pictures in their archives. She would very much appreciate it if any of our members would send her pictures and/or a history of the church c/o the Wheaton History Center, 606 North Main Street, Wheaton, IL 60187. We are also interested in adding more church history information and pictures to our website.

November 4, 2002 - A flu shot clinic was held in the Ministry Center, with flu and pneumonia shots administered by CNS Home Health Care staff RNs. An annual flu shot is recommended for everyone 50 years of age or older, residents of long-term care facilities, those with chronic medical conditions, and caretakers of young children.

November 3, 2002 - Denny Lawson hosted the annual fifth grade "Breakfast at Denny's," and pictures are now online.

October 20, 2002 - Our Mission Fair was held in the Ministry Center at 10:00 a.m., where the many in attendance could learn more about each of our mission partners and what volunteer efforts are needed in our community. Pictures from the event and additional information about our mission partners is available on the website. A farewell reception for Pastor Pamela Gilbert was held in the Son-Light Rotunda following the 11:15 a.m. service to thank her for her nearly four years as a minister at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton.

October 19, 2002 - Oktoberfest was celebrated in Stewart Hall, sponsored by Friends Across the Generations, with attendees enjoying root beer, brats, games, and fellowship.

September 29, 2002 - Members and friends of First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton had the privilege of attending a presentation by and reception for Father Elias Chacour followed by an organizational meeting of the local chapter of Pilgrims of Ibillin, and an audio CD of his talk is available in the church library. Father Chacour is the founder of Mar Elias College, now known as Mar Elias Educational Institutions, a school that brings together Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Druze students in a situation where peace is demonstrated daily in a learning situation. His work in Galilee, just a few miles from the boyhood home of Jesus, has brought Father Chacour international acclaim, including three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

September 21, 2002 - Contemporary Worship Seminar - Worship leaders, including musicians, vocalists, speakers, ministers, members of the worship planning committee and audio video ministry committee, and other church members enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the exciting concept of Emerging Worship from pastor and musician, Ron Rienstra, held at First Presbyterian Church.

September 8, 2002 - Pres Fest 2002, our annual all-church picnic sponsored by the Deacons, was enjoyed by all on Homecoming Sunday. Children's games began in the Ministry Center at 3:00 and were enjoyed by both kids and adults.The picnic portion of the event was held in Stewart Hall and provided an opportunity for fun and fellowship with others in the congregation as well as delicious food and great music provided by our Praise Band. The highlight of the party was the recognition of Pastor Kate Lindberg's ten years of service at First Presbyterian Church with a program that was a light hearted spoof of Kate's desire to "Have a Ball."

September 7-8, 2002 - Moses Hogan was the featured guest clinician at the Westminster Choir Retreat held at First Presbyterian on - Saturday, September 7, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. In the world of 20th and 21st century choral arrangers, the name of Moses Hogan belongs right at the top of the list. Moses George Hogan, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, has earned an international reputation as one of America's most gifted pianists, conductors, and arrangers. His contemporary choral settings of spirituals and other works have been praised by musicians and musical organizations across America. Audiences have responded with standing ovations upon hearing these unique and sensitive arrangements. Moses Hogan also joined us in worship on Sunday morning, September 8, conducting our choir in his arrangements of "This Little Light of Mine," "Good News, The Chariot's Comin'," "Steal Away," "Walk Together, Children," and "Abide with Me."

September 2, 2002 - A busload of people from First Presbyterian Church enjoyed the Ravinia Festival Orchestra's patriotic performance of "An American Salute"conducted by Erich Kunzel on Monday, September 2, 2002, as well as a picnic supper at Ravinia Park.

August 2, 3, and 4, 2002 - The Fantasticks, First Presbyterian's second annual summer musical production, was enjoyed in the Ministry Center. The show, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, is a playful variation of the Romeo and Juliet theme, and was under the direction of Keith deBolt and Jean Spyksma.

July 21, 2002 - A good time was had by all in attendance at our church picnic sponsored by Friends Across the Generations.

