During this time, we redecorated our sanctuary. Mr. Oliver Zank, Fairchild, tiled the ceiling and paneled the walls. Tinted glass was installed in the windows. We were very well pleased with the improvements.

The Consistory was re-organized in 1969. The name was changed to Church Council. The Council membership is made up of six men, three women, the pastor, the financial secretary and treasurer and the recording secretary. The two secretaries are elected annually. The other member are elected for three-year terms and may served no more than two terms consecutively. Only one member of a family may be elected to serve at the same time. The first ladies to serve were: Emma Theiler, Iva Kubaskie, and Verna Flood. Verna was appointed Recording Secretary so Delores VanKirk was appointed to fill her vacancy. Leona Krumholz was elected to continue her position as Financial Secretary and Treasurer.

St. John’s United Church of Christ was officially yoked with the United Methodist churches of Fairchild and Humbird in 1969 to make a three point charge. The Reverend Ralph Walker left us at this time and Wayne Lura, wife, Pat, Wayne, Jr., and Lisa took up residence in the Fairchild parsonage. He came here from Ashland.

By becoming a three point charge, we felt we could support a resident pastor.

We decided to grant Emma Gerber a life lease on the parsonage because we felt we would not be having a full-time pastor in the near future. She assumed custodial duties for the church and we gratefully acknowledge her devoted service.

On May 16, 1969, Freida Zerbel deeded lot 5, Block X of the Village of Humbird for proposed additional parking space. We commend Freida for this gift of love.

Art Christian and the Lanscaping, Roads and Grounds committee volunteered to brush out the roadway on the newly acquired Zerbel lot. Cliff Walker helped to clear out and level the road and parking space with a bull-dozer loaned to the church by Warren VanKirk. Work on the project failed to progress, but Art and his committee continue to work faithfully to keep the underbrush and grounds attractive.

At the Annual Meeting held January 11, 1970, a new constitution was adapted under the name of St. John’s United Church of Christ of Humbird, Wisconsin. The new constitution was patterned after the constitutions of the United Church of Christ, but retained most of the guidelines contained in the first constitution originally written in German and translated in the arly years of this century. The Consistory of six plus the pastor was enlarged to a Council of nine plus two elected church officials and the pastor. The Council has the responsibility of appointing the Church School Superintendent, Youth Fellowship Sponsors, Choir Director, and Organist, and the following committees: Christian Education; Music Fellowship & Hospitality & Visitation; Landscaping, Roads & Grounds; Building; Memorial & Sanctuary; Auditing. The committees assist with definite parts of the church work and report to the Council.

The work of renovation continued in 1970. The kitchen was remodeled and enlarged, the church was rewired, the bathrooms and sewage system were installed. During Wayne’s pastorate, a very active Youth Fellowship was organized embracing all faiths and limiting membership to high school age.

The congregation was very happy with the evidence of God’s blessings as the many projects were completed. We were pleased to receive recognition by the association for meeting the annual benevolence assessments from 1962-1970.

The Reverend Wayne Lura left us at the end of May, 1971, to accept a call to the Congregational Church of Bloomer and to continue his schooling. He plans to graduate in another year.

Through the assistance of the two association ministers, the Reverend James Savides,

U.C.C., and the Reverend Dean Irish, U.M.C., we welcomed Harold Kirkpatrick, wife, Betty Lou, and children, Dean, Mike , Tom, and Kathy from the Arkansaw-Durand charge as our new minister. He resided at Fairchild and served the three point charge. He instituted family night programs which were very enjoyable.

The back driveway and parking lot were blacktopped in 1971 and 1972 respectively. It was at this time that we were assessed and paid a property tax of $40 for the parsonage.

The Trinity Board was founded in 1972. Through cooperative efforts of this board, the three churches have found it easier to work together more closely. The Trinity Board consists of three members each of St. Johns and Fairchild, U.M.C, and two members from Humbird, U.M.C. A Trinity fund was set up to defray costs of office expenses, printing bulletins, etc., at a monthly charge to each church.

Harold resigned effective June 1, 1973 and moved to Eau Claire. The Association ministers, Jim Savides and Roy Deming recommended the Reverend Otas Botts to fill the three point vacancy.

Ministerial students, under the direction of pastors appointed by the Association, gained pastoral experience at St. John’s during 1967-1973. The church welcomed the opportunity to work with these young men. After 1970, because of a combination of circumstances, the congregation regrets to report that it did not meet all of the Benevolent assessments.

The reverend Otas Botts, and wife, Pauline, came to us from Wisconsin rapids and resided in Fairchild. Their son, Peter, has been assistant in the Youth Fellowship program.

A new organ was purchased this year. The Sunday School rooms were carpeted to cut down the noise factor. The sanctuary received new carpeting and a new main entrance door. The walk and steps were repaired or replaced and a new piano was purchased.

The wives or our clergymen must not be forgotten. They often taught Sunday School, helped in the Women’s Guild, sang in the choir, shared their problems, and were as dedicated as their husbands in carrying out the work of the Lord.

The members of the church have always taken their duties very seriously and have given their time and effort to take care of the church bus8iness. Problems caused by inflation, decreasing numbers of ministers, the international and national trend away from church attendance and support have had to be faced by our church leaders. Without the dedicated services of these leaders we would not have been able to keep our church in existence.

Committees and organizations and all the members of the congregation have taken an important part in the perpetuation of this wonderful church which was established seventy-five years ago.

The members who have served in the capacity of custodians contributed invaluable service. Names we remember are: Mahlon Lund, John Michael, William Theiler, Sr., Kalman Theiler, Henry Collins, Lee Terrell, Emma Gerber and Archie Kirby.

There is no general category for most of the faithful people who have kept the of light this church burning brightly. They include all of those who provide the small services that are not noticed unless left undone--such as the boys who shovel the snow, the children who clean up the grounds each spring, the acolytes, the mite-givers--truly they give more than all the rest. Because of these faithful people, our Lord continues to bless this church with His presence and to use it to witness in this part of His vineyard. May each of us inspire those who follow---that they may in their turn carry on where we leave off.

This quarter century was marked by many tests of our faith. The Lord sent us many experiences to help us realize how powerless we are to deal with problems until we come to Him admitting that we cannot accomplish anything in our own strength. As the Israelites returning from their captivity in Babylon found means and strength to rebuild the temple and the wall, God has repeatedly restored our faith and our beloved church through means that were not visible to us. As

we continues to worship at St. John’s let us continue to pray and to sing--

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God Praise Him with the timbrel and

In his sanctuary: praise him in dance: Praise him with stringed

The firmament of his power. Instruments and organs.

Praise Him for His almighty acts: Praise Him upon the loud cymbals:

Praise Him according to His excellent praise Him upon the high sounding

Greatness. Cymbals.

Praise Him with the sound of the Let everything that hat breath

Trumpet: Praise Him with the psaltery Praise the Lord. Praise ye the

And harp. Lord!

PSALM 150