March 2024
1976. The Bi-Centennial celebrations are occurring all across America. The Presidential election results were: Democrat Jimmy Carter, President elect and Walter Mondale, Vice President elect, defeating Republican President Gerald Ford and Vice President Robert Dole. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded the Apple Computer on April Fools Day. They unveiled Apple 1, the first computer with a single-circuit and ROM (Read only Memory).
The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal were boycotted by 22 African countries protesting the fact that the New Zealand rugby team had toured Apartheid South Africa and were scheduled to compete in the Olympic Games. The Winter Games were held in Innsbruck, Austria. USA.'s Dorothy Hamel won the gold medal in figure skating. The Games were awarded to Innsbruck after Denver, the original host city, withdrew in 1972. Detroit has tried repeatedly to host the Games, but has never won the bid. The United States has been in every Olympic Game except for the 1980 Summer Olympics. They led a boycott in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The United States Olympics and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee for the U.S.
Special Congregational Meeting on March 14, 1976. The purpose of the meeting was to hear the recommendation of the pastor seeking committee and to act thereon. Joe Bradshaw, chairman of the committee, reported that it was the unanimous vote of the committee to call the Rev. Brenda Keel Springer of Woodland, California for our pastor. The terms of the call to begin March 28, 1976 were: Salary $8333; pension 16% of salary; auto expense of $.12 per mile; housing allowance of $150 per month; study leave of two weeks and $225 annually that could accumulate for up to six years; one month vacation annually and moving expenses from Woodland. A motion was made and seconded to vote on the call. The vote to call Mrs. Springer, by written ballot was 34 “yes” and 2 “no”. After some discussion a motion was made and seconded that we cast a unanimous ballot, motion carried. Mrs. Springer’s name was sent to the Sacramento Presbytery M.R. Committee. She was Countryside’s first female pastor. The meeting closed with prayer by the Rev. Brenda Springer.
July 21, 1976. Session Meeting. Rev. Springer reported she officiated at the funeral of Naomi Hayes who died on June 27th and on the funeral of Maude Lenore Neel who also died on June 27th. Mrs. Springer reported she had received a request on behalf of the office of the Methodist District Superintendent asking if she would be interested in sharing her services with the Guinda Church. (This was not an official request from the church to our Session). The Session voted that at this time we are not open to this request. After the first of January or maybe later we might be interested, we are not closed to the idea. Mrs. Springer reported Helene Crowley of the Sacramento Presbytery, asked if our church would open our pulpit to other churches in the process of hearing a candidate preach. The Session voted to open our pulpit to other churches to enable them to hear a candidate. Mrs. Springer suggested that she be allowed to preach in the church sending the candidate to our pulpit. Her reason was to give visibility to women ministers in our Presbytery. The Session voted (by concerns) that this was not a good idea at this time. Mrs. Springer reported she had accepted an invitation from Rev. Robert Dooling of the Woodland Presbyterian Church to preach during his vacation, August 8th and 15th. The service times will not conflict with our regular worship times.
August 18, 1976. Session Meeting. The Rev. Mrs. Springer presented Mrs. Lee Hall for examination by the Session to be received on reaffirmation of faith. After due examination, the Session voted to received Mrs. Hall into membership of this church on reaffirmation of faith. Two communicant classes are in progress, one for Jr. High and one for a Senior youth group. Invitations have been extended to members of the community to participate in a Christmas Art display interpreting the meaning of Christmas. It is to be on a religious view more than a secular view. The media will be of the artist’s choosing. The art work will be on display during the Christmas season in the church. The Session voted to endorse this Christmas Art display project by the local artists. The Session voted to have a Teacher’s Welcoming Dinner for the teachers of the Esparto School District. Session will meet August 25th to plan the dinner and program.
January 5, 1977. Session Meeting. Miss Alice Marsh appeared before Session on behalf of the Esparto Study Club.to request permission for them to place a “Memorial Plaque” in the church social hall. (For the record: approximately 35 years ago the Esparto Study Club donated $1500 to the church to help complete the social hall. In searching the church records, there is no record of donation. The money was given to the Women’s Auxiliary and in turn the Auxiliary gave the money to the Church). The Session voted permission to place a plaque in the hall; that the two organizations, the Esparto Study Club and the Church’s Women’s Auxiliary Executive Board meet together on the proper wording of the plaque; Session prefers no amount of money be mentioned nor no full credit be stated. The Sacramento Presbytery Visitation Team is planned for January 24th. The pastor will meet with the team in the late afternoon and the session members, pastor and the team will join together for a potluck dinner. Another meeting with the team and the session members will follow for discussion..
February 9, 1977. Session Meeting. The Rev. Springer presented Elizabeth Koeppen for examination for membership on a letter of transfer from St. John’s United Church of Christ. After due examination, Session voted to received Mrs. Koeppen. Mrs. Koeppen also requested baptism of her infant son, Barrett Scott Koeppen, born January 14, 1977. Session voted to receive Barrett for baptism.
Parents: Don Koeppen and Elizabeth Pickering Koeppen.
Election of committees and other officers:
Clerk of Session and Secretary of the corporation: Jean Errington
President of the Corporation and Trustees: Bill Rominger
Christian Education: Bonnie Feeney with Vernia Bahlman, co-chairperson
Worship: Edee Bouslaugh
Membership: Norma Garrison
Community Service: Henning Erickson
Stewardship: Don Warren
Nominating Committee: Don Warren chairperson and Jean Errington
Elders will be responsible for door assignment one month of the year. And responsible for one Sunday of the month for coffee hour, other Sundays volunteers from the congregation will be asked. Elders are responsible for communion elements.
A request for use of a room by Ms. Lonnie Kiehm, Youth Services Bureau worker in Esparto, to use a room for informal group counseling. It would be at the school lunch hour or after school. Mrs. Delfie Schakra, Esparto nurse practitioner, will assist and the Rev. Springer may be invited to assist. Session voted a tentative yes. More information needed. Session also granted a request by Mrs. Springer to take the high school students to see a play on February 27th.
