USA > Indiana > Adams County > Berne > A history of the First Missionary Church, Berne, Indiana > Part 3
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The main part of the church building, the sanctuary, is in the form of a rectangular solid which manifests strength and firmness. It is flanked on the south and north sides by educational units, a smaller unit is on the west side. The dimensions of the sanctuary are 46 by 97 feet; the dimen- sions of the entire building are 103' 5" by 141' 3". The approximate total floor area is 14,500 square feet.
Ten large steel beams form the bones of the sanctuary. They rise 22 feet above the floor and support the 4-inch solid cedar decking. Eleven foot brick-block-brick walls are on the south, west, and north sides. The upper part of the walls are made of white translucent kalwall panels. These kalwall panels are 4 feet wide, 12 feet long and 3 3/4" thick. They extend down from the ceiling to the brick walls on the south, west, and north side. On the east side of the foyer the kalwall panels extend down from the ceiling 20 feet to a railing 2 feet from the floor.
Kalwall serves as an interior wall, curtain, window, and outside wall. It lets light come through but does not admit direct rays of the sun. It is strong, highly resistant to shattering, twisting, and vibrations. It is an excellent thermal insulator. It is effected very little by wide temperature variations. Its decorative beauty adds to the attractiveness of the entire wall.
Eighteen six globe chandeliers and thirteen spot lights furnish light for the sanctuary. The light of the chandeliers can be dimmed to various degrees of light.
The floor of the sanctuary, pulpit, and pastor's study are carpeted. The balcony, S. S. units, corridors, choir loft, rest rooms and foyer have vinyl tile. The rest rooms have ceramic tile walls.
The 48 pews 17' 2 1/2" long are arranged in two sections of 24 pews each with a 5 foot aisle between the two sections. Narrower 3 foot aisles are along the south and north walls. The balcony above the 15' by 46' foy- er has 14 pews 15' 2" long arranged in two sections with aisles correspond- ing to those of the main floor.
The elevated podium has a pulpit of conservative but stately lines, four pulpit chairs, four choir pews 22 feet long, and a baptistry at the upper right side. A 6 by 6 foot oak cross decorated to blend with the pulpit chairs is suspended from the ceiling above the choir pews. The en- larged Baldwin organ is south of the podium on the main floor. The piano is in a corresponding position on the north side.
The main entrance to the sanctuary from the foyer is by double glass doors. There are entrances to each aisle along the wall. At the front
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of the seating area there are entrances from the corridors on the south and north sides. Entrances to the pulpit and choir area are from both sides.
The estimated seating capacity is 520 in the sanctuary, 140 in the balcony, 60 in the choir loft, 80 in the overflow space of the narthex or a total of 800.
The Sunday School and educational units are along the north, west and south sides of the sanctuary. An 18 by 128 foot corridor is between the sanctuary and the educational units along the north and south sides. A narrower corridor separates the sanctuary area from the units on the west side. The longer corridors are provided with coat and hat racks and storage cabinets. Twenty-four globular lights illuminate the three cor- ridors.
The north side educational units 18 by 140 feet are provided with folding doors and folding chairs. This area provides Sunday School faci- lities for the Youth Department and some Adult classes. It is also used for Youth Fellowship services, Men's meetings and the four departments of the Women's Missionary Society. It can be used as a fellowship hall for weddings and funerals. At the west end of the unit is an 18 by 18 foot modern kitchen.
The 12 by 48 foot west side unit includes the 12 by 12 pastor's study and three Sunday School rooms. This space is also used for a choir preparatory room and council or conference room.
The south side educational unit 18 by 140 feet provides room for the children's Sunday School departments and classes, the Sunday evening children's meeting, and the Wednesday evening children's prayer meeting. The rooms are furnished with two pianos. Each unit has suitable chairs, tables, platform, blackboard, bulletin board, and flannelgraph.
The Sunday School units have a special kind of window, known as twindow. It is made of two panes of plate glass, each set at the proper distance from the other and held there by aluminum form; with com- pressed air forced between the panes, the assembly is sealed. The overall thickness is one inch. Each educational unit is lighted with 24-inch ceiling spot lights.
The three educational units provide room for sixteen Sunday School classes. Two classes meet in the balcony and two in the sanctuary.
The 7 by 12 foot office of the Sunday School superintendent is on the east side of the building at the end of the north corridor. On the south side at the end of the south corridor is the custodian's equipment and supply room. Next to this room is the men's rest room then the ladies' rest room. All these rooms are accessible from the foyer. A nursery is at east end of the south educational unit.
The building has double door entrances at the east, and at the west end of the north and south corridors.
