The congregation poses for a photo after the church’s last service.
The church at the southeast corner of Maple and Monroe.
Rev. Shattuck delivers his final sermon.
Story and photos by WNLP’s Mike Kellems (more photos below)
In addition to being a reference to Jesus, Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; essentially the beginning and the end, or all encompassing. On Sunday, April 25, 2021, La Porte’s First Christian Church came to its own “Omega” as its final service was held.
The time capsule apparently didn’t want to reveal its contents …
With declining attendance and and aging congregation, a decision was made to close the church. Roughly 30 people were in attendance to sign the final hymns and listen to the final sermon by current minister Everett Shattuck. Shattuck is the 42nd minister to lead the congregation, which dates back to 1837.
The church building at the southeast corner of Maple Avenue and Monroe Street (across Monroe from the YMCA) was constructed in 1840 as a Presbyterian church and eventually became First Christian in 1868. Despite several remodels and additions, the hand-hewn beams of the 1849 structure can still be seen today in the attic.
Despite a bittersweet service this morning, Rev. Shattuck, who started at the church in 2007, led a spirited and often emotional homily.
… so Richard Vyse from Haverstock Funeral Home stepped in to save the day.
At the conclusion of the service a time capsule that was believed to have been placed in a cornerstone in the early 1970s was brought before the congregation to be opened. Bob Barnes, a longtime resident of La Porte County and now retired from New York Blower, was a youngster when he helped put the time capsule together and remarked that it was definitely left well secured. That was evident as several people attempted to open it without success. Richard Vyse, who is an owner of Haverstock Funeral Home next door, came to the rescue. Using fire, a vise, a pipe wrench and brute strength without success, a trusty battery-operated “sawzall” finally did the trick.
Inside the capsule a note was found listing the nine people who helped with the time capsule project, including Barnes. A church program dated September 26, 1971, along with several other documents all dated around the same time period, were found and read.
Before gathering for one last meal at the church, the remaining members of the congregation posed for a photo.
A note found inside the capsule.
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April 26, 2021 at 01:25PM
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Established in 1837, La Porte's First Christian Church quietly closes - What's New LaPorte?
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