Sunday,
August 27, was an historic day for Hope Chapel (formerly Lincoln
First Church of the Nazarene) as parishioners and guests celebrated
the church’s 100th anniversary. Lincoln First Church of the Nazarene
was founded in 1923, only 15 years after the denomination’s
beginnings in Texas in 1908. The theme of the 100th anniversary
service was “Looking Back. Leaning Forward.”
![](../images/090123PIX/Pastor%20Greg%20Wooten%20welcomes%20the%20congregation_small.JPG)
The service opened with a slideshow of photos of
members and activities from the church’s beginnings to the present
day, and Pastor Greg Wooten welcomed members and guests, including
former pastors, to the special service. Guest worship leaders led
the congregation in singing “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” and “A
Glorious Church” before Wooten invited anyone to share meaningful
memories from the church’s past. Several people shared what the
church and church family had meant to them and spoke about the
welcome and blessing of the church.
![](../images/090123PIX/Chalk%20drawing%20by%20Rev.%20Larry%20Collins_small.JPG)
Reverend Larry Collins then took the stage and
created a chalk drawing while accompanied by MeLane Coulter on the
harp. Audience members watched a depiction of Christ take shape on
the canvas while listening to Coulter’s gorgeous rendition of
instrumental hymns.
After Scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments, Reverend
Terry Armstrong, Illinois District Superintendent, offered prayer.
Wooten led the Communion Ceremony based on the 1919 Manual, which is
the guide the church would have used at its founding in 1923. The
congregation sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness” together followed by
the Doxology and Offering.
![](../images/090123PIX/Pastor%20Greg%20Wooten%20presents%20Sarah%20Strotheide%20with%20the%20Distinguished%20Service%20Award_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/Pastor%20Greg%20Wooten%20and%20Sarah%20Strotheide_small.JPG)
A noteworthy event of the service was a special
presentation in which church member Sarah Strotheide was honored
with the Distinguished Service Award. This award is the highest
award bestowed on a layperson in the Nazarene Church. She was
commended for her many years of tireless volunteer service. The
award states, “For your consistent willingness to do more than you
are asked, for literally giving thousands of extra miles, and for
your love of Jesus Christ and His Church that you have faithfully
demonstrated through the musical gifts He’e given to you. A retired
nurse, Strotheide has previously volunteered with the Pregnancy
Resource Center in Lincoln, Lincoln Parents Center, and the Illinois
Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. Currently, she volunteers with the
Pregnancy Resource Center in Jacksonville, the Gideons, and the UIS
Performing Arts Center, in addition to her volunteer work as pianist
and board member of Hope Chapel.
![](../images/090123PIX/Mrs.%20Becky%20Armstrong%20delivers%20the%20sermon_small.JPG)
Following special music from Deb and Lutz Braunig,
Mrs. Becky Armstrong preached the morning’s message. Her text was
from the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 1 through
18. She congratulated the church on 100 years, but reminded them
that they are not finished yet.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/01/images/ads/current/lincolnprinters_sda_FOOTBALL_2023.png)
Based on the passage from Hebrews 13, Armstrong
outlined a “list of things to do:”
-
Show brotherly love for each
other and strangers. Love more.
-
Practice hospitality.
-
Minister to those in prison, in
literal prison or shut-ins, but also in
lifestyle-choice prisons or the prison of fear.
-
Take care of your home life,
honor marriage, and treasure your spouse.
-
Be free from the love of money.
-
Remember your leaders and live as
they live following Christ; Pray for your
leaders and pastors.
-
Pray.
-
Praise God through words, prayer,
and how you treat others.
-
Don’t forget that God has
promised to never leave you.
She concluded her message with a thorough,
alphabetical list of the names and adjectives of “the God who was,
and the God who is, and the God who will ever be.”
|
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/01/images/ads/current/debbiesflora_lda_081123.png)
After the sermon, Wooten exhorted the congregation:
“Like the first building moving bricks from the original building to
form the foundation for the next church building, we are the bricks
forming the foundation for the next generation.”
He then introduced two members of the
Hope Chapel Church Board who presented a vision for the future.
Board member Reatha Owen spoke of what Hope Chapel possesses: hope,
family, gifts, and a mission to call others to share in the life of
Jesus.
Board member Alice McCoy then presented goals for the
next 100 years of the church:
-
To expand involvement in the community,
-
To look for opportunities to collaborate with
other churches,
-
To be prayer warriors and to pray with patience,
-
To attract additional age groups to church,
-
To involve everyone in service,
-
To work to meet the physical and spiritual needs
of the Lincoln community, and
-
To tap into the power of prayer.
A benediction followed, and the service concluded
with singing, “Holiness Unto the Lord,” a beloved, traditional hymn
in the Nazarene church. Wooten invited all to join in a catered meal
in the fellowship hall that had been beautifully decorated by Luann
Wooten.
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1128_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1126_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1127_small.JPG)
Fellowship over a delicious meal, cupcakes, and punch
served as a joyful ending to this anniversary celebration.
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1122_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1118_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1119_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1120_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1121_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1123_small.JPG)
![](../images/090123PIX/DSC_1124_small.JPG)
[Stephanie Hall]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/01/images/ads/current/friendshipmanor_sda_FOOTBALL_2023.png) |