Drinking fountains are in the east foyer and in the west part of the north corridor. Telephone service is in the foyer, with extension in the pastor's study. The call number is 2-2991.
The acoustics of the building include speakers in the sanctuary, foyer, nursery and in the north unit. Hearing aids are in several locations. There
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is an ample number of microphones. The control desk is in the southeast corner of the sanctuary.
The temperature of the building is regulated by the Prop-R-Temp Typhoon Heat Pump. This plant heats in the winter, cools in the summer and air-conditions at all times. Both water and electricity are used in the operation of the pump.
The water supply comes from the 185 foot deep well which has water rising within 45 feet of the ground level. It has an estimated capacity of 85 gallons or more per minute.
In the midsummer of 1960 two new committees were named, the Landscaping committee and the Parking Lot Marking Committee. The members of the first committee are George Hewitt, chairman, Harold Lang- ham, Assistant, Ernest Amstutz, Ted Hirschy, Don Grove, Tillman Moser, Tillman Sprunger, Robert Amstutz, Arthur Fox, Frank Steury, Lester Habegger, Percy Gould. The work of this committee includes lawn area leveling and seeding, planting shrubs and trees.
The Parking Lot Marking Committee includes Walter Schindler, chair- man, James DeArmond, Amos E. Moser, Delmar Neuenschwander, Dee Jones. Since moving day this committee has become the Parking Com- mittee.
In the summer of 1956 and 1957 a few of the farmers of the church did the practical thing of planting crops on the church ground. Arthur Fox furnished tractor, gas, and seed to plant the five acres in soy beans. Noah Amstutz harvested the crop, sold it and gave the proceeds of about $240.00 to the building fund. The next year Arthur Fox and Franklin Steury sowed the plot in oats and grass with the plan of having a sod after harvest. This crop was harvested and the proceeds also given to the building fund.
There were calls for other manual labor. The brick for the building came in three shipments. The men of the church unloaded the bricks and brought them to the church grounds.
The Landscaping Committee had between 40 and 50 working in some evenings with shovels, rakes dozer, tractor, disk, ground packer and harrow working the lawn areas.
The women of the church did considerable cleaning. They washed the large windows of the educational units on the inside and outside.
General cleaning of floors, furniture, lights and other things were done by men.
The committees appointed to plan, to guide and counsel, to promote, to encourage, to observe and expedite the entire building program have given their time, applied their talents, exercised good will and patience until the completed building stood as a reward for their tireless efforts.
The faithful and sacrificial giving to the building fund for a period of more than fifteen years is commendable. The church treasurer and finance committee have administered the finances very carefully. The ap- proximate cost of the structure is $225,000.00. Outstanding accounts can be liquidated at the appointed time.
The beginning of the building of the church was a matter of faith coupled with much planning. As the plan evolved step by step until its consummation the guidance of God was very evident. Hitherto the Lord hath helped. The building is the house of God in a true sense, and shall be used for His glory.
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The new church building was completed in August, 1960. On Sun- day, August 21, the congregation had Sunday School in the church on Jefferson St., then went to the new church on Highway 27, at Parkway for the 10:00 A.M. morning worship.
FIRST CHURCH SERVICE - NEW CHURCH 10:00-Morning Worship. New church, Hiway 27 at Parkway Order of Service
Prelude-Gladys Chrisman
Welcome to this house of God
With gratefulness to God and humbleness of heart, we enter our new church for our first public meeting, the Sunday morning worship service. With song, with prayer, with Scripture, with heart searching, with re- newed personal dedication do we come to this important occasion. Only once in a generation or two, does a congregation build and occupy a new church home .- Pastor
Opening hymn, No. 157-"Come, Thou Almighty King"
Invocation-Pastor
Men's Chorus-"Praise, Oh Praise Jehovah"
Ceremony-Presentation of church-Leslie Sprunger, Trustee:
"It is with great happiness and with great pleasure that we are here this morning, for the work has taken quite a while.
"To you the Congregation we now turn over this New Building, hop- ing in everything that we do, and above everything we will keep on wor- shiping God.
"It is with great pleasure and thankfulness to our Lord and Saviour, in behalf of the Planning and Survey Committee, the Architect, the Build- ers, and the Building Committee, that I present this New Building, ready for our first Public Worship Service; our New Home, our New Place of Worship. OUR NEW CHURCH."
(Mr. Sprunger passed the church key to the pastor and the pastor passed it to Mr. Hirschy.)
Accepting the church-Menno Hirschy, Vice-Chairman, Church Board:
"For this first public worship service in our new church home, we humbly thank God.
