Seedlings Preschool is a well respected outreach to the community as attested to by those long registration lines each fall. The idea came from Sandy Ducey, who thought that mothers needed a safe place to leave their preschool children. It began in 1983 as Mother's Day Out with Dalene Sowar as the first Director. Kathy Brinckerhoff became Director in 1986 and under her inspired leadership the program grew to a self-funded five-day-a-week program for children aged three months to five years. By 1988 it was serving more than 150 families.
Four years later, Kathy was directing a staff of twenty, and the program had become the second largest component of Children's Ministry. As an added bonus to providing a fine educational program for children, it was also offering enrichment, education, and support for parents.
Nancy Matthews became director in 1997. In 1999, the program, now named Seedlings, was honored with accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, an award which is only given to seven percent of preschools nationwide. In the same year, Wheel Day was inaugurated. All types of wheeled vehicles, from front-end loaders to fire trucks, appear in the LOPC parking lot to the unbridled joy of every young child in Lamorinda. Its fame has now spread to the point that it is now recognized as one of the top ten free events in Contra Costa County.
Through the years, Seedlings has given back to the church generously in the form of cash gifts, new carpeting and furniture for the Christian Education building, sandbox, playground equipment and other resources used in the various programs.
New ideas continue to come from this creative enterprise. They range from an extended-care "Treehouse" program, a spring art show/open house displaying the children's work, a pre-K class during summer school, to an expanded newsletter for parents.
Seedlings continues to be recognized in the community for excellence in early childhood education. It also serves as a front porch for LOPC as it attracts and welcomes young families. Over 50% of the Godly Play teachers and Vacation Bible School counselors came to the church through the doors of this program and continue to provide leadership.
Transitions
Great changes were in store beginning in July, 1986. Jim Little announced his retirement after twenty two incredible years of inspired leadership. Under his direction, the church had doubled its membership, increased its giving tenfold, while becoming a powerful force in the Presbytery and nationally. Construction during his tenure included the sanctuary, the chapel, the administration wing, the Oak Room and the Davies Room. He had touched thousands of lives in his preaching, weddings, memorial services, hospital calls and home visits. Members and friends of LOPC had seen an example of how Jesus would have wanted one to live in the twentieth century, and been challenged in ways that will not be forgotten. True to his style, he even helped identify the interim senior pastor to guide the church for the next year.
He was Davis Illingworth, a former Synod executive, who knew the church well. He was ideal for the job, because he understood the pain that permeated LOPC at the loss of Jim Little, and he had extensive experience as an interim leader. His healing sermons brought calmness and wholeness to all.
It was during this year that the sanctuary pews and carpet were replaced, that the Bell Choir made its first appearance, and that the first occupant of the Chair of Contemporary Theology came to bring his message. His name was John Ferguson, who with his wife Elnora, journeyed from England to spend three inspiring months challenging all to intensify commitments to Jesus Christ and to peacemaking.
There was a Pastor Search Committee working all of this time which recommended the Rev. Donald McFerren as the third Head of Staff. He arrived in the fall of 1987 in the midst of the most successful stewardship program in the church's history, which generated 1078 pledges for a total of $1.25 million dollars. Art Haigh led this creative endeavor.
Only in retrospect can it be seen that Don's tenure was the beginning of a period of instability that lasted for twelve years until the arrival of Peter Whitelock in the summer of 1999. It is clear now that the strength of the laity, developed under the inspired guidance of Carl Thomas and Jim Little, helped to maintain and sustain the church through this period.
Don was here less than a year when he was forced to resign for health reasons. Penny Newall also resigned at that time to be succeeded by the Rev. Rebecca Kuiken, who came on an interim basis. At the same time, the Rev. Tim Mooney joined the staff to add his skills to the needs at LOPC in the area of youth and family ministry. Another new minister, the Rev. Terry Dawson took over leadership of the Singles Program.
With the loss of Don McFerren, the church turned to Clayton Cobb to fill the role of interim Head of Staff. The young man who came to serve the youth program in 1979 had matured to become an inspiring spiritual leader. He brought stability and strength and many were sad that the Presbyterian system did not allow his ascension to the role of permanent Head of Staff. Once again, LOPC had trained a future leader of another church. Clayton's tenure concluded in the summer of 1991, when he received a call to be Senior Pastor at Novato, and Steve Wirth took up the mantle as leader of the congregation.
