1864-1880

In the 1860s, the First Presbyterian Church was organized in Okemos. Meeting in the local school under the leadership of the Rev. C.S. Armstrong, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, the Presbyterian Church in Okemos was established in 1864. In 1865, construction of a church building was begun, total cost $2300. Elaine Davis, active in Friends or Historic Meridian, gave information as to the church's location: one half block off Okemos Road (then State Road) and one block south of the Methodist Church. Dedication was in November 1868. Unfortunately, in April 1879, "the society numbered only about ten members, and was not in a flourishing condition."

1963-1967

Rev. Dr. Howard Kehde

The situation was a different situation almost a century later. In the middle of the 20th Century, the Synod of Michigan, anticipating future growth in the area, purchased a six-acre site, which became the location of the present church. Official authorization for the establishment of the United Presbyterian Church of Okemos came in 1963. In August of that year, the Rev. Dr. Howard Kehde was called by the Presbytery of Grand River as the organizing pastor of this new church in Okemos. A manse was purchased at 4461 Arbor Drive. On September 8, 1963, Dr. Kehde preached at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Lansing.

The following Sunday the first service of the proposed church was held in the newly acquired manse. The first baptism, Roger Lyon, occurred on September 22. The congregation quickly outgrew the manse, and services were then held at Okemos High School. There was no organ there, and an interesting tale of those early years has come to light.

The church organ was stored in Wylie & Grace Rutherford's dining room -where double doors made for easy placement and removal. Early each Sunday morning, Dr. Kehde would drive his car, with trailer attached, to the Rutherford's home, and Wylie would put the organ on the trailer for transport to the high school for the service. On one snowy morning, disaster struck as the trailer containing the organ crossed the railroad tracks on Dobie Road. The organ fell off the trailer, and with difficulty, was restored to the trailer by Wylie and Dr. Kehde, who, with the organ, survived the experience. Janne Rutherford, a senior in high school at that time, had been attending Eastminster Presbyterian, and hoped to continue there until her graduation. However, Dr. Kehde asked if she would play the organ. So, in her senior year, Janne changed her plans and played at the organ in the new Presbyterian Church of Okemos.

On August 26, 1963 Daniel DuByne was born, making him the first child born into the new congregation.

In 1963, candlelight Christmas Eve Service took place in the MSU Alumni Memorial Chapel. The church received its name at a congregational meeting on January 29, 1964. In the spring of that year, Maundy Thursday Communion was served in two homes. The first Senior High Retreat occurred in April 1964, at Mystic Lake Camp.

In 1964, an operating budget was proposed, and the first pledge drive was held. On Sunday, May 10, the Service of Organization occurred, as church membership had reached the required 100 members.

The United Presbyterian Church of Okemos was formally constituted at the Eastminster Presbyterian Church of East Lansing. The Commission of the Presbytery consisted of:
· Rev. Edward Brigham, Chairman, Department of Missions
· Rev. John Duley, University Pastor
· Rev. John Fuhrmeister, Pastor, Mt. Hope Church, Lansing
· Rev. Jack Harrison, Moderator
· Rev. Nicholas Kelzer, Pastor, North Church Lansing
· Rev. Robert Moreland, Stated Clerk and Pastor, Eastminster Church
· Rev. Seth Morrow, Pastor, First Church, Lansing
· Rev. Robert Woods, Field Administration, National Missions, Synod of Michigan
· Mr. John Anas, North Church, Lansing
· Mr. Victor Eichhorn, Eastminster Church, East Lansing

One hundred eight people signed the church charter. The Presbytery of Grand River presented the session Record Books as a gift.

May 1964, was a busy month, with many "firsts" for the church -Session meetings, Communicants Class, church picnic, Junior High retreat, and sponsorship of Girl Scout Troop, #433.

