My Years with the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)

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           (The first Presbyterian Church in Minot, ND)

Capsule history: The first Minot Presbyterian church met in March 1887 in a room over a saloon being built by Field and Colgan. The first Presbyterian church building was the first church building in the town site located at Second Avenue West, just west of Main Street in 1887. The second Presbyterian building was erected at the same site in 1907. The third and present building on Third Street Northeast was completed in 1957. Home to some 800 plus members.

(The below information was posted on Face Book by former church member Jim Pence. Oct. 14, 2015)

First Presbyterian Church, Minot, ND, History
In 1984, First Presbyterian Church of Minot joined the newly formed Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) mainline denomination. The PC (USA)'s theological stances made some unexpected turns and in 2012, the session of First Presbyterian Church of Minot decided, that it was prudent to start prayerfully considering alternative Presbyterian denominations. Not everyone was in favor of leaving the PC (USA), however the majority were in favor. After a lengthy time of discernment and work with the Administrative Commission of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains an agreement was worked out to separate the two groups who were in schism. On October 25, 2014, the majority group (Cornerstone Presbyterian Church) was officially released from the PC (USA) denomination and on October 26, 2014, became a member of The Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO) denomination with a new name: Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. The First Presbyterian Church currently shares meeting space with the Congregational UCC Church in Minot.
  A glorious sight: First Presbyterian Church, Minot, ND, window is a city landmark. This amazing window is in the front of the sanctuary facing West.
                   1000 - 3rd St. NE, Minot, ND 58703
                                   701-460-6321
                         1stpresminot@gmail.com
                               www.fpcminot.org

December 24, 2011
By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer The Minot Daily News 
           
It is massive and imposing, yet beautiful and inviting.
The image of Christ featured on a stained glass window that adorns the sanctuary of Minot's First Presbyterian Church is one of the largest such windows west of the Mississippi River. At 32 feet tall and 24 feet wide, few stained glass windows rival its square footage or its ability to leave a lasting impression on the viewer.
The window was built by craftsman in Winona, Minn., at a firm now known as Conway Universial Studios of Stained Glass. It was installed at First Presbyterian in May, 1957. The church was dedicated the following month.
"It's a craft that you need specialized people for, something that not everybody does," said Ron Meier, Conway Universal Studios. "It's a craft perfected with age."
In aging archives that survived despite changes of ownership over the years, Meier was able to find the original contract for the First Presbyterian window.
"I'm guessing it is probably a German antique, imported from Germany," said Meier. "Normally antique is hand-blown and hand-rolled, a very high quality glass. It's a large single window. Something that big could be well over a year-long project."
 The price of the nearly 800-square-foot window was $40,000. Recognizing that replacing a stained glass window of that size today, depending on the intricacy of the artwork and quality of glass, would be significantly higher than the original cost, the church carries a large insurance policy against breakage and has taken additional precautions against breakage. It's protected by thick plexiglass.
"There was definitely a fair amount of work done on that window, yes," said Meier. "It is more of a modernistic-type style rather than traditional. Properly manufactured they are going to last 70 to 100 years. It is glorious. It really lifts the spirit."
A number of messages are conveyed by the window. The window has been described as an inviting Christ, "standing on the road of salvation, encircled by the universe, signifying His universal quality, with the cross behind."
Quite striking are beams of light passing through the letters "A" and "O", the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, situated near the heart on Christ's brilliant red robe.
"That stands for Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," explained by a former pastor. "His hands are offering hope. It's been studied  a lot. It radiates out from the Alpha and Omega. You can study it all day long. To be honest with you, I've never been able to figure out what everything means. I have often come in and just looked up at it and been still and praised God."
"We have made windows that inter weaved things in. The harder you look, the more you see," said Meier.
The window at First Presbyterian has become a recognizable Minot landmark. It is located directly across the intersection of 10th Avenue and Third Street Northeast. At night, strong lighting is projected from inside the church so that the window is easily visible from the outside. The effect at night is stunning.
"In the summer when the sun comes through that thing, it is just pretty," said a former pastor. "When lit at night all the colors look the very same. It is a beautiful piece of glass."
(This article has been edited for space)

Grand Forks, ND

 I was part of the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Forks, ND, from 2000 - 2006. We got to know some very nice people at this church, that are life long friends.  One activity at the church I really liked was during the summer on Friday mornings mowing and having coffee with the landscaping crew.
This is the church web site:        http://firstpresgf.org/
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Mountain View Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, NV,  History (1989-2001)