Dennis Keller left after four years to be replaced in early 1989 by David Morales. David brought his own unique brand of intensity, enthusiasm, and expert musicianship which quickly permeated the whole church music program. The choir grew and the children's choirs expanded, while the Christmas and Easter musical events became the talk of the community. It was an unforgettable sight to see the whole front of the church filled with choir members every Sunday morning.
These transitions were prelude to the arrival of the fourth Head of Staff, the Rev. Dr. William Rolland, who took over his ministry at the beginning of 1991. Bill was originally from Scotland, but was most recently serving at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Bill quickly won our hearts with his delightful Scottish accent and his caring ways. It was during his time here that Elizabeth Graham, Tom Swartz, Cheryl Nutting, Jim Szeyller, and Vince Mok came to put their marks on our history.
Early in Bill's tenure, the LOPC Foundation was established to encourage, collect and invest endowment funds. Gains from these investments would be used to promote the long-range mission of the church in ways that extend beyond the capability of the annual budget. With approximately $2 million under management now, these gains have already funded capital, maintenance, and safety needs of our campus as well as providing scholarships for seminary students and funds for mission programs.
Mission Activities in the1990s
There was no letup in the mission activities of LOPC during the '90s but there was a very definite change in emphasis. Peacemaking and social justice were highlighted, but hunger and homelessness were issues that touched everyone. Consequently, a Homelessness Task Force was commissioned, out of which came our major mission emphasis for the next ten years. Named WINGS, it signified "Working In Networks for Good Shelter." The issue captured every heart but it was Nancy Henderson's untiring enthusiasm that made it all happen.
The project began in 1993 by sponsoring two families and making contacts with North Concord Shelter, Martinez Mountain Home, Center for Urban Family Life, Henry Robinson Center, and Homeplace. The work continued with education of our congregation about the problems of homelessness and by providing increased opportunities for volunteers to help in areas of need.
Next came involvement with Shelter Inc, the largest single provider of housing for the homeless in Contra Costa County. All of this led to LOPC being the leader in establishing the Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing group. Louise Fix was the prime mover in an effort to have the churches in the county organize to establish and fund a facility for the homeless. As the '90s were ending, an apartment was located in Pleasant Hill, funding was in progress, and the future looked bright for this project.
Godly Play
Sometimes out of the ashes of tragedy can arise a wonderful new beginning. And so it has been in the introduction of Godly Play for Christian Education at LOPC. During the early 1990s the Superintendent of the Church School program, Sue Fox, developed Lou Gehrig's disease, and her best friend, Di Pagel, took over her position. In that role, Di was introduced to Godly Play and its Montessori-type use of objects to be the focus of Biblical story telling. After a story is told, a time "open for wondering" helps identify feelings and stimulate the exploration of existential questions of faith.
At Sue's death, the funds given in her memory to the church school program funded the creation of the first Godly Play room. Cheryl Nutting was instrumental in providing pastoral support and for introducing the program at LOPC. The term "Godly Play" was a concern to some members of the staff, so it was first introduced as "Story Circle."
In the expansion of the program to three rooms, contributions came from many sources. Several Eagle Scouts made the many movable shelves and Rick Burris made the focal shelves for each room as miniature replicas of the communion table in the sanctuary. The special furniture and equipment that the program uses provides the children a stable environment that each Sunday allows them to see and work with the stories in baskets and boxes laid out in the same order. Room space is left mostly open with the stories presented on the floor, first in a circle and then available afterwards for the children to work with individually or in small groups.
In the first year of its introduction at the second service, attendance increased so much that Di Pagel and Merwyn Powell gave up keeping records after about 200 children came through the door. At times, there have been thirty or more in a room. In the fall of 2002, the program was expanded to both morning services.
When Godly Play and its creator, Jerome Berryman, were first introduced to LOPC, the program was still in its infancy. Just as it has expanded here, it also has expanded worldwide. Di Pagel is one of two training representatives for the West Coast. LOPC has hosted three regional conferences, the most recent taking place in November, 2003.