The Rev. Dr. Howard Kehde was installed as the first pastor in September 1964. Rev. Dr. Kehde was also a chemical engineer at the Dow Chemical Company. He required only a small salary since he worked part of the week there and was on their payroll. He was able to divide his time between Dow Chemical at Midland and the new church in Okemos. Building Campaign Sunday, December 13, 1964, found the congregation exceeding its pledge goal. Ground was broken for the church building on May 2, 1965, dedication taking place on September 18, 1966.

Tom and Bobbi DuByne were the first youth advisors.  During the 1960s, Sue Wakely, a former Moravian, initiated the annual Agape Feast, The Moravians share hard rolls and coffee during their services. Dave Armstrong adapted the custom for us to use during the Thanksgiving season by sharing fruits and breads from the middle aisle during our service.

Midge Kerr designed and made the Christmas hangings for the front side windows. They were hung in December for many years.

1967-1987

Rev. Ronald P. Byars

The pastoral relationship with the Rev. Dr. Howard Kehde was dissolved on April 9, 1967. The Rev. Paul Hurrell became the first interim pastor. He and the Rev. Fred Graham filled the pulpit from 1967 to 1968, after Rev. Kehde returned to his home in Midland. Rev. Ronald P. Byars was installed on February 1, 1968. The congregation had grown to 275 members.

In the fall of 1969 the church manse was sold. The first Shrimp Boil occurred in the basement of Dave and Jane Armstrong's home on October 18, 1969. The first Hanging of the Greens, to decorate the sanctuary for Advent, was completed on December 4 of that year. This -- and the Shrimp Boil -- became annual events. The first Family Camp was held at Camp Greenwood May 15-17, 1970. The annual Agape Feast became part of the worship service in 1971.

In 1972 Bobbi Bates formes a rhythmic girls choir. The girls danced to scared music such as The Lords Prayer

In June, 1973, a Building Feasibility report showed church needs as follows: Remodel, $20,000; Addition, $42,000-$56,000.

The first secretary, Carol Everlove, was hired on July 31, 1974. The confessions banners and Baptism Font were dedicated. The banners expressed in art form our confessions such as the Apostles Creed. Gratitude was expressed to Gertrude Wilson for her years of service to our Vietnamese families.

1974 The 10th Anniversary was celebrated. Susan Hoenshell Brown was taken under care of the Session as a seminary student.

A Health Fair, the first Mission Trip, was held in the summer of 1976. Members departed for QuaPaw, Oklahoma. That fall a church building addition was approved, and a Building Fund Campaign was overpledged. Dana English was admitted to Yale Divinity School in March, 1977. In the fall of that year Suzanne Hoenshell Brown (Helen Harger's daughter) was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.

In 1977, it was determined that the church expansion would include a Fellowship Hall, classrooms, and kitchen facilities. These completed additions were dedicated on September 24, 1978. In 1978 the church celebrated its tenth anniversary, with 356 members.

The Good Shepherd statue, in the sanctuary, was purchased by the Women's association in March, 1978 with proceeds from a craft sale. The Good Shepherd statue was designed and made by Father Kosiki. a Catholic priest from St. Lucy’s Church in St. Clair Shores. The Yangs, the congregation's first sponsored Laotion family, arrived in the winter of 1980. Suzanne Brown was ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament on June 15, 1980.

The pastoral relationship with Rev. Dr. Ronald Byars was dissolved on August 3, 1980. Rev. Byars had accepted a call to Lexington, Kentucky. Reverend Charles Riddle became the church's interim pastor.

The featured speaker at a Southeast Asia Mission Fair on October 26, 1980, was Sally Wylie. Sally, a sister of member John Wylie, served as a missionary to Thailand.

Rev. Lawrence Farris

The first annual church ice cream social was in 1981. In October of that year Rev. Lawrence Farris was installed as pastor. The Tenebrae Service and a dramatic monologue became features of Maundy Thursday service during Rev. Farris' ministry.

On November 21, 1982, the stained-glass window at the rear of the original sanctuary was dedicated. The window was designed by Becky Kirk and created by Marge Clay, both church members.

