Who Moved My House

As devastating as the flood that hit Cedar Rapids has been, when I saw the house on the right I thought of the book Who Moved My Cheese? In the forward of the book Ken Blanchard writes, “Who Moved My Cheese? is a story about change that takes place in a Maze where four amusing characters look for “Cheese” – cheese being a metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or even an activity like jogging of gold. Each of us has our own idea of what Cheese is, and we pursue it because we believe it makes us happy. If we get it, we often become attached to it. And if we lose it, or it is taken away, it can be traumatic.”

To say that the flood and the resulting aftermath have been traumatic is an understatement. As you drive up and down the streets you see homes that have been destroyed and piles and piles of stuff, some reaching 15 feet high. Slowly those piles are being picked up and as they are streets are being blocked by the trucks and loaders. Washers, dryers, refrigerators and freezers line the streets. Some with the doors removed or taped shut for safety. Others ripped apart by the flood waters. Some people have thrown everything out onto the curb, not wanting anything that will remind them of what they have lost. Others sit on stools and chairs sifting through every last piece for something to hold on to. All of them tugging at my heart.

Nearly 3 weeks ago, on June 9th I went to bed thinking about what it was that I needed to do the next day. I had several things planned. I was going to start preparing new lessons for youth group and Sunday school this fall and I also needed to start preparing for confirmation class to begin in September. Early Tuesday morning I woke up around 1:30 and could not sleep and I decided to check my email and read some of the news on the KCRG and Gazette websites. What I found was an email from Charles Daugherty calling an emergency meeting of the Serve The City churches at Ellis Community Church at 8 AM. I went back to bed and reset my alarm to make sure I would make it to the meeting. Had I been able to sleep I would not have seen that email until after the meeting had started.

When I arrived at Ellis Community I found several other pastors already there. Serve The City was preparing to serve the community of Cedar Rapids in a way that none of us ever thought we would have to. Peter Teahen came and spoke on behalf of the Red Cross and Linn County Emergency Management. We were mobilizing to begin the process of warning the residents along the river that a flood was coming. How and why was not yet evident. After the meeting I went to the office and immediately began preparing. I quickly finished the things that I needed to get done for the rest of the week and then started sending emails to other churches in hopes of getting their support physically and in prayer. I went home that afternoon waiting for word on our next steps. After playing tennis with Diane and Karissa we went to the park by the police station to see the river. Where we would normally have been sitting for the 4th of July fireworks was already under water. People were walking around in amazement taking pictures with their cameras and cell phones. That is when I got the call from Patricia, Charles’ wife. Everyone was getting called to go to the Time Check neighborhood and help people get their belongings in order. We went out in teams and talked with the people in the neighborhood alerting them to the potential of their homes getting flooded. A couple of hours in I told Pastor Coyle that I was taking a volunteer to go to the home of a member of Hus as I knew she needed help. Lisa and I left and walked the block and a half to Wendy Barton’s house. We immediately started helping to move items from the basement to the first floor. Then I heard someone knock on the door. The gas had been shut off. Shortly after that I called Pastor Coyle and requested more help. Within 30 minutes we had 11 people there and in about an hour had nearly everything in the basement moved upstairs. They were telling us that the impending evacuation was for 6 PM on Wednesday. I left Ellis Community Church about midnight and went back to the office to send out a couple more emails for help. It was 1:30 by the time my head hit the pillow and I would only get a few hours sleep before going back to Time Check. All of Wednesday morning was spent talking to the residents and asking if they needed any help. Fear and disbelief were the reactions that we got. One lady we talked to was in her late eighties and she did not know what to do. I gave her a phone number to call for help or prayer. As we left each home we prayed. Later that morning we helped a family on 3rd Street NW. When we got they were trying to get a big screen television out of the house and into a pickup. I quickly replaced his wife and we quickly got the television into the truck. The kids were shaken and shocked, not knowing what to make of the situation. The father then asked us to get the washer, dryer and deep freeze out of the basement. Water was already seeping into the basement and everything on the floor was wet. We got his tools out too, but I am not sure that he ever saw them or the freezer again as they left with the freezer and tools sitting on the front lawn with no more room to take them. Before we left we moved the grill, mowers, and bicycles onto the deck. Even we thought it would be high enough. I later saw them at the Red Cross shelter at Prairie High School as they are now homeless. He told me that they never made it back. It was nearly 11 in the morning when they left and at Noon the police evacuated Time Check. He was very thankful for the help, but visibly shaken having lost their home and most of their belongings. At Noon on Wednesday we evacuated Ellis Community Church and moved operations to Central Church of Christ.