Teachers from all over the West attend these conferences to become accredited in the storytelling and in the gentle, but firm approach to classroom management. Storytellers become dedicated to the process. In addition, more experienced teachers help develop a new set of stories of individual Biblical characters presented through objects related to their life story.
The Latest Decade
A Long Range Planning Committee, chaired by Charles Cowden, reported in 1993. It is important now to see what were recognized as the critical points then because these are items that are still on the church agenda:
Attract young families
Expand the membership
Support community and world mission
Refurbish and expand the physical plant
Another significant change during this period was the installation of a true Personnel Committee. The size of our staff and the complexity of life in the late 20th century made this an important and much needed innovation.
In June, 1994, LOPC celebrated its fortieth year in grand fashion with forty-one pot luck dinners, a special commemorative booklet, an inspiring worship service with past and present clergy in attendance, and a lawn party during which attendees could examine pictures and documents of important events in our history. The theme was "Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future," all under the creative leadership of Inez Wright.
In early 1995, Dr. Lois Wilson arrived to be the occupant of the Chair of Contemporary Theology. Her diminutive size was balanced by an incredible mind and the ability to express her thoughts in ways that moved everyone within the sound of her voice. Her influence has continued through the years as she has frequently been a visitor on the LOPC campus.
Also in that same year, High Street Presbyterian Church in Oakland needed a new pastor, and they identified Terry Dawson as being an ideal match. Because Terry was studying for a doctorate in cross cultural ministries, his interest in the position was strong. Their budget could not make the stretch to make this happen, so LOPC provided Terry and $22,000 to help them over the hump for the first three years.
At the same time, the youth of our church were in need of a dedicated meeting place. A grass roots movement within the church located the spot, the basement of the Chapel building, raised the money, and got it done. Many hands made it possible but Tom Lowe was the creative mind that conceived and directed the building, while Ted Ockels directed the financing on this fast-track project which was completed in six months.
This was an incredible prelude to the arrival on the campus of the Rev. James Szeyller, a minister trained and ready for youth ministry. Along with all of the exciting weekly and monthly activities, Jim put his heart and soul into mission trips and service opportunities for the young folks. Not only senior-high, but also junior-high students went on mission trips to Cerro Azul, Mexico, to build houses and to assist in Cortez, Colorado. Some youth representatives went to the National Youth Council in Montreat, North Carolina. In 1998, forty-two advisors and young people had the life changing opportunity of a trip to Thailand. Mexico, Michigan, and Washington were all places where the youth of our church made their presence known and had their own lives touched in ways that can not be measured in words.
While discussing youth projects, it is only fitting to recognize the Reachin' Out Project, which is dear to the heart of Mary Lou Lucke, its founder and director. Its goal is to help developmentally disabled teenagers find meaning and mutual support. This is done through work projects, outings and evenings of fun. Mary Lou has been the core of this program for twenty years in a magnificent display of love.
The campus saw another new landmark when, in January 1996, Kurth Memorial Garden was dedicated. This long-held dream has grown and continues to grow in importance with each passil}g year, as a place to celebrate and remember family and friends who have gone before us.
Many heads and hearts were involved, but Wiles Halleck provided the continuous, thoughtful leadership.
In that same year, committed lay people went to Boligee, Alabama, to participate in another demonstration of world wide mission by helping in the rebuilding of black churches burned down in racial attacks. Vince Mok coordinated and provided the leadership for this.
We would be remiss if we neglected to note that 1996 was the first year that Goats-R-Us appeared on the campus to attack and consume those dry weeds on the hillside. These mobile weed eaters have been annual visitors ever since.
The congregation was surprised by the resignation of Bill Rolland in the spring of 1997. He had won his way into our hearts, but he had not been able to ignite the kind of ferment in the church that he desired. It was with much sadness that we bid the "wee Scot" a fond farewell.
Tom Swartz picked up the mantle and did yeoman service as interim Head of Staff until the arrival of Jim Hinch in early 1998. Jim had done several stints as an interim pastor, and he provided a healing presence during his tenure. This was also the time when David Morales resigned to be replaced by Greg Sudmeier.
Tom Swartz was instrumental in bringing the program "Gifts from God" to the campus, and he was the primary trainer in a task aimed to help us learn where our gifts called us to serve in the church. It was a unique approach. Each person who took the class was encouraged to learn not only what gifts he had, but also where she felt called to serve. The church office is keeping records of all of this and using this data as needs arise.
