The Historian’s Report
At First Congregational Church of Ramona, we know that we can’t see where we’re going without knowing where we’ve been. That is why our historian is an officer of our Church Council. We take our history seriously as we remember the faithfulness of God. In our Annual Report, we include a report from our historian to help us understand the challenges and celebrate the victories of the year we’ve just experienced.
By Susan H. Ruputz
It was wonderful to recite our Affirmation of Faith the day after Christmas, at our last Sunday worship service of 2021, with a wonderfully attentive congregation listening carefully to Pastor Wes’ Children’s Moment, the uplifting bluegrass music by Emmaus Road, and the Sermon entitled “Whose Are You?” based on the scripture verses of Luke 2:41-52 when Jesus replies to His mother Mary, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” So very much has occurred in the last year, difficult and joyous, but we are rounding the corner and returning stronger for our trials and lessons learned.
Last year, on November 17, 2020 Pastor Tracy notified the membership that State Covid Directives would be enacted, again, closing us down, and we returned to church on Zoom! With social distancing and safety protocols now a familiar way of life, your Church Council and Trustees began meeting more often. There was a request from twenty or so members of the congregation, per the FCC by-laws, sent to our Pastoral Relations Committee and Moderator, Sue Bender, on November 16th , asking for a special meeting of the congregation requesting the resignation of Rev. Barnowe. Pastor Tracy took a vacation. Rev. Susan McGinn and Dave Van Cleve stepped up to cover a couple of Sundays, the Children’s Choir under the direction of Emily Whigham presented a musical Christmas play, and then Ratko presented the Choir’s Christmas Cantata! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year “zoomed” along with discussions, and discussions, and discussions, on the request for resignation ending in a vote of the Congregation with the resolve of “a negotiated settlement” with the Pastor. Some left the church, and some came back, and the Annual Meeting was put off. Sherry Torpin, working hard for the Diaconate, gathered a few names of members that would kindly share a Sunday morning message, sermon-like, with the Congregation.
In mid-February of 2021 we began outside Sunday services. We sat on our own beach chairs and choosing to sit in the sun or shade with the proper measured distance for safety, we were treated to encouraging words from Ratko Filipovich -- “Hope in God”, and Kristy Whigham -- “Jesus Loves Me”. Our healing path was beginning.
Our monthly FCC Newsletter, The Herald, in March of 2021 carried a photo of the large stained-glass window on the D Street wall of the Sanctuary that was installed by the late Darrell Beck in 1993 during our Sanctuary renovation. Having not met in person in the Sanctuary for some months due to Covid. this photo and article gave the congregation a chance to feel the Christian symbols included in this beautiful window by Artistic Design, Inc. of San Marcos at the direction of Larry Haeger, Joanne Glaudini, Terry Spain, and Jo Linda Marshall. The Annual Meeting, two months delayed, was held outside immediately after church on March 21, 2021. A quorum was present! Church business was transacted!
Services were continued outside and sometimes the weather cooperated, and often and most fortunately Matt Nuth would bring his cello for preludes, postludes, and special music. It was then that more of our Congregation stepped up, answering the call, to help with sermons. Matthew 22:23-40 and Galatians 3:23-25 helped us to see “The Elephant in the Room” by Hal Mortier, then a bit of Joshua 5:13-15 and Ephesians’ whole armor of God for “Warrior Ethos” by Ratko Filipovich, followed by Doug Mallonee’s “Live a Life of Love” on 1 Corinthians 13!
All at once spring was upon us, and baseball’s spring training too as Reverend Michael Malone and wife Laurie arrived from Tucson, AZ so he could “fill the pulpit” in Pulpit Supply Parlance of the Olden Days -- for Palm Sunday – and catch a Padres game or two. They were delighted to stay for Easter, too!
April messages rounded out with “Giving Your Best” from Art Blanck, “What Are My Gifts, God?” from Gayla Hager with 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11, and Lavon Switzer shared, “Feeling and Healing Grief With Hope” by good use of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Then, by surprise, Rev. Michael Malone returned for Communion on May 2nd. By early May the Interim Pastor Search Committee had talked with Rev. Nerice Kaufman. Her credentials would be a good fit for our congregation and there was support for her to start with great strengths concerning visitation and pastoral messages from the pulpit too! We had a few more members of the congregation who stepped up when asked, who were able to share their message, too. This worked out perfectly! Not surprisingly, John Stevenson covered Mother’s Day with a message entitled “Seeds,” leaning on words from Jeremiah 31:34. On the 16th Karen and son David Mallonee treated us to a message called “Hope, Vision and the Ships of Thesus” with Bible verses from Romans 5 and Isaiah 40:31. It was now Kristy Whigham, Chairwoman of the Board of Christian Education, always a teacher, who eagerly shared the Pentecost message, “Happy Birthday!” Pastor Nerice jumped in for Memorial Day Sunday with a sermon entitled “From a Distance” with scripture from Luke 7:1-10. Four days a week and Sunday, too, sometimes with husband Fred, Nerice would arrive in Ramona from Carlsbad to make calls, listen to concerns when people came by the office. She visited with so many in the congregation after a Sunday service but also arranged to visit many at their homes, in care facilities in Ramona and in the county, all in need of her kind words and encouragement to help our community survive. Pastor Nerice even went to the planning meeting for Women’s Fellowship’s Harvest Fair, and a few other board and committee meetings and having been well trained in listening would respond if asked for her opinion.