"I speak as a representative of the entire congregation, of every depart- ment of the church and the church council,-and I receive this key as a symbol of the opening of the doors of our new church for the worship of God. May great blessing from the Lord rest upon this first worship service and all services that shall follow. The dedication of this building is to be held soon, at which time we shall seek, in a proper way, to set it apart unto God for His glory. His worship and His kingdom, both here and un- to the uttermost part of the earth."
Congregation sings-"To God Be The Glory"
Offering
Scripture reading, John 6:27-28-Pastor
Morning Prayer-Homer Inniger
Full Choir-"Send Forth Thy Spirit" Sermon-"What Shall We Do Now"
Closing hymn, No. 10-"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Benediction-Oswin Amstutz
Postlude-Gladys Chrisman
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At the close of the sermon the pastor asked the Board of Deacons, the Trustees, S. S. officers, MYF officers and counsellors and leaders, Men's Fellowship officers, officers of the four women's groups to come to the altar, where they knelt, dedicating themselves to the service of God here and to the ends of the earth. The entire congregation was asked to join in prayer and dedication. It is the desire of the church that the members live and labor to bring glory to God and to win others to love, serve, and glorify Him.
OFFICERS
Chairman of Church and Council
Vice Chairman
Secretary
-
Treasurer
Missionary Treasurer
S. S. Superintendent
-
Trustee Chairman
-
-
Ornell Sprunger Leslie Sprunger
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
Sunday School
Missionary Youth Fellowship
-
Mission Band -
Men's Missionary Fellowship
-
Ornell Sprunger, Supt. LeRoy Sprunger, President Virgil Amstutz, President Clifton Amstutz, President
Children's Work
Happy Hour
Mrs. Mary Klopfenstein, Leader
Women's Missionary Society
Ladies' Aid
Mrs. Howard Pharr, President
Dorcas Missionary Circle
Mrs. Albert Egly, President Arvilla Hirschy, President
Girls' Auxiliary -
Martha Hirschy, Sponsor
Dianna Pharr, President
PASTORS OF FIRST MISSIONARY CHURCH
Rev. William Egle
-
-
-
1898-1903
Kev. Solomon Klopfenstein
1903-1904
Rev. Alfred M. Clauser
1904-1905
Rev. Edgar F. Clauser
1905-1906
Rev. Hiram H. Amstutz
1906-1911
Rev. George P. Schroeder
1912-1913
Rev. Samuel J. Grabill
1913-1919
Rev. William J. Amstutz
1919-1921
Rev. William Egle
1921-1930
Rev. Henry E. Tropf
1930-1935
Rev. Clarence H. Wiederkehr
1936-1948
Rev. J. Pritchard Amstutz
1948-1952
Rev. Joseph J. Klopfenstein
-
-
1952-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein Menno S. Hirschy Vilas Schindler Carl W. Amstutz John Zehr
-
-
Girls' Sewing Circle -
-
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SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
David Sprunger 1896
D. J. Schwartz 1911-1912
J. J. Amstutz 1905
Henry Schindler 1912-1919
John Merriman
1906-1907
Noah Schindler 1920-1924
David Hirschy 1907-1908
Vilas Schindler 1924-1952
H. H. Amstutz
1909-1910
Ornell Sprunger 1953-
CHARTER MEMBERS
At Organization of Church Body, 1908
Amos Amstutz
Mrs. Lena Hirschy
Mrs. Amos Amstutz
Sarah Hirschy
J. J. Amstutz
Philip Huser
Mrs. J. J. Amstutz
Mrs. Philip Huser
Menno Amstutz
Mrs. Anna Liechty
J. U. Amstutz
Mrs. Peter Liechty
Mrs. J. U. Amstutz
Jacob Neuenschwander
Jesse Amstutz
William Reusser
Sylvia Amstutz
Ada Reusser
Chris Bruchy
Emma Reusser
Mrs. Chris Bruchy
Harry Runyon
Zilla Gilliom
Mrs. Harry Runyon
Christian Hirschy
Flora Sauder
Mrs. Christian Hirschy
Amos Schindler
David Hirschy
Mrs. Amos Schindler
Mrs. David Hirschy
Sam Schindler
Rufus Hirschy
Mrs. Sam Schindler
Mrs. Rufus Hirschy
Erna Schindler
Menno Hirschy
Agnes Sprunger
Emma Hirschy
Esther Sprunger
Eli Hirschy
Martha Sprunger
Mrs. Eli Hirschy
John Stauffer
Mathilda Hirschy
George Stauffer
Norman Hirschy
Jacob Stucky Joseph Stucky
Mrs. J. J. Hirschy
Mrs. Joseph Stucky
Albert Hirschy
Henry Winteregg
Caroline Hirschy
Mrs. Henry Winteregg
Lillie Hirschy Fox
Mrs. William Wittwer
J. J. Hirschy
Sources of Information
History Missionary Church Assoc., Annual Reports of the Church, Church Records, Church Bulletins and Data, Former Pastors' files, Berne Witness files, Pastor's files, and Personal files.
