1964

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WE BEGIN THE THIRD QUARTER
Part 1

In June of 1964 when we began the second half century in the life of The First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak we were still rejoicing in the week-long golden anniversary celebration in May. A pageant depicting the history of our Church had been presented in Fellowship Hall on May 12, 13, 14. The Homebuilders, a social group established in 1922, had a reunion dinner May 15 with the Reverend Doctor Robert Steen and his wife Margaret as honored guests. Dr. Steen, our pastor from 1935 to 1948, was the guest minister at Sunday services on May 17. The Women's Association presented a golden anniversary tea at their May 14 meeting. It was a week of reminiscing but with the anticipation of the great good which we could accomplish during the next fifty years.

Thomas W. Kirkman was our minister with James Coombes associate minister; Elmer Buese, Director of Religious Education; Mildera Strain, Secretary, who resigned in 1967 after twenty-five years of service with our Church. Since that time we have had many secretaries who have been equally as competent as Mildera but none has matched her tenure. Elmer Angerman was parish visitor; Robert Shepfer, organist and choir director; Grace LaDue, financial secretary; Dora Dawson, dietician; John Malcolm, custodian. Adam Graham became our second parish visitor in the fall of 1965 and upon his resignation in 1968, Mr. Wallace Hughes was selected as visitor.

Alma College awarded our minister, The Reverend Kirkman, art honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in June 1964. This auspicious occasion called for more celebrating in the form of a dinner given for the Kirkmans with the Church officers and their spouses as hosts. A reception by our members honored the Kirkmans after a special Church service on Sunday, June 4.

We were informed in April, 1964 that the sanctuary organ would need repairs totaling $58,000. This would replace the "Choir division." The repair work was begun in September of that year and the reconditioned organ was dedicated at a recital in February 1966. However, our organist, Robert Shepfer, resigned that April to accept a position at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis. Our member, Douglas Austin, served as interim organist until Ronald Kressman of Union Theological Seminary was employed as director and organist in September 1966. Mr. Kressman continued with us until 1972 when be resigned to go to The Lutheran Church of the Shepherd King, West Bloomfield. Frank Bartlett of the Central Methodist Church Lansing was then chosen as organist-choirmaster and has continued with us since.

The music program at First Presbyterian Church is a viral part of our ministry both in worship services and in the cultural development of the Christian's total commitment. Choirs have included Cherub, Carol, Celebration, Crusader, Westminster, Chancel, Bellringers and Junior Bellringers. In March, 1970 our Youth Choir sang the mass at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Troy - an example of true ecumenical worship.

During the last twenty-five years countless special programs have been presented by our music department including Mozart's, Mass in C, Handel's, The Mesaiah, Durufle's Requiem, and our recent Celebration of Pentecost during which Vivaldi's Gloria was sung in 1987 and the first part of Haydn's Creation was sung in 1988. We have enjoyed organ recitals with symphonic musical accompaniment, musical pageants, organ-piano recitals, Chamber music, Christmas caroling, vesper services and morning church services devoted entirely to music such as Hymns of the Cross and stories of well-known church hymns.

Four professional vocalists are employed to assist with the 8:15 a.m. service in Evans Chapel and to present special music at the 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Traditionally, the Westminster Choir sings at 9:30 and the Chancel Choir at 11:00. Our youth Choirs and bell choirs perform at various times during the year whenever special music is desired.

Over the years, various contributions have been made to the music department such as handbells, robes and covers for anthems as well as money to purchase and dedicate anthems.

In 1973 we were confronted with the need to replace the organ console. Should we have solid state or pneumatic? The console was wearing out! $40,000 was budgeted in 1974 for a new console which was re-dedicated in the fall of 1975.

Word came down in 1983 that the organ, which was then fifty-eight years old, was in need of further repair. A proposal was made to rebuild all parts of the organ not previously worked on at a cost of $128,000. The project was approved at a congregational meeting in May, 1984 and the work proceeded at once with the re-dedication of the organ in October, 1985. At that time special monetary gifts made possible the addition of trumpets and a pedal mixture stop to the original plan.