In early 1999 the rumors turned to fact. The Pastor Search Committee had found a candidate with a strikingly different biography than we had expected. Their candidate was young. He was, in fact, under forty years old, just exactly the kind of image that LOPC badly needed. The Rev. Peter Whitelock, schooled at Fuller Theological Seminary, with pastorates served in Tennessee and Ojai, came to candidate in May. A congregation eager to stride forward and stop using the term "interim" when describing staff members, quickly accepted him.
A unique stewardship program complete with heraldic trumpeters and a circus tent, was prepared in the fall under Peter's direction. This resulted in a stunning eighteen percent increase in giving. Programs came alive with increased involvement; new member classes were larger; and many old friends began to reappear on campus. The unique traits of vitality, enthusiasm, and creativity that had been hallmarks of LOPC were beginning to be seen again.
The year 2000 also brought a sad note when our dear friend and former pastor, the Rev. Charles Shields lost his long battle with prostate cancer. A fund was started in his honor and administered by the LOPC Foundation, - the money to be used to promote the kinds of work to which Chuck devoted his life - healing and wholeness and inclusiveness.
That magnificent Swain and Kates organ was showing signs of its age, and it was clear that major work was needed. Even so, Ken Mansfield continued to perform his usual magic with eighty-four weddings, twenty-four memorial services, more than 100 regular services, plus uncounted rehearsals in the year 2000. With gifts and a fund raising concert, the needed $120,000 was raised, so that a new organ console and other associated work was completed in early 2001.
The First Friday Forum made its inauguration in early 2001, an idea from that creative mind of Inez Wright. It continues to offer informative lectures and discussions for members and friends. With attendance averaging 150, it is clear that this program is flourishing.
Fall of 2001 signaled the beginning of Contemporary Worship each Sunday afternoon. It started as and remains an effort to reach those who seek an alternative to traditional worship services. The sermon remains the same but the setting is more informal and "praise music" provides the inspirational touch. Now, in early 2004, its venue and name have changed. It is Cafe Worship, celebrated in the newly carpeted Fellowship Hall, with the inspiring musical leadership of Greg Murai.
Under the heading of Senior Programs, Lorraine Lyon and Wiles Halleck hatched another new idea. With the title of "Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Tell Tall Tales" they produced a booklet honoring those of our members who had served in the military.
The beginnings of the Stephens Ministry Care System surfaced in 2002, spearheaded by Tom Swartz and the deacons. Tom, Rita Neill and Jenny Kallio were trained as leaders. They, in turn, trained twenty-five other LOPC members to be Stephens Ministers for a program that began in earnest in 2003.
This was quickly followed and augmented by the Parish Nurse Program. Debbie Ringen, trained already as a nurse and a parish nurse, stepped forward to lead the program. And lead she did! There was a flu shot clinic, a blood pressure clinic, calls on hospitalized members, as well as those being released to their homes. It took some of the time pressure off of the clergy staff, while providing some very useful professional service. As 2003 ended, there was a growing awareness of the great values this program could bring.
There were some important staff changes in 2002. The Rev. Gail Doering came as Associate Pastor for Children, Youth and Families. Julie Ford began her tenure as Director of Music; Greg Murai became Assistant Director, while Ken Mansfield moved to the status of Organist Emeritus to be replaced by Linda Wight on an interim basis. Robert Adams joined us in 2003 as our new permanent organist. Meanwhile, our outstanding Bell Choir, led by Reuben Mendoza, continued to amaze, delight and inspire us all. The innovative Dancer's Circle continues to provide poetry in motion led by Eugenia Simpson.
Ken Mansfield made his retirement official on June 30, 2002. We are indeed fortunate to have had one person at that organ console for all of its formative years and for thirty-four of our first fifty years as a church. With an average of fifty weddings per year, Ken has played at well over
1500 weddings plus rehearsals. Add to that memorial services, choir rehearsals, personal practice time, and at least two worship services each Sunday. Is it any wonder that glorious instrument is and will remain the Mansfield Organ?