The Memorial Fund, a way to lovingly remember friends, was established in 1983, and has enriched our worship all through the years.

In the fall of 1983 the congregation participated in the Ecumenical Parish Program with the Synod of the Covenant. The Rev. Shehadeh and his wife Doris came to our church from the Galilee area of Israel.

The first church deacons were elected on June 3, 1984. Mack Davis and Mark Treweiler organized a liturgist program in February 1985. The OK39ers were established in March of that year, with Bill and Gladys Rieske as leaders. The first Habitat for Humanity program took place in Baldwin, Michigan in August.

By November, 1985, the congregation had paid off the $20,000 mortgage on the Loaves and Fishes House. This project continues to provide overnight shelter for homeless people.

In March, 1986, the Session contracted for the Fowler pipe organ.

A contest was held to rename the church newsletter which was then called The Cedarville Times. Amy Hartsell, one of our older members at that time, suggested the name The Grapevine and was the contest winner. Her prize -- a free subscription to The Grapevine!

The pastoral relationship with the Rev. Lawrence Farris was dissolved on April 21, 1986, when Rev. Farris moved to Princeton, New Jersey, to pursue graduate studies. The Rev. Richard Ainsworth served as interim pastor from fall, 1986, to spring, 1987.

1987-1992

At the annual congregational meeting on January 18, 1987 the church's name was changed to The Presbyterian Church of Okemos. On March 15, 1987, the Rev. Mark Ramsey was called as the fourth head pastor. He was installed on October 11, 1987.

The Fowler pipe organ was dedicated on January 24, 1988 with Ron Roderick leading the choir. Member Beth Weidenaar played a dedication recital.

Mary Vornholdt Groty, a member and elder of the congregation, was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on August 21, 1988 in our sanctuary.

The 25th Anniversary of the church was an ongoing celebration, from September 18, 1988 through May 7, 1989. Each former pastor and his wife was invited to return for a weekend to preach and reminisce. The Rev. Howard Kehde, because of health problems, was unable to return, but his wife Betty joined us for worship on October 23, 1988. Rev. Ronald Byars and Susan came the first weekend in February, 1989. The Rev. Larry Farris and Pat came back the first weekend in April, 1989.

A 25th Anniversary pictorial church directory was printed. Anniversary Minutes for Mission were presented during the worship service each month. Historical Highlights, written as Jeopardy Answers and Questions, appeared in The Grapevine, the monthly church newsletter. A computer-printed time line adorned Fellowship Hall, and was later stored in a photo album. An anniversary quilt was created to depict the ministers and activities of the congregation. Of the 108 charter members, sixteen remained as active members, as of Sunday, May 7, 1989: Sam and June Cryderman; Rose Cheney; George Dike; Tom and Bobbi DuByne; Jan Foster; Les and Peg Horton; Rob Horton; Dorothy Keena; Brenda Lyon; Grace Rutherford; Jill Slocum Tribell; and Charles and Jean Willingham. Deb Borton, Choir Director, composed the 25th Anniversary anthem for May 7. An anniversary cake was served during coffee hour. The Anniversary Committee members were June Cryderman, Elaine Davis, Ron Dorr, Dorothy Keena, Gene Sherrod, Ruth Worthington, JoAnn Rinehart, chair and Mark Ramsey, pastor and ex-officio member.

Rev. Catherine Rutledge-Gorman

Church membership now approached 500, so additional pastoral support was needed and desired. On April 30, 1989, the Rev. Catherine Rutledge-Gorman was called as the first Associate Pastor, and was installed on September 24, 1989.

In February, 1990, Kevin Bowling visited Central America as Chair of a Presbytery of Lake Michigan Task Force. In the spring, a group from our church started to build a Habitat for Humanity house, working with other churches in the area.