Time and even the days would become a blur. Over the next 36 hours I and my crew would make several trips back into the Time Check neighborhood. On one trip we ended up at the Boys and Girls Club and helped them to move everything from the first floor to the gym on the second floor, it would not be high enough. When I parked the van it was about 5 feet from the nearest water. When I returned less than an hour later to get it the water was half way up the tires.

One man that we helped was almost ready to leave but his sump pump was not working so he called us for help. Getting there was a matter of parking down the street and jumping across the rivers that were already flooding the sides of the streets. When we got there the water in his basement was at least 6 inches deep. We asked him if he wanted us to get the washer and dryer, but he knew that they were already lost. His concern remained with the sump pump and getting it going again. None of us had boots to go in that deep of water. You could hear the fear and anxiety in his voice. It was then that I made the decision to take off my socks and boots, roll up my jeans and wade through the basement. After several attempts I was unable to get the pump going and we all headed back upstairs. Once there the trembling in his 83 year old voice worsened. I head back down the steps. I finally found the problem. The hose was kinked where it went out the window. I found a piece of rope and managed to get the hose hung so the kink was out. He could now leave his home feeling better. Little did we know that even he was not far enough away on 10th street to escape the water.

On Wednesday afternoon we began delivering the evacuation notices to the residents of Cedar Rapids who lived in the 500 year flood plain. The first place my crew went was to the Rompot neighborhood. One man, Don, was not leaving no matter what. In all his 74 years of living he had not run from anything and he was not about to start now. The last home in Rompot that I stopped at was Mary’s house. I noticed on her front step a bench with “It all started in the garden” engraved on it. She invited me inside. She was visibly frightened. I explained to her that the chance existed for her home to flood. I told her to get the things that meant the most as well as her important papers – whatever could not be replaced and to leave as soon as possible. Both Don’s and Mary’s home were flooded into the 1st floor. Mary’s bench still sits on her front step, everything else in her home, including the walls was put out on the curb. That afternoon we started at the corner of 8th avenue and 8th street and made our way down to the corner of L street and 16th avenue SW. Along the way we met people who were in disbelief that the water would ever get that far, but it did. One man we met along the way said there was no way that he was going to leave his home. He was going to wait until the water was actually coming up the street. From what I experienced that was the last thing he should have done. The water came and it came fast. The last person that I spoke with before we left the neighborhood was the owner of Sam’s Pizza on 6th street. He had a lot of questions and unfortunately I did not have all of the answers. Regardless he was glad that I had stopped. A week and half later I was at the Hutton’s helping as much as I could, but there was not much we could do with out power as the water in the basements needed to be removed. The main floor of the shop has buckled, but the office was untouched. At the house the water got within a step or two of the main floor. Praise God! Jim did get a gas water pump and we started pumping out the basement of the shop. There was still a lot of water down there so it was very slow going. Finally the pump ran out of gas. When we checked the water had gone down just a couple of steps which equated to less than a foot. For the most part with as little as we could do I was left with a rather helpless feeling. On my way out I stopped at Sam’s Pizza as I saw the owner outside. He invited me inside the building. His thriving business and years of work were gone. He had faired much worse than the Hutton’s. He has vowed to rebuild in the same spot. He said he felt he owed it to the neighborhood. I am looking forward to getting a pizza there once he is back open. Last week as I drove by there was a sign on the other side of the street announcing a huge block party in June of 2009.

On Thursday morning I picked up Sean at his house as he wanted to help. He would spend the morning out in the rain with the rest of us helping and later would help us move out to our new operations center at Prairie High School. We spent most of the day separated as he helped with different projects. I know he was tired when his Mom picked him up after work. His help and the help of hundreds of others saved lives.

Before moving to Prairie High School we lost power at Central Church of Christ. We quickly moved the phone center to Hus and spent about 3 or 4 hours here on the phones. We returned to the volunteer center at Central Church of Christ once the power had been restored. It was after we returned there that Pastor Coyle asked me to help him run the operations center at Prairie. I would spend the next two and a half weeks there coordinating the efforts of Serve The City. Having started with two phones at the church we grew to five and within a few days fifteen. The days were flying by. It was nothing to be working 17 hours a day. It was then that I was glad I was a tech geek. The software I had loaded on the computers here allow me to log in from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. Because of that I was able to work on some things when we were not busy, which until this past week was not all that often.

