THE ORIGIN AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month celebration began as “Black History Week.” It was started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African-American, scholar, educator, and publisher. Mr. Woodson chose the 2nd week of February because it...
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There are so many facets to church life, so many ways to help and be involved. Every person has something to offer to help support Old First, help it run smoothly, and complete the many small details of the work that must be done each week, month, and year to keep the church going! Are...
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Organ Music for August 19, 2018 By Beth Manus Dear Friends, Since I’ll be coming to play organ at Old First on Aug. 19th, I thought I’d share what I hope you’ll find interesting facts about one of the composers whose music I’ll be playing: Felix Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911). Guilmant...
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I’m not sure exactly how it first happened, but Woody began serving as a fill-in during Mindy’s tenure as our Administrator. Maybe it was during one of her sick leaves or just when she took a few days of vacation. But ever since then, and when Teresa was the Administrator...
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Announced by most presidents, June is an entire month of celebrating the outstanding achievements of progress made for Love, Equality, Dignity, and Recognition of same-sex gender and transgender individuals. Most notably, we remember June for the Stonewall Riots, which occurred in...
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In an unanimous vote on Sunday, April 22, the congregation votes to empower the Elders to negotiate a Joint Venture Agreement with Community Ventures as together we further investigate plans to build permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless people on our property along 4th...
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If you want to see some really, really big Christmas trees, go to the display case in the lower narthex and look for two pictures of the chancel from the 1970’s. One year the trees were not only full, they were taller than the balcony railing. Pastor Daehler Hayes headed up a group...
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Our predecessors at Old First were very good at documenting the work of the congregation. More than that, they faithfully moved the records as the church moved from location to location. The most recent move was in 1996 when Old First donated 42 linear feet of records from 1741 to...
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On the bottom of our plain, banged up pewter plate is a touch mark of an eagle within a circle, possibly with the word Federal. This touch mark was one used after the Revolution by William Will, master pewter and member of Old First. An article in The Mirror newsletter states that...
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To understand The Good Shepherd, first we have to talk about St. John’s Reformed Church. St. John’s had as many addresses as Old First…but in a much shorter timeframe. Organized in 1865, the congregation first worshipped in an academy near 35th & Powelton. In 1866 the...
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