June 25-28, 2002 - Marketplace 2002 was the theme for Vacation Bible School held at First Presbyterian Church for children entering 4-year-old preschool through grade 6, and lots of pictures are online!

June 8-15, 2002 - WF Mission Trip - Sixty seven youth and adults travelled to Red Lake, Minnesota, for a week of mission work on the Red Lake Nation Indian Reservation, and a lot of pictures and more information are online.

April 28, 2002 - On Youth Sunday all three services were conducted by the high school students of First Presbyterian Church. The Confirmation Class of 2002 was welcomed at the 8:45 service, and our graduating seniors were blessed at the 11:00 service. A drama, The Hiding Light, was presented at the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services. Photos are online.

April 27, 2002 - Building Habitat Homes - The First Pres team of "carpenters" worked on two Westmont duplex homes alongside some of the future homeowners who were accumulating work hours. Our eight volunteers (Ed Ballard, Rich Cline, Scott Coulter, Ken Creighton, Jon Gripe, Matt Gripe, Dick Mitchell, Peter Richey, and Rob Tillman), under the direction of professional carpenters, completed tile grouting; trim nail setting, caulking and priming; and vinyl siding work on the two new duplex homes. It was a great chance to learn new skills while doing God's work and meeting the future homeowners. Click on the link above for photos.

April 7, 2002 - New members were welcomed into our church family at the 11:00 a.m. service and at a reception in our Son-Light Rotunda following the service.

March 28, 2002 - On Maundy Thursday we had a Living Last Supper and Holy Communion worship service at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary, which included a dramatic presentation of the Last Supper, bringing to life DaVinci's painting of the event, and helping us actually participate with Jesus and the disciples in Communion.

March 17, 2002 - Children from kindergarten through Grade 5 presented the musical "Bones" at both the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services. The musical is based on the scripture in Ezekiel when the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised them a brighter future - and that God would be their God forever. Children will be shared songs as a choir and also with solo voices, as well as provided all the narration, and some of the songs included choreographed dances.

March 10, 2002 - Our worship services included a dramatic interpretation by church members of John 9. Music was provided by BWANA (the band) with Jay Albert, Doug Boyd, Dave Nielsen, and Charlie Scarlett on guitars; Glauber Ribeiro on flute; drums by Scott Albert; praise singers, Jan Barlow, Donna Beering, Nancy Goodwin, and Sharon Urban; a girls' trio composed of Alissa Golden, Katy Collis, and Stephanie Werly; soloist, Natalie Self; accompanist, Kim Self; and Kristen Burge on clarinet. Pictures from this service are online.

March 3, 2002 - Children from the Genesis youth group participated in worship leadership at the 11:00 a.m. service, providing a dramatic interpretation of John 4:5-42 about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, and shared their talents in performances by the bell choir, guitar players, recorder players, choir, and soloists.

March 1-2, 2002 - The First Presbyterian Church Men's Retreat was held at McDonalds Lodge, Oakbrook, Illinois, giving participants the opportunity to enjoy fellowship with each other and with their special guest E. Bernard Franklin, Team Chaplain of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.

February 3, 2002 - Members of the First Presbyterian Church Clown Team did a great job presenting a skit about the Beatitudes during the childrens' worship time and also to the grades 4 and 5 Sunday School classes on February 3, 2002. The clown team is composed of Genesis youth, grades 6-8, who have been working in drama on doing a clown ministry in the Worship Skills part of LOGOS.

January 19, 2002 - Building Habitat Homes - The First Pres team of "carpenters" worked on two Westmont duplex homes alongside a Methodist team and some of the future homeowners who were accumulating work hours. Our seven volunteers (Ed Ballard, Roger Cheairs, Tim Maloney, Dick Mitchell, Fred Rosen, Peter Richey, and Steve Timmer), under the direction of professional carpenters, completed framing and exterior wall work on the two new duplex homes. Having had a rewarding experience they asked for a chance to have another go at it on another phase of the construction.

January 11-13, 2002 - Youth from our Genesis program attended a retreat at Timber-Lee Christian Center, and photos are online.