Roger’s Remembrances

At a very early age I was introduced to church stuff. Mom held me in her lap as she taught the cradle roll class at First Presby in Hutch. I can’t remember a time when church going was not a part of our Sunday schedule. Of course, as the years have gone by, I’ve come to know there’s a lot more to one’s faith than just “church going” and head knowledge.

During grade school years I never gave much thought to whether people went to church or not — I just sorta assumed everyone went. I was a pretty naive and accepting kid; it was uncharacteristic for me to do much questioning about things. I’m not sure how it came up, but at about junior high age I came to realize that not all people thought the same about this Jesus person — or whether there was really a “God”. (I suspect this might have happened at Camp Wood during a bull session.)
By high school days the junior high start had evolved into a sort of logical “engineering” approach to things —

1. It didn’t make any sense that everything just started itself up — there HAS to be a “creator”. (Whether things “evolved”, or otherwise, makes little difference — there HAD to be a Guiding Hand.)
2. The “creation” is so awesome in so many ways, the Creator MUST still be interested in it.
3. It makes sense that the Creator would have a special interest in the Man part of Creation.
(And from here, Logic goes out and Faith takes over.)
4. The explanation of Man’s relation to the Creator is best set forth in the Bible. “Jesus Loves Me, for the Bible tells me so.”

Hutchinson First Presbyterian gave many good memories. Sunday school programs at Christmas time were special. Vacation Bible school. And especially singing in the adult choir from high school age on. Mom was the organist, and “Aunt” Mabel the director. We sang the old standards which I still like to hear on the rare occasion that the modern world stoops to use one.

Zola Lindahl (later to become Mrs. G.A. Chickering) was the director of Christian Education. She always had you come in for help in putting together the program for Christian Endeavor meetings.

We had three ministers (one at a time) during my days in Hutch. In grade school years, I can remember hearing McClennan’s (sp?) “tink” in lieu of “think”, but I mostly remember Harry T. Scherer. His term included most of my junior and senior high years. Ralph Miller came just a few years before I left Hutch. We had no “trouble” of consequence at First Presby. (Or at least if we did, I didn’t know about it. I’d never think to ask.)

During high school years in the summer there were conferences at the College of Emporia (now defunct). These helped steer me a little closer to “heart knowledge” in place of “head knowledge” about this God/Man Jesus. I have no time nor place when I “accepted Jesus” — it just sort of evolved over a period of time.

During K-State years my views on “religion” were subjected to some fairly “godless” fellow engineers. Most of the time, as true today, the question was not one of is there One God, but does the Bible contain the Truth about the situation. I found there is no way to “prove” the scriptures — even though in my mind I come pretty close. If someone is to accept them, he needs help from the Spirit.

As mentioned elsewhere, Chicago days found me in the Fourth Presbyterian church on the Near North Side. Mary and I met there in the young peoples group. It was a privilege to listen to sermons by Harrison Ray Anderson. John Mulder (father of the present-day John Mulder of Presby circles) had us thinking in the Sunday morning sessions he taught. I was ordained a Deacon at Fourth Church.

In Lincoln, Mary and I joined the First United Presbyterian Church at 35th and F in the Randolph area. Nelson Warner was a very “conservative” minister and was good for my sense of Christian concepts. I spent a few years as Sunday school superintendent, sang some in the choir, was ordained an Elder. Mary and I made friends there which we still value today. Ken and Ruth White — both deceased. Art (deceased) and Genevieve Johnson. Ruth and John Allen. Don and Janet Huffman. We still go out for dinner with Lavonne and Alvin Mierau several times a year. Our kids were the same age. (Still are.)

The picture to the right appeared in the L.T.T. monthly employees magazine. Guess they thought it would help make it respectable. (It is tilted so I could get it in the 4″ width limit on my scanner.)

In 1961 I became involved in what was then known as International Christian Leadership (ICL). Rev. Richard Halvorsen and Doug Coe were king pins, both super people. In September of 1961 ICL sponsored a Leadership Week in Lincoln and Omaha during which about 50 business men from across the country talked to service clubs and other groups about what Christ had meant in their lives. It was very impressive. Herb Jost, Ken White, Jim King and I met regularly for about 10 years after that to plan related “Breakfast” events. Ken White became a real prime mover until his death in about 198?.

In 1958 we had moved out of the Randolph district to 2115 and spent a lot of time and gas going to and fro. In 1962 we figured it would simplify life if we transferred to Westminster just a long block up Ryons street. So we did.

There have been many fine friends at Westminster. Mary and I helped team teach the junior highs for a couple of years. We have both been Deacons and on the Session.

Bob Palmer was an excellent preacher and teacher. Mary and I really enjoyed and were enriched by the Bethel Bible Series. BUT — we Christians sure do some peculiar things. It is one of life’s puzzlements how alcohol can enter the scene and really mess up a minister and congregation. It sure did.

Wally Easter was a real rock in trying to hold an even course in rough waters. After several tumultuous and schismatic years we are now (late 1992) well on the road to recovery. Bill Yeager was sent to us straight from heaven.

I am grateful for what the Church has meant in my life. It is the Body of Christ, and I am confident that the Lord finds ways to use it, in spite of its imperfect people — of which I’m one. Selah.

(End of CHURCH STUFF)