Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

July 23, 2008, Page 6

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Neillsville United Methodist celebrates 150 years

The Neillsville United Methodist Church is celebrating 150 years as a congregation.  Part of the celebration will include former pastors taking the pulpit at various times.

Pastor Howard Ott, who served from 1982-1988, will lead worship July 27, (2008).  Pastor John Brouwer, serving the church from 1993-1997, will lead services Aug. 24, (2008).

Granton Worship time is 8 a.m. and the worship time at Neillsville is 9:30 a.m.

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Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

October 1, 2008, Page 2

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

United Methodist Church to celebrate 150 years

By Peter Spicer

The Neillsville United Methodist Church will celebrate its 150^th anniversary Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

United Methodist Church of Wisconsin District Superintendent the Reverend Ann Spindt-Henschel of Janesville will speak at the special service.

Special music will take place.  A meal will follow the service at the church, which was Neillsville’s first congregation.

The 150^th Anniversary Committee planned the service; committee members include Kathy Brugger, JoAnn Wren, Patty Hanuszczak, Marilyn Marty and Pastor Dong Su Lee.

The church, which was founded in 1858, currently serves 101 members.  The current church building was constructed in 1895 at the corner of Fourth and Court Streets; a Fellowship Hall was added to the building in 1970.  The church’s first building was constructed near the same location in 1869.

The church began as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, pictured in 1906, and held that name until 1939.

A youth group, Sunday school program and nursery school are among the programs the church offers.  The church also has a Korean exchange program in which church members host Korean students who visit for one month each winter from January to February.

The Neillsville Nursery School has been at the church for 25 years.  The church hosts a Tuesday morning Bible study open to anyone and also has salad luncheons and other fundraisers.

Addie Drescher and Viva Gress are the congregation’s longest-attending members. Drescher has attended for 62 years; Gress has attended 74 years.

Committee members Brugger, Wren and Hanuszczak each have attended over 50 years. 

The Reverend James Cady became the church’s first minister in 1858, and 46 other pastors have led the congregation since.  Dong Su Lee has pastored at the church for three years.

The church has changed its name three times over the years.  The church was known as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858.

When several branches of Methodism merged, the church became the Methodist Church in 1939.

In 1968, the Methodist Church joined with the Evangelical United Brethren to become the United Methodist Church.

Neillsville’s United Methodist Church will celebrate its 150^th anniversary Sunday, October 5, with a guest speaker, special music and a lunch following the service (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)