Pushed by the faltering economy and negative returns, the LOPC Foundation changed its investment strategy from using the Presbyterian Foundation (USA) to a local financial planning company, YCM/NET. In addition, a very important change was made in the method for funding the various projects under its guidance. Rather than funding from gains (sometimes very good, and sometimes nonexistent), it established a procedure of always allocating four percent each year. This allows recipients to plan on some funds each year and yet is an amount that will allow the Foundation to grow.
Two difficult farewells came in the spring of 2003 when Tom Swartz received a call to be Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church in Toledo, Ohio. Tom and his wife, the Rev. Cheryl Nutting, had both been huge contributors to the life and history of LOPC during the past ten years. Tom gave from his heart to the Singles program and then acted as interim Head of Staff during some extremely difficult times. Cheryl will long be remembered for her caring manner, her thoughtful sermons, and her sensitive touch at memorial services.
The Approaching Golden Anniversary
The Long Range Facilities Planning Committee began to see that light which heralded the approaching end of their travail. It had been a long struggle, beginning back in 1994. Under the guidance of Bo Jensen, Ron Brown, Andy Amstutz, and Rich Lowell the ideas were starting to coalesce. Architectural sketches and engineering estimates breathed new life into these long awaited dreams. Conversations with fund raising companies helped the Session and others begin to understand the complexities of turning dreams into dollars, and dollars into buildings. In the fall of 2003, the Session voted to go forward with the plans by approving a capital fund raising campaign for the spring of 2004. Gerry and Sandy Ducey were chosen as the leaders of Phase I of this plan to renew, expand and revitalize our church facilities, utilizing the theme "A Time To Build".
The plan is to replace the current administration building with a two story building that will contain a state of the art nursery, new Christian Education facilities, a music room, and additional meeting rooms. Staff offices are to be in temporary quarters while the current education wing is modified to provide permanent quarters. In the spring of 2004, a committee of members trained in construction and led by Norm Lescure worked closely with the architect to finalize those plans and specifications.
The approaching fiftieth birthday of the church was characterized by increased involvement and much increased activity. There were committee meetings everywhere and often. Much of it had to do with the celebration. More of it had to do with actual plans for the pending construction and a lot of it had to do with the Capital Campaign itself. But in the meantime there was still mission activity to be continued.
Junior High and Senior High mission trips were the major focus each year. In mid 2003, Rebecca Holland came to bring fresh energy and ideas to the youth program. She, along with Bob Hoots, led the middle school mission to Mexico while she and Gail Doering led the high school trip to Colorado. As the anniversary neared, that wonderful youth activity center was bursting at the seams and presenting a new and wonderful kind of problem.
This all led very naturally to the concept of a family mission trip. Twice as many people wanted to go as could be handled. A group of forty, led by Jim and Peter, found enrichment and meaning in a February, 2004, trip to Tijuana, Mexico.
By far the largest and most fruitful mission activity for the church was its involvement in Israel. Jim Szeyller was the prime mover in this activity. He visited Israel in the fall of 2002 and brought back first hand word of the compelling need to bring comfort and hope to a land filled with strife and despair. He helped us to identify specific needs at the Ahli Arab Hospital and the Atfaluna School for the Deaf in Gaza. Seminars were initiated in early 2003 to help us to learn more. Later, Jim, along with Tom Francis and Bill DeWolf, made another trip to this troubled land and reported movingly to the congregation about their experiences. The mission budget has allocated money, some has come from the Foundation, and individuals have contributed so that the funds given to the Hospital now total $68,000 while the School for the Deaf has received $58,000.
This was all prelude to the inspiring news in early 2004 of an anonymous gift by a church member of $750,000 to be used mainly to promote existing mission activities. The Ahli Arab Hospital will receive an outright gift of $185,000 from the total. Family mission trips and fact finding trips to Israel were also to be underwritten by this generous gift.
All of this time, the Fiftieth Anniversary Committee, under the leadership of Fay Schoenberger, was planning for the big day. Former ministers and charter members have been invited, pot-lucks have been planned, and a video is being prepared, all leading to the grand event. There will be a single service on Sunday, June 6, with seating in the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. Video and sound feeds will interconnect the two sites. The rest of the activities must be experienced first hand. Oh yes, the results of the Capital Campaign will be announced. A time for sharing remembrances as well as dreams for the future will be enjoyed. What a fitting way to end fifty years of service and to start the next!