Summer was approaching. More Youth Group activities, church camp, and Vacation Bible School moved to the front for the Christian Education Board and Youth Directors to secure activities, teachers, dates, drivers and the like.
Our Settled Pastor Search Committee “lit up” again, as Interim Pastor Nerice was in place, and knowing there was an “iron in the fire” that needed to be tended! July, and then August… All the necessary paperwork did take time but was finally, most carefully, in place. The strength of an opportunity to sift through perspective candidates, or maybe one or two, and then one presented himself! Meticulous questioning, an opportunity of face-to-face meeting and hearing a sermon on neutral ground. Our Search Committee found a Settled Pastor Candidate in Wesley Ellis and arranged for a most informative brochure to be distributed one week before he was due to give a sermon here! On Sunday, August 29, following a sermon by Reverend Doctor Wesley Ellis, a member of our congregation since confirmation as a youth here, and having just completed 25 years of schooling, with a quorum present for a special meeting of full church membership, a confidential vote was taken. Moderator Mark Allen welcomed Wes, wife Amanda, son Henry and daughter Bonnie, introducing them formally to our congregation. Pastor Wes Ellis said, “I am happy to be a part of the future of this church as it has been part of my past,” He closed our meeting with prayer. Returning to New Jersey and packing up belongings to be moved to California came next for the Ellis Family. Wes’s first official day on the job as settled Pastor of First Congregational Church of Ramona would be October 11th .
For those of us here in sunny Ramona we looked forward to the traditional Rally Day, a return to fall schedules for the Sunday School and Youth Groups, and the Mission Board’s monthly Farmer’s Market food distribution. Mindful that our friend and Moderator Sue Bender had passed away in the springtime after some years of pain and discomfort she worked so hard to understand and control, it was finally time to have husband Richard, surrounded by both sides of the family for a celebration of life for Sue on Saturday, September 19th. Loving and caring family gave heartwarming remembrances of Sue. It was a beautiful day, and we miss her firm but gentle spirit! The Trustees, having made a decision to have the stained-glass altar window repaired and gathered the funds for repairs, hired Willet Hauser Architectural Glass Company to do the job.
Pastor Nerice wrote a delightful message on the inside cover of our October Newsletter about her family, us, right here at this church. She is a dear one! Our Mission Board held their monthly Farmer’s Market and began gathering Gifts of Warmth from our own cupboards and closets to take to the Veterans Village. The women of the church held a wonderful Harvest Fair on the 23rd, and the many shoppers, soup and pie eaters, and vendors were delighted with this organized day, and told us so!
November began with Meet & Greets for Wes and members gathering around at different houses in greater Ramona. He’d been in the pulpit since Sunday Oct. 17th! A new member class was scheduled for Dec. 5th! All Saint’s Day was Nov. 7th and there were white roses for each of those members who had died since last year, and in Pilgrim Hall Vonnie Switzer had set a Dia de los Muertos display and invited others to share photos, snacks, or something special from our dearly departed loved ones. For her husband Bart, Vonnie Switzer planned a wonderful celebration of life for him on Sat. Nov. 27th in the sanctuary followed by a reception luncheon in Pilgrim Hall. Bart was toasted grandly! Our Youth group urged us so easily with See’s Candy sales, and a lovely quilt donated by a church member and fresh greenery for Christmas decorating was offered by the Congregational Children’s Center. I always buy a centerpiece for our home and one for the Tretera table as an Advent present for them.
Thanksgiving weekend Sunday became the first night of Hanukkah -- and the 1st Sunday of Advent! December began moving faster than I wanted, but what could I do? I just picked up my pace and worked on rehearsing the cantata music and awaiting the Children’s Choir performance. No disappointment with the Children’s Play. Live theatre -- that’s why we sit at the back of the church so we can stand with an unobstructed view to see the children sing and act! On the 12th we came back to the Sanctuary, after a long Church Council meeting, at 2 p.m. to enjoy the concert by the Ukuladies singing Christmas songs! They were terrific! The Christmas Light, a cantata by Benjamin Harlan, with our wonderful reader, Linda Smith, then mistletoe offered by our Boy Scout Troop 130, and the Blue Christmas service on Wednesday the 22nd, gave something for each of us to be grateful for as we took our seats in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve for lights, lessons, and carols. May God bless us everyone!
Susan H. Ruputz serves as the Church Historian and has blessed our church for years with her depth of knowledge and her contagious appreciation and love for First Congregational Church. Over her years as a member of our church family, Susan has served in just about every capacity of leadership one could imagine.
The Ramona Congregational Church, circa 1953