Several times throughout the years, STAT auctions were held at church. STAT means Service, Time, And Talent, and the auctions involved many members of the congregation, who made interesting donations which were sold at auction. Baked items, knitting, child care, yard work, house cleaning, pool parties, tours to area places -- the list of donations was varied and a generous giving of self. Proceeds from the auctions, which amounted to thousands of dollars, were contributed to Habitat for Humanity.

Another mission project of the church going on during this period and continuing today, is the donation of used postage stamps. All kinds of stamps, ordinary and commemorative, are collected in a container at church, then sent to a church in Washington, D.C. There they are sorted for collectors, giving employment to handicapped people. In 1990 special projects included the recycling of foam cups to Dart Container, and white paper products to Allied. Many outside groups continued to use our church facilities.

Joy Arnold, who had been church secretary, retired in 1990. She was replaced by Jo Bartha, who did an excellent job for many years.

Elliott Scott

Catherine Gorman who had been serving as our first Associate Pastor left in July 1991. She and Mark Rutledge were married in 1990. From August 1991 until July 1992, Elliott Scott was with us as an intern. He came from Union Seminary in Virginia. He thanked the Okemos Presbyterians "for showing him much about being part of the body of Christ."

During this time period the church had undergone a building renovation and expansion. New offices were built, the sanctuary was renovated, and new classrooms were also constructed. The church library was moved from shelves in the back of the sanctuary to a special "home of its own." Located in the new education wing, the church library was made possible because of the Susan Lorenz Memorial Church Library Fund. Susan had been a part of the church all her life, and died unexpectedly at the age of 14.

As the congregation grew, a sense of friendship and community was maintained by social activities. Many of these became annual events - round robin dinners, church picnic, ice cream social, and the Christmas Wassail. The after-church coffee hour continued each week.

1992-1997

Rev. Janice West

At a congregational meeting in July, 1992, it was voted to call the Rev. Janice West to fill the position of Associate Pastor, to begin on September 1, 1992. In her first annual report, at the January, 1993 meeting, Janice stated that she continued to gather history and tradition as she looked forward to the future which we, as God's people, can have together. When she wrote the report, she stated that she had been with us only 142 days!

In 1993 the Deacons initiated the Stephen Ministry. Four members of the congregation received the two-week training, and nine members were commissioned in March, 1994. The Stephen Ministry was to be an extension of pastoral care.

In September of 1993, the Sunday schedule was expanded to include 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Education hour, for all ages was then scheduled for 9:45 a.m.

A new mission endeavor in 1992-1993 was the hosting of guests from the Lansing Area Rotation Sanctuary (LARS). Clothing drives, for winter and summer items, Personal Needs Closet for Advent House, and food collections on the 3rd Sunday of every month continue as ongoing mission projects. Many members of the congregation have participated in Crop Walk throughout the years. Contributions to walkers, and feeding them at the end of the walk, have been activities that involved many church members.

On June 12, 1994, a congregational meeting was called. The purpose of the meeting was to act on the request of the Rev. Mark Ramsey that his pastoral relationship with the congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Okemos be dissolved so that he could accept a call to a church in Denver, CO.. The Rev. Janice West would serve as Moderator of the Session until a new head of staff could be found. In August, a Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) was elected. Rev. Fred Graham was hired to serve as Transitional Pastor. Rev. Graham left as interim in January -- his last sermon was on December 31, 1995. The Pastoral Nominating Committee continue to meet, asking for the congregation's prayers and continuing support. In June of 1996 Rev. Ronald Allin came to serve as Interim Pastor, giving leadership during the summer. On July 19, 1996 church members received a letter, good news from the PNC; the Rev. Dr. Robert T. Carlson, Jr. had been called to serve as head of staff for the Presbyterian Church of Okemos. A reception to meet the Carlson family was held on August 3, and Rev. Carlson preached on August 4. Rev. Carlson began his ministry with us on September 15, 1996.

Rev. Dr. Robert Carlson

 

1998-2003

2004-present