In early 1989 the Rev. Dr. Paul Messineo, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church with two of his elders, scouted by helicopter the North West area of Las Vegas for a new church site. In November property at Del Webb and Sungold was purchased by the Presbytery of Nevada for a church.
February 21, 1990, residents of Sun City met in the Mint Room of the Mountain Shadows Community Center to discuss starting a church and the formation of a church.
Early in June of 1990 a sign was placed on the property indicating "Coming-Community Church of Summerlin." At a Fall meeting it was recommended that the name be changed to identify our denomination and to assure denominational financial assistance. The name was changed to Community Presbyterian Church. In July a Hospitality Committee was formed. The group voted to hold the first money raiser, which was a bake sale. It made $369.00 for the Building Fund.
Del Webb invited us to have an information booth in the Mountain Shadows Center along with other Sun City organizations. We handed out the pamphlet "What it means to be a Presbyterian"  and yellow door knob hangers (these had been hung on all doors in Sun City advertising our Church.)
In October 1991, a Building Committee was formed to consider a modular building for our lot, a place of our own and to avoid paying rent for the ballroom in Mountain Shadows.
Another fundraiser introduced was selling Entertainment Books to add to the Building Fund. The project was carried on through the years adding also to the Choir Fund.
At a congregational meeting held in 1992 it was voted to change the name of the church to Mountain View Presbyterian Church.
At the Presbytery of Nevada's meeting, February 1992, a recommendation was approved that the Church be chartered and a pastor be installed. Thirty of our congregation attended the meeting.
A Service of Organization of the Church was held March 22, 1992. Rev. Hilda Pecoraro was installed as the first pastor. Nine Elders and twelve Deacons where also installed.  The Church became the fastest growing in the United States and remained so for several years. We were able to Charter six months after employing our full time Pastor, almost a miracle.
In April, 1992, the congregation voted a committee be formed to write the By-Laws.  The first Sunday School and Nursery were started at the Mountain Shadows. Year end statistics showed Church Membership 114; Sunday School 35.
January 1993, a model of our church was ready.  It was a two-story building, bottom floor fellowship hall and classrooms. Second floor would have been the Sanctuary. Year end membership is 143.
In 1994 the Building Committee continued to redesign the building. More committees were formed and more fundraisers held to earn money for the Building Fund.  This year's membership increased to 203.
On Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 1995, ground breaking for our Church was a special activity. A picnic supper followed. More Church officers were elected. Membership again increased to 250.
January 1996, saw the beginning of construction of our church building. A couple Elders were on hand daily to oversee the construction with Contractors L.F. Harris & Co. May 12, 1996, Mother's Day, the first Sunday in our own Church, the first church building in Sun City. The first Communion Service in the new building was held Sunday, June 2. Dedication took place on June 23, 1996 at 3 pm.
Be Emet Jewish Congregation began using our Church for their worship giving a donation to help cover costs. Membership continued to increase 288.
Stained glass colored panels were added to the Chancel Windows and to the Narthex in memory of Church members.
In 1998 a Building Expansion Committee was appointed and  architect was employed. Membership at the end of 1998 was 397.
April 30, 2000, saw many with shovels turning over the soil for the enlargement of the Sanctuary. The Contractor L.F. Harris & Co. were selected. Membership 478.
In January 2001, saw construction started and the building taking shape. A dedication of the new addition was held September 23-30, 2001.
(This is an edited version of the original 2001 publication)

Mountain View Presbyterian Church
Las Vegas, NV
 Web: www.mviewpc.org
or email at: mvpclv1@embarqmail.com

8601 Del Webb Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89134
702-341-7800

Pastor David Dendy
dwendy@gmail.com
                 Or
PastorDavid@mviewpc.org
http://seeinggodatworkeveryday.com
Pastor David's Sermons: watch/listen at
www.mviewpc.org/sermons

Chris Kirschman, Dir. of Family Ministries
family.mvpc@gmail.com

Gary Wall
Missions and Men’s Ministries
Mountain View Presbyterian Church 
Gary@mviewpc.org
 

            A Proud Presbyterian
I've been proud to be a part of a Presbyterian Church since the 1970's. Enjoyed working with so many good folks to carry on God's workings.  I've served on many church boards over the years. My favorite board was being part of the Trustees in the Minot, ND, church. Being part of the grounds/buildings committee. I also loved being part of the grounds committee while attending Grand Forks, ND, 1st Pres. My first wife (Nan Becker) was very active in the youth activities from Sunday School teacher to Junior/Senior High leader. She also served as a secretary for the church in Minot, ND. My two kids were very active in the Minot 1st Presbyterian church also. In fact my daughter was married in the Minot 1st Pres. Church. My wife now (Melody Edwards) is very active in the Mt. View Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, NV. Mainly the Stephen Ministries program. I currently serve on the Property  committee.
I would love to hear from you. So contact me at:
1944rlb@gmail.com

Stained Glass Windows at Mt. View Presbyterian Church
Las Vegas, NV

Drone Photos Below of MVPC

 Richard Becker now living in Sun City Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, has been taking pictures for the local Link Magazine. The Link is published monthly and is delivered to some 12,000 homes in Sun City Summerlin. The Link June 2020 issue published an article on Richard. The very nice article was written by our Executive Director Mitzi Mills. You can read the article by clicking on the line below and going to Pages 34-36.
http://www.suncitylink.com/uploads/1/0/3/9/103913400/june-2020-link-for-web.pdf