Before we knew it Serve The City had become the coordinator of volunteers for Linn County, the City of Cedar Rapids, and other agencies. At one point the Serve The City volunteers were delivering 2000+ meals a day to the Cedar Rapids police and fire departments, the Iowa State Patrol and other groups. All of these meals having been prepared by the Salvation Army.

What we were chasing was not a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition or even spiritual peace. The cheese we were chasing was the flood. The cheese or treasure that we should be chasing is God, unfortunately we are usually chasing big screen LCD televisions, new cars, fancy homes. We are already filled with God’s treasure. I really believe that the resolve of this community is based on our belief in God. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us “I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.” We are already gaining a reputation around the country as a people that will not be held down. We are moving forward. Just like it says in Isaiah 58:12, “Your people will rebuild the cities that are now in ruins; you will be known for repairing broken places and for rebuilding the roads and houses.” Who moved my house? The water did. What about the future? There is no need to worry because God is already there. We will rebuild and we will be stronger for it.

Amen.

Because of Him ~ Terry

June 2008 Newsletter

A HISTORY OF HUS MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PART 8
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.
ADAPTED FROM A HISTORICAL TREATISE WRITTEN BY CHARLOTTE STELCIK

DR. JOSEPH BREN’S PASTORATE

On June 4, 1919, Rev. Hlavaty, who was the pastor of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church until 1919, resigned. The congregation tried to persuade him to remain but had to accept his resignation on June 22, 1919. He gave his last sermon on June 29, 1919. Rev. Hlavaty was succeeded by Dr. Joseph Bren of Hopkins, Minnesota. Dr. Bren, a native of Bohemia and a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York, was a man of scholarly mind and in his pastorate tried to encourage better Christian education of adults and children. He began his work on Sunday, December 20, 1919.

During his ministry, which lasted until 1938, he led the church in celebration various Czech historical days—Jan Hus Day on July 6th, and days for Comenius and Masaryk. Dr. Bren entertained many visitors from Czechoslovakia who lectured to the congregation—Dr. Prudky, Dr. Novak, Dr. Zilka, Dr. Krenek, Rev. John Kucera, Prof. Kozak, and Rev. Hornicek are some who came. Since the church was interested the religious life of the old country, it gave a great deal of money for the support of that work.

The Lord’s Supper was served a little differently in this church than in most churches. The church originally had used one common cup. On April 24, 1921, at the annual meeting, the church voted also to use the individual cups. These were donated by Mrs. Frances Caloud. The members of the congregation are served by going to the Lord’ Table at the front of the main sanctuary. The first to come forward were the older people who still preferred to take the wine from the one common cup. These were followed by those who preferred individual cups.

Dr. Bren started annual banquets for fathers and sons, and for mothers and daughters. At these banquets an educational program was presented. All of these banquets, carried on for several years, were great successes.

Various other organizations were also developed during Dr. Bren’s pastorate. In 1922 the need for religious education for young people was met by establishing a Saturday Religious school but the elders could not decide whether it should be taught in Czech or English. In 1921 a girls’ glee club called the Hussite Club and a boys’ club and a girls’ club independent of the Young People’s Society, were organized.

As time went on and the need for services in the Czech language declined the membership of the church grew smaller. It began with 297 members in 1920 and by 1926 there were 222 members. The society called Esther closed its activities in 1927 but a fresh effort to organize the Boy Scouts was made. During the annual meeting on January 12, 1928, the members of the church voted to purchase hymn books in English for the Sunday School. Then in 1932, during Easter Week the elders decided to hold an occasional service in English. Also during the week of October, 1932, out of a month of services, one was to be in English. It was found that the English services were best attended. By 1933 the church membership was 194.

Until 1923, the confirmation class of young people was conducted in the Czech language. The young people had to learn the short catechism, the commandments, and the Apostles Creed in Czech. In 1924 the elders decided to hold the confirmation classes in English because most of the young people did not understand all the religious implications when presented in the less familiar Czech language.

Changes in the language also took place in the Sunday service. On September 16, 1934, the elders called a meeting of the congregation at which the members voted to hold English services every second Sunday of the month “for those who do not understand Czech.” Since these were Sunday evening services, they were not well attended and were dropped on April 5, 1936 for lack of attendance. Even the morning church services were poorly attended and the life of the church grew weaker.