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CHRISTIAN HONOR ROLL
(Those who were members)
FOREIGN MISSIONARIES
Elda Amstutz
Tillman Amstutz
Pauline Muselman
Helen Burley
Fanny Schindler
Luella Burley
Waldo Schindler
Mary DeGarmo
Mrs. Cecil Schindler
Truman Gottschalk
Agnes Sprunger
Martel Fennig
Ernest Steury
Merlin Inniger
Gareth Wiederkehr
Mrs. Kathleen Jacobsen
John Zuercher
Mrs. Gladys Leonard
Mrs. Bernadine Zuercher
CHRISTIAN WORKERS IN HOME LAND
Edward Amstutz
Jesse Amstutz
Leona Amstutz
Paul Amstutz
Roger Amstutz
Salome Schug Kuhnle
Mary Alice Steury Lehman
Lila Sprunger Miller
Mrs. Esther Stucky Bailey
Edison Reynolds
Mildred Hirschy Bisset
Carolyn Muselman Russett
Robert Schindler
Robert Schrock
Lorene Habegger Schrock
Meta Hirschy Sharp
Helen Wittwer Welch
Thomas Zehr
Shirley Ann Steury Burke Sophia Yoss Faulkner Brice Fennig Leon Fennig Tillman Habegger Martha Amstutz Heller
Norman Hirschy Esther Sprunger Hirschy Celina Amstutz Klopfen- stein
Sylvia Amstutz Walter Bailey
Mrs. Janean Moser
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DEDICATION SERVICE OCTOBER 2, 1960, 2:00 P.M.
Organ Prelude
Hymn
GLADYS CHRISMAN CLYDE H. SPRUNGER, Director
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Scripture REV. G. ROBERT MAGARY
Pastor, West Missionary Church
Prayer
REV. SAMUEL J. GRABILL
Pastor here 1913-1919
Men's Chorus C. Kreutzer
"Praise To The Lord Today"
Greetings REV. GORDON NEUENSCHWANDER
President, Berne Community Ministerial Association
Greetings REV. CORNELIUS VLOT
Vice-President, Missionary Church Association
Announcements
Offering
Church Choir
Will James
"Sing And Rejoice"
Dedicatory Sermon, "The Stewardship of Grace" REV. TILLMAN HABEGGER
President, Missionary Church Association
Act of Dedication
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn
"To God Be The Glory"
Benediction
MENNO S. HIRSCHY
Assistant Chairman of the congregation
Former pastors were speakers in the Sunday morning and evening services on the day of dedication: Rev. C. H. Wiederkehr of Peoria Heights, Ill., spoke at 10:00 A.M. He ministered in this church 1935-1948. Rev. H. E. Tropf of Toledo, Ohio, brought the message at 7:30 P. M. He was pastor here 1930-1935.
Rev. C. H. Wiederkehr
REV. CLAYTON D. STEINER Superintendent, Central District of M.C.A.
Rev. H. E. Tropf
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CEREMONY FOR ACT OF DEDICATION
Pastor: To the glory of God, our Father, by whose enabling this house was built To the praise of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior To the honor of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Guide and Might
Congregation: We dedicate this house
Pastor: For the worship of prayer and song For the ministry of the living Word For the observing of the holy ordinances
Congregation: We dedicate this house
Pastor: For the comfort of those who mourn For the strength of those who are tempted For the enlightening of those who seek the way
Congregation: We dedicate this house
Pastor: For the promotion of fellowship among God's people For the deepening of spiritual life in the believers For the propagation of the Gospel at home and abroad
Congregation: We dedicate this house
Pastor: Unto the triune God; with our faith and confidence firm in Him, we designate this house as the First Missionary Church of Berne, a member church of the Missionary Church Association, and to the triune God we do now consecrate and dedicate it
Congregation: This we humbly do in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen!
Rev. Tillman Habegger, one of the many preaching-sons of this congrega- tion, now president of the M.C.A., preached the dedication sermon. Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein, present pastor, began serving the church in 1952.
Rev. Tillman Habegger
Rev. J. J. Klopfenstein
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NOTES
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