Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co., WI

March 11, 2009, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

UCC Celebrates 50 Years

Neillsville United Church of Christ began celebrating 50 years in September and continues into April.

By Peter Spicer

Neillsville’s United Church of Christ (UCC), located at 515 West Second Street, began celebrating its 50-year anniversary last fall and continues the celebration through this spring.

The church will hold a special service Sunday, March 15, 2009 where congregants are encouraged to wear clothing from the decade the church was founded in, the 1950’s.

A skit based on a 1950s television show that was hosted by Walter Cronkite, “You Are There,” will be performed that Sunday; a potluck will also be held.

For the celebration, banners and letterhead commemorating 50 years features a logo created by Neillsville School District art instructor Steve Meurett.  The logo features the UCC denomination’s symbol, the cross and an orb and crown, surrounded by two streams flowing together representing the coming together of the two denominations that merged to form UCC in 1959. (see other articles to view the logo)

Since this past fall, UCC presented a visual presentation about the church and invited conference minister Davis Moyer to speak to the congregation.

Zion Evangelical Reformed Church and First Congregational Church came together to form Neillsville’s UCC in 1959 after the UCC denomination was founded in 1957.  Zion Evangelical Reformed Church was founded in 1903; the First Congregational Church began in 1891.

Since 1959, eight pastors have led the congregation; however, the name of the church has stayed the same. Frank Harcey, who was the minister at First Congregational Church at the time of the merger, was the Neillsville UCC first pastor.

Congregants met in the Zion Evangelical Reformed Church building until they began meeting in a newly constructed building in 1967.

Pastor James Mohr has led the congregation for almost nine years after moving to Neillsville from Ripon and has enjoyed watching church members come together for the 50^th-anniversary celebration.

Mohr enjoys the spirit of a small community, in which people from many walks of life often attend the same church.

Of the approximately 350 church members, up to 60 have attended for at least 50 years, said Mohr.

During Mohr’s time at UCC in Neillsville, a new “Resurrection Window” was installed at the rear of the sanctuary, where a variety of worship styles take place.  An elevator and handicap-accessible restroom were also added to the building.

UCC has many activities for those of all ages to get involved in.

Chimers of the Church are a handbell and hand-chime group for youth ages 10 to 15 that plays for the church once each month.

A senior citizens choir sings twice per month for worship on Sundays.

The UCC is involved with the Christmas Angel Project each year to help needy area residents and has held a Holiday Fair since 1964 to raise funds for the church, said Mohr.

A ladies group makes crafts each Wednesday.  A group of seniors meets each Monday to create new greeting cards from old ones and then sells them for 50 cents apiece; the group helped raise funds to pay for a new elevator in the church, which was installed several years ago, said Mohr.

Along with music programs, the church offers other youth programs, such as Sunday school, confirmation classes and youth groups.

Mohr credits congregants in the 1950s for helping create a new church identity from their previous ones in their prior congregations to make the Neillsville UCC a great place to worship.

Pastor James Mohr poses next to pictures of the UCC church and the two churches that merged to form the Neillsville UCC in 1959.

Related Links:

United Church of Christ 50th Anniversary Plans