History Minutes


Rona Johnston Gordon, chair of the Worship Committee has organized “History Minutes,” to be shared each Sunday morning during the Anniversary Celebration month. Join us as we travel through time, learning about the movement of the Presbyterian Church in New England, and the congregation of First Presbyterian Church’s involvement in mission and ministry in the city of New Haven. During worship each Sunday, the congregation will sing a hymn from the time period highlighted that morning. On Sunday, February 20th, the morning’s worship service will include readings from previous pastors, prayers from past generations, and music leading us onward in faith.

History Talk, January 23

February 15th, 2011 — 9:40pm

Minutes for History—Rona Johnston Gorden  (January 23, 2011)

Five Sundays from now, on February 20th, First Presbyterian will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its foundation.  The four Sundays leading up to the 20th have been designated History Month by the anniversary committee, and that month begins today.

Over the next four Sunday we would like include a little history in our worship each Sunday, not in the form of a history lesson, but as a chance to reflect on our common past, on what we might find in that inherited history that might inspire us, or challenge us, or simply give us cause for thought. Continue reading »

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History Talk – January 30

February 15th, 2011 — 9:39pm

Minutes for History—Nancy Walker (January 30, 2011)

Our FIVE minutes for history this week takes us to First Pres, in the 1930’s. After enjoying our own “roaring 20’s” when our membership soared to over 500, in the 1930’s, we experienced first hand the divisions Rona told us about last week: debates over Biblical authorship, authority and interpretation. Continue reading »

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History Talk – February 6

February 15th, 2011 — 9:38pm

Minutes for History—Chuck Forman  (February 6, 2011)

During the1960s and ’70s there was much interest in our church in the policies of our national government.  The first big interest was in civil rights, with an effort to pass the Civil Rights Act.  A number of members of the church went to the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, for which there was a whole trainload from New Haven.  That was when Martin Luther King gave the famous “I Have A Dream” speech.  At other times church members went to call on Congressmen to get their vote in favor of the act and eventually it passed. Continue reading »

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History Talk – February 13

February 15th, 2011 — 9:35pm

Minute for History—Bruce Peabody (February 13, 2011)

The last three decades–our most recent history–have shown the validity of the vision of the original founders of this congregation.

These are years of long-term settled pastorates–Blair Moffett from 1979 to 1996 with Mary Thies from 1981 to 1996, and then Maria LaSala and Bill Goettler from 1998 through today. Blair and Mary left here to be co-pastors of the Presbyterian church in Stamford, not due to any theological disputes or pastor or congregation unhappiness. These long pastorates continued the trend which started with Douglas Nelson, who was pastor here from 1955 to 1978. So for the last 55 years–not just the last 30 years–the permanent pastors here have generally presided over a settled church. Continue reading »

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