Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church recently celebrated 200 years in the Montgomery County community with a meet and greet, worship service, and celebratory dinner.
The celebration began Sept. 14 as member Tony Gonczarow rang the church steeple bell 200 times calling attention to the historic occasion. The meet and greet homecoming outside barbecue welcomed local present and past congregation members including several from throughout Indiana and as far away as New Hampshire and Texas.
During the Sept. 15 morning worship service the Rev. Carol McDonald, parish associate pastor at Northminster Church in Indianapolis and longtime friend of Wabash Avenue Church, preached the sermon. The Rev. McDonald recalled her original connection to WAPC through her father-in-law the Rev. Wallace McDonald, who served as parish associate pastor. Interim pastor the Rev. Pete Wilkinson and the Rev. Jennifer Burns Lewis, Visioning and Connecting Leader from the Wabash Valley Presbytery, assisted with the special service.
Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton and Wabash College President Dr. Scott Feller brought greetings from the city and college during the banquet following the worship service. Barton noted the importance of the longstanding and continuing tradition to welcome all at Wabash Avenue Church. Feller pointed out that the original Presbyterian ministers who planted the church in Montgomery County were also founding fathers of Wabash College and the congregation continues to be an important church for Wabash students, faculty and staff. Both Barton and Feller emphasized the importance of continuing the relationship among the church, college and community.
Church member Gwynn Wills delighted the attendees with the reading of her original poem “A Church of Two Centuries.” Nanette Kentner, life-long member and church historian, recounted many important highlights she has discovered in her research of the amazing 200-year history with “Thanks for the Memories.” All speakers expressed gratitude for the opportunities to spread God’s love throughout the community and challenged the congregation to reach into the future for the next many year adventures.
It was announced that the book of Memories from the Rev. John VanNuys, former pastor is now available on Amazon. As a memento of the occasion attendees took home a Christmas ornament and cup and saucer from the dinner ware of the originally-named Center Church. Throughout the weekend anniversary committee chairs Susan Rosen and Kentner thanked all who worked for the success of the event, welcomed visitors, and encouraged all to attend Sunday worship services.
WAPC continues its bicentennial celebrations with free Concerts on the Corner in October and November. For more information see the Crawfordsville Yodel site and the church website.
