A History of Rehoboth Reformed Church, Lucas Michigan: Celebrating 125 Years of Faithfulness 1890-2015 (in English)
Synopsis "A History of Rehoboth Reformed Church, Lucas Michigan: Celebrating 125 Years of Faithfulness 1890-2015 (in English)"
This small book is a combination of three writings produced over a period of 34 years. I wrote the first part in 1981, covering the years 1890-1952, as a tribute to the church and community in which I had grown up from the late 1940s into the early 1960s. A strong, vivid memory from my childhood was the excitement in the village of Lucas during the summer of 1951 as a new church was built with labor donated from the congregation. I wanted to study and write about how the church had come into being and had developed to the point of constructing a new sanctuary, which after three additional building projects nevertheless remains the architectural nucleus of the church to this day. In 1989, I completed a second part, bringing the story from 1952 through 1988 by way of marking the church's centenary. I have now completed a third part through the year 2014 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the church. I have resisted the temptation to combine the three parts into one seamless account. Instead, I have decided to keep the first two parts as they were written in order to preserve the perspective that informed each of them. Combining all into one account would require some editing that, it seemed to me, would compromise aspects of authenticity belonging to each part while also introducing new problems. The most salient irregularity that appears as a result is that the pastorate of Rev. Carl Regnerus is covered in two chapters rather than one, as is the case for the other pastors. One chapter, written in 1989, covers his pastorate prior to the centenary, and one chapter, written in 2015, covers his pastorate after the centenary. I hope that readers will pardon this irregularity and will even be able to appreciate how perspectives obtained from different vantages can enrich our view of the past. One cannot but be struck by the growth and dynamic spirit that has characterized the history of Rehoboth Reformed as evidenced not only by the series of building projects undertaken and completed over the years but even more by the vibrant life of the community that has continued to thrive at this place. Through many vicissitudes, Rehoboth Reformed is still a place where people gather for friendship, comfort, devotion, education, social action, and spiritual refreshment. I believe that by considering the history of the church we can put ourselves into a picture larger than the frame of our personal lives, and that this can show us how to be grateful for those who went before, how to be forgiving and kind to those with whom we live and serve today, and how to nurture the children and young people who will be the church of tomorrow. There are sure to be omissions and mistakes in what I have written. My hope is that future historians will set things right. K. W. Taylor February 2015
