United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church

HISTORY OF THE FEDERATED CHURCH

The history of the Federated Church is almost as old as that of Sutton.  The first religious services were held in what is now the park in July of 1871.  They were conducted by a Reverend Jones, a Congregational minister from Iowa, who preached to the few scatted settlers and railroad workers.

In February of 1872, the Congregationalists and Methodists organized a Union Sunday School.  It was quite an active group, presenting concerts, dramatizations, and assembling a library.  At this time, the population of Sutton was about forty.  The Union Sunday School lasted three years.

On May 26, 1870, the Reverend O. W. Merrill, Superintendent of Home Missions for Nebraska, organized the Congregational Church.  There were eight members, and Dr. David B. Perry, who was later to become the first president of Doane College, was the first minister.

There were three unsuccessful attempts to form a Methodist class, but finally, in October of 1874, the Reverend A.J. Swartz organized a permanent class composed of fifteen members.  It is from this time that the founding of the Methodist Church in Sutton is dated.

The first church building erected in Clay County was the Sutton Congregational Church, built in 1875 at a cost of $1500.00.  The Methodists started work on their church in 1876, and, having decided to build with brick, they made their own.  It became known as the Centennial Brick Church because the centennial of the United States was the same year.  Both of these little churches, which were about twenty by forty feet overall, were built during years of grasshopper plagues, poverty, and pioneer hardships.

In 1893, the Methodists built a new church.  The old one had stood on a hill with the parsonage on the south side of it.  This hill was cut down to the present level, and the parsonage was placed on the north side of the new church.  It was quite a large building for that time, with a Sunday School room on each side of the sanctuary, one at the back and a full basement underneath.

By 1904, the Congregationalists also decided that a new church was a necessity, but they were able to make use of their original structure.  The old church was moved to the west on the lot, turned so that it stood in a north-south direction, and the new building was added on the east.  The old part was used for Sunday School classes.  Among the improvements were the stained glass windows.

Both churches were growing in size, but they often had difficulty in meeting expenses.  It was decided that it would be to the advantage of all to unite, and on September 15, 1919, after much work and planning, the Federated Church came into being.  Although the people may not have realized it, in forty-seven years they had come the full circle from the Union Sunday School to a united church.  The church grew steadily from that time on, adding new departments, expanding its work, and increasing the membership.  The congregation met alternately in both churches, first for three and later four months at a time in each church, until the Congregational Church was sold in 1950.  From then until 1964 the Methodist Church building was used.

The last important step in the federation process was taken on May 16, 1949, when the New Articles of Federation were adopted, making the union of the two churches complete. Up to this time there had been Methodist and Congregational church councils and membership rolls.  Now there was a single Federated board and membership roll.  This is the third oldest federated church in the state of Nebraska, but the oldest with the single roll. 

The Sunday School department was the first to feel the crowding caused by growing membership.  Every square inch of the basement was filled with Sunday School classes, and for a time, a small building which formerly housed a gas station, was used for extra classroom space.

In 1954, the congregation voted to build an educational unit.  This was completed at a cost of $50,000 and dedicated in 1955.

The old church was becoming more crowded, and it was increasingly difficult to keep the building in good repair.  On Sunday, May 21, 1961 a special meeting was held at the close of services, and the great majority of those present voted to build a new church.  Later that year, on November 21, another meeting was held at which plans for the proposed church were accepted.

Everyone went to work to raise money for this new church.  Through fund-raising drives, projects undertaken by the Women’s Fellowship and the youth groups, Sunday School contributions, and private gifts, a total of $90,000 was raised in three years.  At last, in the spring of 1964, it was decided that there was enough money on hand to let the contracts.

The last services were held in the old church Sunday morning, May 3, 1964.  The annual meeting of the church was held in the afternoon, and after it was over, nearly everyone who had attended stayed to help carry the small items out of the church, to be stored during the raising of the old and the construction of the new.

On May 17, ground-breaking ceremonies were held following morning worship at the E. U. B. Church, whose members so generously shared their sanctuary with the Federated congregation while they had none.  It was most appropriate that the ground-breaking date fell on Pentecost Sunday.  A box contained in the cornerstone of the old church was opened and inside was found a Testament; several old newspapers; a “History of Clay County,” written in 1876; a brief  history of the Methodist Church in Sutton, written by Mr. Charles Moon, an early settler; a list of donors to the building fund of the 1893 church; a list of members; and a M. E. quarterly conference bulletin.

It was decided not to have a cornerstone in the new church, but instead to place a box of historical items within the wall underneath the case in which the old Congregational communion service is displayed.  This ceremony took place on October 12, 1964.

The history of the true Federation begins with the decision to combine the membership rolls of the Methodist and Congregational members and adopt the articles of Federation on May 16, 1949. The pastor who lead this final step of the combination which began in 1919 was Rev. Max Christopher (1947-1952) who came to us from South Carolina.

To maintain the denominational  ties the number of members was divided in two and half reported equally to the Methodist and Congregational bodies. Mission offerings and denominational assessments go equally to each. Pulpit vacancies are filled alternately by Methodist and Congregational ministers.

Anniversaries of the Federated Church are based on the first merger on September 15, 1919 when the congregations began sharing one minister and moving quarterly to each of the two church buildings for services. In 1950 the Congregational church was sold and onlu the Methodist building was used.