Every summer during Dr. Bren’s time the church and Sunday School had a picnic on some Sunday at someone’s farm. These picnics were well attended. By 1949 these church picnics had been abandoned. The church now does a “Service in the Park” at Jones Park which is followed by a potluck.

The church membership continued dropping. On April 4, 1934 it fell to 167 and by April of 1938 to 162 members. The annual congregational meeting again decided that Sunday evening English services should be held the first Sunday of the month but they again proved to be poorly attended; soon afterwards they were dropped.

The young people conducted a Sunday morning service once a year with good results. They planned and were in charge of the entire service. This continued for many years before being dropped. In the fall of 2005 the youth of the church once again began doing services; however now they do a service on the last Sunday of each month that has 5 Sundays in it, usually about 4 services a year.

On March 20, 1938, Dr. Joseph Bren offered his resignation because of his advanced age.

Because of Him ~ Terry

May 2008 Newsletter

A History of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, Part 7
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Adapted from a handwritten article provided by Elsie Drahovzal

Our Three Josephs

From the land of Hus they came, these three Josephs. They are Joseph Havlik, Joseph Leksa and Joseph Teply. They were born and raised in Bohemia, where most of their folks are still living. Early in life the call of the western world came to their heart. As soon as they had finished public school, they came to America. And their immediate goal was Dubuque for they had learned of Dubuque College and Seminary and its opportunities for the education of the foreigner as a religious leader of his own people.

Not a word of English did they know, nor a word of German, and who of us knew any Bohemian besides Professor Barta and his Bohemian students? But they entered the classes with the rest of the boys. They got English and German by induction and absorption and in any way languages can be acquired. In due time they finished the academy and entered the college. After four years they took their B.A. with honor. Then they entered the Theological Seminary and last spring they were finally ordained to the Gospel ministry and are now in the active Word among their own people. Rev. Joseph Havlik in Iowa, Rev. Joseph Leksa in Nebraska and Rev. Joseph Teply in Kansas.

This their first ten years in America 1907 to 1917 marked their great development. They have become loyal American citizens, well trained ministers of Christ able to preach the Gospel not only in their native tongue but in English and German as well. During their student days they were leaders in the school life. We confidently expect that they will be leaders in their chosen life work among their own people.

Throughout their course they gave an example of most loyal friendship and devotion one to the other and also to their alma mater. We feel confident that this friendship and loyalty will stand the test of time.

The case of our "Three Josephs" is unique in that all three came at the same time from the same place, were of the same age and finished their course as ordained ministers at the same time. It is typical of our work, however, for we have a large number of students who in a similar manner have left father and mother and native land to find in Dubuque College the great opportunity for their life work.

Because of Him ~ Terry

"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking."

John 14:1-4 (MSG)

The Kings of Israel

Introduction

God has intended for his people to live in obedience to him from the beginning. God led the Israelites out of Egypt and provided for their daily needs. God gave them leaders to guide them. He provided victory over their enemies. They responded with grumbling, complaining, and by turning away because they wanted a god that they could see, ultimately leading to their demand for an earthly king.

God’s intent for the Israelites

God’s intent for the Israelites is that they would look to him and only him as their king. God told the Israelites “You shall have no other gods before me” (May & Metzger, 1977, p. 92). It is easy for us to make people and objects more important than God by making them our idols, our gods. Moses left the Israelites under the direction of his brother Aaron when he went up Mt. Sinai to talk to God and before he could return the people had already made and idol. Prior to the Israelites demanding that a king be appointed to rule over them the God chose leaders like Abraham and Moses as well as the judges to lead and guide them. One of the judges, Gideon, defeats Midian and then he is asked to be king, but “he refuses by affirming that “the Lord will rule over you”” (Birch, Brueggemann, Fretheim, & Petersen, 1999, p. 217). Gideon knew what God wanted as did others, but “in time, there came pressures upon Israel to become like other nations” (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2007, p. 1). “At God’s behest Samuel delivers a severe lecture on the evils of kingship before yielding” (May & Metzger, p. 340) to their request.

