Gleanings From
In Christian Fellowship
By Shirley Lindahl
Edited by Jerry Rutherford
Early Sixties was a Time of Decision
Since 1948 the proposed merger of the Congregational Church and the Evangelical and Reform Church had been discussed. The original constitution had undergone many revisions. It was suggested by Avis Avey that a panel discuss the present constitution with the church council so that they could make an informed recommendation to the congregation. This was done and on February 26, 1961 the Congregational Church of Kirkland voted to become part of the United Church of Christ and approved the proposed constitution.
Historically, the individual Congregational Churches across the nation had united in 1871 as the National Council of Congregational Churches. In 1924 The Christian Churches merged to form the Congregational Christian denomination. The United Church of Christ came into existence in 1957 and the Congregational and the Evangelical and Reform churches became the first of several to become affiliated.
Noise was on the agenda of a trustees meeting. The reason was that one spring Sunday the worship service had been disrupted by the whine of "go-carts" on the play field of Central School. (Historical tidbit- -Kirkland City Hall was the site of Central School and our sanctuary was at the south end of the building in the area of the Helliwell room and Chapel.) Letters were sent to the mayor of Kirkland and to the school board stating "...this has created a most disturbing situation for the participants at the church service." Two church members, Dr. J. Earl Taylor and Hiram Tuttle were on the school board. The board adopted a policy prohibiting motor propelled vehicles and horses from district school grounds.
Wedding plans were underway for the Helliwell family in the spring of 1961. On June 10, in her father's church Sue became the bride of Rich Redman, a young Congregationalist from Seattle who had chosen to enter the ministry.
Deacon Warner Case gave a report on Horizon House, a Congregational Conference retirement being built in Seattle that summer. He told of having already made his reservation and that he planned to move as soon at it was completed. (He lived there for 15 years and was 100 years old when he died.)
Christmas season began with a flair in 1961 when the Women's Fellowship held
the first holiday Smorgasbord. Fellowship Hall was decorated with candles and
greens in a holiday mood for 150 guests to dine at each of three sittings. Most
of the food was donated except the salmon, ham and Swedish meat balls. The women
spent days in preparation but the event was considered a great success and
involved all the women of the church for the first time. Alice Mayhew was the
"first" organizer of this event which has been become an annual tradition.
(Now we only have two servings.) The bazaar became a tradition at the same time
and continued for several years. Was dropped from time to time. (In the last
few years we have had a holiday gift shop before and after the dinner sittings.)
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