June 2023
1963. Was the year Beatlemania began, push button telephones were introduced and 1st class postage cost 5 cents. Small portable TV sets were not too popular in the U.S., but in Japan, where they were first developed, viewers took them everywhere they went. American presence in Vietnam was steadily growing.
The Mercury Atlas 9 rocket with astronaut Gordon Cooper on board was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, spending 1 day 10 hours and 19 minutes in space. He was the first person to spend an overnight in space. It was the final manned space mission of the U.S. Mercury program completing 22 orbits.
The Rev. Martin Luther King conducted the “March on Washington”. Civil rights activists and those who opposed them dominated the news.
President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin and delivered his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech to a cheering crowd of more than 250,000 people (about half the population of Wyoming). On November 22, 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated during a parade in Dallas, Texas. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was administered the oath of office by Federal Judge Sarah Hughes, as he assumed the presidency of the United States on that same day. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination. Two days later he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby.
On January 20, 1963, Pastor John Irvine submitted his resignation effective July 1963. He received a call from Memorial Bidwell Church in Chico California to be an associate pastor. The resignation was received with sadness by all members.
A Congregational meeting was called for April 21, 1963, to hear the report of the Pastor Seeking Committee and proceed to the election of a new Pastor and matters pertaining hereto. Terms of the call to be: 1. Salary set at $5000 with housing allowance up to $100 per month; 2. Continue full pension (13%); 3. Retain milage at $600 and one month vacation each year.
Ordination and Installation of the Rev. Don Smith was held July 5, 1963, with approximately 90 people present.
November 1963, approval of a “Well Baby Clinic” will be held in rooms of the Christian Education Building once a month under the supervision of a Public
Health Nurse and sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association, starting in January 1964.
A Special Session Meeting on November 24, 1963 was held. The Pastor asked approval for a Memorial Service commemorating our President. The Session voted to have a Memorial Service and Communion, Monday, November 25, 1963, at 8 o’clock in the morning. Ruling Elders Roy Emmerton, Don Warren, Sadie Tadlock and Ruth McGinnis will help with Communion.
A letter was received from St. John’s United Church of Christ addressed to the Board of Directors of Woodland Memorial Hospital, asking them to consider including a chaplaincy program in the administration of the new hospital. A second letter to our session asking if we would like to join in this request. March 1964 the Session voted to concur with the invitation presented in the letter and a letter was sent stating the same. The hospital is scheduled to open in 1965.
In July, Session voted to approve a request of the ladies of the Church to host a Teacher’s Reception in September and the Founder’s Day Dinner on October 11, 1964. The Stewardship Committee will be in charge of planning the program. September 14th, the Teacher’s Reception was a big success with 155 people attending. The guest speaker for Founder’s Day dinner will be Rev. Ray Squire.
A first, “Graduates and Parents Dinner”: hosted by the Churches of the community was held in the Alice Marsh Hall on June 5, 1965. 50% of the graduates attended. The churches participating were Countryside, Guinda Methodist Church, St. Martin’s Catholic Church, with verbal support from the Free Will Baptist of Esparto.
August 1965, Session voted to donate the church bell, that has been inactive and in storage for many years, to the Presbyterian Pines Conference Grounds. They need a bell.
September 1965, the Building Fund Committee planned a campaign for the third pledge period to finish off the building debt. $16,371.12 is the remaining balance. The Founder’s Day Dinner will be the kickoff, October 10th. The slogan is: All The Way In “65”.
The Teachers' Reception was a success in September with 75 – 80 people attending. About 50% of the teachers attended. Douglas Oglesby was the guest speaker. The session voted to hold next year's Teachers Reception on September 28, 1966.
The Session voted Miss Sally Oliver delegate to attend the Church Vocations Conference at Yosemite, November 6 – 7, 1965. Bill Rominger is the first alternate and Deborah Durst is the second alternate. Elder Robert Hayes will donate registration fee of $15.00 and transportation. The Session voted approval and appreciation. Because the Conference had room for extra delegates and because neither alternate could attend, Jim Durst and Sally Olliver will attend.