In 1955 a new Christian Educational building was built south of the church. The pastor at the time of this construction was Rev. Arthur Krebbs (1952-1957). Ground was broken on May 17, 1964 for the construction of the new Federated church to be attached to the Education Building. Our pastor at this time ws Rev. Stanley D. Rider (1957-1967). Chairman of the Building Committe was Frederick Bender.

On January 9, 1996, the new debt-free church was dedicated. Speakers were Dr. Fred Register, Minister of the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ and Bishop Kenneth Copland, Bishop of the Nebraska Conferencee of the Methodist Church.

A 50 year Anniversary was celebrated on September 14, 1969 The sermon was given by Rev. Melvin Schroer. Other speakers were Rev. Robert Alpers and Re. Merrill Willi. Our pastor was Walter Bailey (1968-1972). Twenty-eight 50 year members were honored. The anniversary program is contained in a Pictoral Church Directory.

A new Church Directory was published in 1986.

In 1994 a 75th Anniversary was celebrated with past minister Stanley Rider as guest speaker and letters from Rev. Max Christorpher,Rev. Arthur Krebbs, Rev. Walter Bailey and Rev. Bill Keeney printed in the program.

The 125th Anniversary- dating the history of the very beginning in 1872 with a Union Sunday School of Congregationalists and Methodists was celebrated October 12, 1997. The morning message was given byRev. Ron Roemich, a Sutton native and confirmed of the Federated Church. He is now Pastor of First UMC in Kearney. Following a church dinner the afternoon was spent in reminiscing . Many deceased members were remembered. Ron recalled memories of his years in the Federated Church. Correspondence from former pastors was presented.

Our annual fall Mission Auctions became the chief special mission fund raiser early in the 1980's. All members are encouraged to bring food or crafts to be auctioned offwith proceeds going to the mission designated by the Outreach Board. Bill and Heney Bergen were auctioneers with Paula Bergen, clerk.For many years the main attraction was a painting done by Sophia Bergen. The auctions continue to be a fun Sunday every fall; with the proceeds yeilding $1739.00 in 1999.

A new Pictorial Church Directory was published in 1998. At the time assembling the contents of this directory, our pastor, Bill Hardine, collected the birthdays of all members and started the tradition of sending birthday cards from the church. Vacation Bible School has always been a program in the Federated Church. With the decline in numbers of children in the congregation, this activity has been a joint endeavor with other churches, usually Zion Lutheran.

A most unusual program included many Federated families in Setember 1999. The rev. marvin Coffee of Harvard UMC invited us to help host 4 young Russians sent to the United States through the Library of Congress Russian Leadership Program. They arrived in Lincoln September 1 and departed September 11 with two full days of activities planned by a special Federated Committee. Only one, the Interpreter spoke or understood English. They were housed and entertained by Sutton and Harvard families.

Throughout recent years the Federated Church has opened it's doors to several community activities. The Sutton pre-school had it's beginning in the church.

The Fellowship has been used for youth activity after home games.

Classes in English have been taught in the church for our Spanish speaking citizens.

"All Saints Day" On November 5, 2000 those who have been members for 50, 60, 70 years were honored as part of the worship service. The Chaplaincy Board provided certificates as each name was called. Following the service a soup luncheon prepared by the Chaplaincy Board, was enjoyed by the honorees and congregation.

Ken West, our youth leader for many years, desided to enter the ministry. WIth the help from Rev. Jardine, he began his studies and was given charge of the Palmer and Wallbach churches in June of 1998. Rev. Jardine left in June 2001.

The Revs. John and Carol Prochaska became our interim pastors.The Prochaska's encouraged new programs in local ministry. An alternativechurch service was offered for those who were unable to attend regular Sunday morning services. Throughout their service here they helped improve Sutton cooperation of all churches.

On September 11, 2002, two services were provided in the Federated church to commerate the many lives lost in terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The church provided lunch for a noon prigram which included a Bible study of the 23rd Psalm. There was also an evening service. All the community was invited.

 In September 2002 the Federated discontinued sharing out pastor with Salem U.M.C. a separate minister was provided by the Conference. Our pastors has been serving both congrigations since June 1992. Roddy Dunderson was the first to take this added responsibility.

Aproposal by the Building Committe to demolish the Education Building and build an entire new complex, including a new pastors office was defeated at a special congregation meeting October 6, 2002.

Echo Kirk and Megen McElfresh attended "Exploration 2002" in Chicago in November 2002. This is a program for United Methodist youth who are interested in becoming professional ministers.

A Farewell Thanksgiving dinner was served by the Youth Fellowship February 16, 2003 honoring the last Sunday for Rev. John and Rev. Carol Prochaska. About 200 members attended.Conference Minister George Worchester was a guest.

Reverend Martha Nordt preached her first sermon on March 23, 2003. She came to us from Connecticut.

The Youth Group served a welcome dinner after services on March 30, 2003. A question-answer period followed the meal to help us learn more about our new pastor. Members were invited to inspect the progress of the new expanded pastor's office in the Education Building. In May 2003, the Federated Church opened it's web site.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Federated Church is to be committed to Christ.

Our purpose is to:

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