God’s “ideal king”

God chose Saul to be the first king over Israel. Samuel told Saul that “the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you” (May & Metzger, p. 343). The role of king was a great won and God realized this so he added to the role of the prophets to include “intercession and guidance” (Birch et al., 1999, p. 233) for the kings. This is seen most notably in the role that Nathan plays in David’s life. God chose David to take Saul’s place as king of Israel. When this happened, the spirit of the Lord leaves Saul and goes to David.

David knew what God wanted in an “ideal king” and he wrote about them in Psalm 72. “Give the king thy justice, O God, and they righteousness to the royal son! May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor” (May & Metzger, p. 709)! Even before he was made king, David cared about those who were being oppressed. Before becoming king David heard that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah so he went to the Lord and asked “Shall I go and attack these Philistines” (May & Metzger, p. 362)? God told him to go.

David was righteous, but as it is with all of us, he had his faults, his sins. God knows we are going to sin and he knew that David would also sin. We see this in 2 Samuel 11 when David covets Uriah’s wife Bathsheba with whom he commits adultery and when they find out she is pregnant with his child he has Uriah murdered. After being rebuked by Nathan David admits his sin and by God’s grace is spared. The child that was born to Bathsheba dies after which David “went into the house of the Lord, and worshipped” (May & Metzger, 1977, p. 390).

Was David God’s “ideal king?” He likely was God’s ideal earthly king, but not his “ideal king.” God knew David’s limitations and he knew that David would fall short. No one on earth could fill this role.

A king’s sovereignty

God’s sovereignty is not limited to ruling over a region or a people. “God’s sovereignty is not morally and theologically neutral” (Birch et al., 1999, p. 220). By the time the Israelites were demanding an earthly king they no longer understood God’s kingship. An earthly king was incapable of maintaining the neutrality that God could. How could they? They had not created the heavens and the earth. God set the moral standard and there has been no one in since the beginning of time that has been able to live up to that standard except for Jesus.

Saul and David were both chosen by God to be king. This immediately limits the extent of their sovereignty to what God wants it to be. God sent the prophets to guide the kings. The earthly kings’ sovereignty is much different than God’s.

Today we say that nations are sovereign. This sovereignty is similar to that of the kings of ancient Israel in that the sovereignty covers a specific area and people. They differ because the kings of ancient Israel were appointed by God. Today Kings are in power because of their lineage, not divine appointment. Nations are sovereign because, not because of God, but because in most cases the land that they hold was either bought or taken by force.

Conclusion

The Israelites should have listened to the warning that Samuel gave them from God about the earthly kings. Whereas God is not susceptible to sin, we are. God is the same today as he was yesterday, but man changes many times over the course of his life based on the many influences that he will experience. We see over and over in the scriptures man’s inability to keep covenants with God or with other men. The constant pressures that we face each day prevent us from ever being able to fulfill the role of the “ideal king.” God’s “ideal king” came to be in Jesus Christ and who is sovereign over all creation and whose kingship is for all eternity.

References

Birch, B. C., Brueggemann, W., Fretheim, T. E., & Petersen, D. L. (1999). A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Grand Canyon University (2007). BIB 113 Lecture Five, Monarchy and God's Sovereignty. : .May, H. G., & Metzger, B. M. (1977). The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha Expanded Edition and Revised Standard Version. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.

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April 2008 Newsletter

A History of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, part 6

Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Adapted from a Historical Treatise Written by Charlotte Stelcik

The Second Church

In 1906, when plans were formulated for a new church, a building fund was created. Eight years later, in 1914, a total of $5,000 was on hand. On June 23, 1915, the old church building was sold and moved away to make room for the new structure. On July 6th, Jan Hus Day, ground was broken for the new Bohemian Presbyterian Church.

On July 15, 1915, the elders met in the German Evangelical Church where the congregation held services while the new church was being built. The corner stone was laid on August 21, 1915. The building, complete with furnishings, was to cost $24,000 but actually the final total reached $30,000. On Sunday, January 9, 1916, Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church was dedicated free from debt. Dr. J. Bren preached the dedicatory sermon assisted by visiting ministers from Cedar Rapids and vicinity, and other Czech churches in the Middle West.

The following article appeared in the January 11, 1916 edition of the Cedar Rapids Republican”

“The dedication services of the Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church were celebrated Sunday to the satisfaction of all participating. It was a day long to be remembered by those who were in attendance.

