Dr. Jonathan Watt preaching from the Acts of the Apostles (photo by Kyle Finley)
A historic milestone was celebrated by congregants and friends of First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge (FRPCC) the weekend of August 21st and 22nd, 2021. Postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekend was filled with even more joy and celebration. 2020 marked 125 years as an organized congregation for FRPCC, while 2021 marked 125 years in the current church building in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The weekend consisted of two worship services, a fellowship meal, and a celebration program. A worship service began the weekend, with guest preaching from former FRPCC pastor Dr. Jonathan Watt (1986-1992). A fellowship meal at a local park followed. An evening program then commenced, emceed by current Pastor Noah Bailey. Current member Patrick Mangan presented a history of FRPCC in the context of local and historical events. Following that was an overview of recent church renovations by deacon Kyle Finley. A recorded interview with our oldest member Janet Millican was then played in which she recounted her memories of the changes and growth seen at FRPCC over the years.
Next came a video compilation of previous church attendees, with appearances from individuals and families in the U.S. and abroad. Traveling from Wyoming to join the celebration, Cheryl Hemphill, daughter of former FRPCC pastor Paul McCracken, recounted her time growing up in Cambridge, the parsonage and FRPCC. A video charge was given by the son of current congregants and current RP pastor in Sterling, Kansas, Brian Wright, on the call to the pastorate. Interspersed throughout the evening were “guess-the bible-story” charades performed by the Bailey and Montgomery families. An open mic concluded the Saturday celebration, where in-person members could share their memories and experiences at FRPCC. Sunday worship, with additional preaching from Dr. Jonathan Watt, rounded out the weekend.
A sincere thanks to the Anniversary Committee for their efforts in putting this together as well as all who participated and attended. We thank the Lord for His blessings and grace to us throughout the decades. The livestream of the program can be viewed from the congregation’s Facebook page.
Thanks to Katelyn Greenewald for writing this article for us. Katelyn is a current member of FRPCC. She is a Registered Nurse, specializing in wound care. She and her husband Kristjan are expecting their first child in January.
