The First 50 Years

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WE BEGIN THE THIRD QUARTER
Part 4

During the Spring of 1968 Brian Westveer, a teacher at Miller Junior High School, Detroit, and a student intern at our Church majoring in religion, drafted a plan which was accepted by our Session to use one of the recently-acquired houses on Pleasant Street as a 'boarding school' for inner city children. Despite the concerned and moral intent of the program, following the Detroit Race Riots, when the concept was presented to Royal Oak City Commission, it was learned that city zoning laws would not permit such an endeavor. The proposal was withdrawn. Our members, still desirous of helping with the education of the inner city child, volunteered to tutor school children from the Carver School in Royal Oak Township, West Eight Mile Road, Detroit.

In the summer of that year our Session sent a letter of commendation to the Royal Oak Chief of Police for the departments work in controlling an attempted march on Royal Oak City Hall after
a memorial service for Martin Luther King, Jr. which had been held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Royal Oak.

1970-71 were busy years in our Church. Wallace Hughes had resigned as parish visitor and on July 1, 1970, Howard Ogden was selected for that position and has continued as a faithful and valuable employee since that time. In 1988 Jean Perkins of Birmingham became our parish visitor assisting Howard Ogden with our member calling program.

An in-depth religions study Program for high school Communicants was instigated in 1970 with instruction being given under the supervision of Mrs. Ruth Kirkman. The young People now meet every Sunday morning from September until their "test" with the Session on Palm Sunday afternoon. This opportunity for our youth has continued to this day with various other members of our Church volunteering to teach these classes.

Ruth Kirkman, a Master of Divinity graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, added much to the spiritual enrichment of our members. Besides communicant classes Ruth taught scholarly Bible classes, both analytical and historical, on Monday evenings and again on Tuesday mornings. Each month she instructed Women's Association circle Bible leaders in the studies assigned for that Period. These ladies attending her classes in turn taught their circle membcrs the lessons thereby spreading knowledge of the Bible to many more women.

Ruth was the original "founder" of the Art-Study group formed in April 1971 to study and enjoy world-famous art. Many trips were Planed to visit art exhibits and displays, well-known buildings and churches. One of our unusual Father's Day sermons was preached by Ruth Kirkman. Also, Ruth was chairman of the candidates Committee for Detroit Presbytery; just another instance where she used her religious training to its fullest advantage thereby benefiting all the community of Christian believers.

In 1971 we contributed money to the Royal Oak Pastors' Association toward the purchase of Good News Bibles in honor of the city's 100th anniversary. Our ministers also participate in ecumenical services in the city of Royal Oak. Thanksgiving service in 1988 was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Royal Oak.

Various special groups and committees which have functioned well this past quarter century are Library, Cancer Sewing and Quilting, Memorials and Furnishings and Art.

The Library committee has worked tirelessly to make our book collection one of the most complete. It is a source for religious reading as well as a library filled with novels, books of history, travel, biographies and many, many children s stories. Memorials may also be made to the Library in honor of and in memory of our members and friends. To date we have approximately 3500 books in our collection.

Cancer sewing was begun during World War II when our Church women worked very closely with needs of the Red Cross and continues until today with many dedicated people sharing their talent.

Memorials and Furnishings, a committee now reporting to the Trustees, functions exactly as it sounds - they choose, accept and decide placement of furnishings for the entire church, including bequests in memory of or in honor of members. It would be impossible to acknowledge all the hundreds of contributions our members have made to enhance the beauty of our church. However, a Memorials book has been inscribed with the gifts and the names of their donors and is a permanent record being retained with our archives.

The Art committee, working with Memorials and Furnishings, is responsible for all selection and placement of art works. They have published a catalog entitled, "Guide to Art Objects".

Another special group which operates very efficiently for us are the persons, informally known as "stuffers", who do the mailings of Church-related materials, literature, newsletters - any printed matter which is distributed Church-wide to the members.