Short services at 10 o’clock in the morning were held before the opening of the gates of the edifice. Many persons from adjoining towns, Center Point, Walker, Vinton, Fairfax, Luzerne, and Mt. Vernon, were present. The meeting was opened with the signing of the Hundredth Psalm after which Rev. A. Paulu of Vining offered up a prayer and Rev. Pokorny of Ely, gave a short address. Miss Marie Pudil presented the keys of the church to its pastor, Rev. V. Hlavaty, the articles being laid on a platter bordered with roses. Rev. Hlavaty, with suitable remarks, opened the doors in the name of God.

The regular service began by the singing of ‘How Amiable are Thy Dwellings, O God,’ and in a short time the auditorium was filled by its congregation. Rev. Hlavaty offered a dedicatory prayer and Rev. Bren, of Hopkins, Minnesota, preached the dedication sermon. Rev. Pokorny read a poem, composed by himself, especially for the occasion. A collection of $1,500 was taken up which leaves but a very small debt. Thirty new members joined the church.

In the afternoon at three o’clock, services continued, this time in the English tongue. After the opening hymn, Rev. F. H. Shedd conducted a session of scripture reading and Rev. Dr. Ferguson followed this with prayer. Two quartets form the Sinclair Memorial Chapel rendered two songs. Rev. R. B. A. McBride spoke at length on ‘The Church of Today’ and Rev. E. R. Burkhalter spoke on ‘What the World Owes Bohemia from the Religious and Historical Standpoint.’

A second hymn by the congregation followed the close of this address. Rev. A. M. Jayne spoke on behalf of the Ministerial Union and with singing of America and the benediction by Rev. E. R. Burkhalter, the services were closed.

In the evening the third service consecrated. Short addresses were given by Rev. Paulu, Rev. Dudycha, and Rev. Bren. Rev. M. Spinka, pastor of the Reformed Bohemian Church, extended greetings. Several songs by the choir, under the direction of Joseph A. Popelka, were thoroughly enjoyed. Rev. Hlavaty brought the celebration to a close by his speech of thanks to the contractors, the building committees and the ladies who so generously prepared and served dinner and supper to the guests.”

The church was a brick structure (which is still standing and being used for worship by another congregation) which measures thirty-six by thirty-six feet. It was divided in the middle by a door which could be raised or lowered. The auditorium seated five hundred people. Above the main sanctuary, on the balcony, were four rooms used for Sunday School. In the basement there was a large hall in which dinners were served, meetings held, programs given, and plays presented. Adjoining this room was an adequately equipped kitchen. On the other side of the large hall there was a smaller room which was used for recreation, and half of the room served as the nursery for the youngest group in the church.

On December 12, 1916, an interesting meeting of the Czech people was held in the church which was filled to capacity. Dr. Bohumil Simek, a professor at the University of Iowa, was the speaker. The purpose of the meeting was the liberation of the Czech people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The people of the church always try to help in the old country’s freedom—morally, politically, and financially. A collection of $379 was taken.

In the winter of 1917 the church installed a new organ at the cost of $2,100. It was finished on December 15th and dedicated at a special program on December 24th of that same year.

In October, 1916, the girls decided to organize a society. Thirteen girls then established a club which they called Esther. Their purpose was to help needy families. This organization, like several others, faded away in time. The Boy Scouts undertook their first organization under the auspices of the church in 1916.

The Christian Endeavor organization can be traced back through the minutes almost to the very beginning of the church. In addition to their program of religious education and fellowship, they sponsored ice cream socials, presented plays, and presided over booths at the bazaars. In the late 1940’s the group changed their name to the Westminster Youth Fellowship. This group also faded away in time.

An annual event of the church is the Christmas program which was given on the Sunday evening preceding Christmas. All age groups form the Sunday School took part. The church platform in the main sanctuary was decorated and in the afternoon of the day of the program two Christmas trees were decorated by the young people. The program, which was directed by the superintendent of the Sunday School, consisted of recitations given by individuals, and usually exercises were offered by various age groups. Each Sunday School group had something to offer. The choir also took part in the program. It was customary for several children each to recite a poem or some small selection in Czech.

In 1918 a number of Sunday evening programs were held by the congregation. These were not necessarily religious in nature but consisted of lectures of educational nature. Various speakers came to talk to the people on these evenings.

Because of Him ~ Terry

¹⁹This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "The special days when you fast in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become good, joyful, happy feasts in Judah. But you must love truth and peace." Zechariah 8:19 (NCV)