• Posted August 02, 2024
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Church to celebrate pastor’s 30 years with congregation

• By Stephanie
• The Climax Crescent County Legal News

On August 11 there will be a special church worship service at 10 a.m. at the Galesburg Congregational United Church of Christ, recognizing 30 years Reverend Whitney Brown and the church have been together.

A reception from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. will follow the morning worship service. Residents in the community unable to attend the worship service are welcome to attend the reception.

Brown said there will be some church memorabilia at the reception but the event following the church service will mostly be a time to visit. “It will be a nice time for community folks to stop by if they want to,” said the local pastor.

Brown began her career in ministry in 1989 at a church in Bronson before arriving at the Galesburg Congregational United Church of Christ in 1994.

She said being a part of so many lives during her journey at the church is something she has enjoyed.

Aside from people that have moved or passed away, Brown said there are still some who are a part of the congregation since she arrived. There is a unique devotion to the church that has been passed down from generation to generation within several
families.

“To be able to celebrate 30 years of births, life events and graduations, weddings, and baptisms. A lot of the change has been how many people we shared life with who have passed on, who still are so fresh in my memories, and people’s memories and the community,” said Brown.

The local pastor feels her congregation builds upon a church and community foundation that started nearly 200 years ago.

“I think the most rewarding part, what an incredible honor and privilege it is to walk with people in their lives and their spiritual lives. People are precious and life is precious. Not just people, but our four-legged animals and our creation. What people care about. Being let into people’s lives in this way, it’s just an amazing privilege,” said the pastor.

As she moved deeper into her career, Brown felt the City of Galesburg was a good fit for her personally. The pastor said it’s been interesting living in the city when historical and notable events took place like the natural gas explosion in the middle of the city in the 1990s, the opening of the new G-A High School, the nature trail expansion project, and watching businesses that have closed, opened or remained open during her 30 years here.

Brown said while the pandemic was one of the biggest challenges during her 30 years in Galesburg, advancements in technology allowed the church to stream services on Zoom, providing outreach to a larger audience.

“We did really well through that. I think it was interesting because there were people who found us because they could test the waters out via Zoom, which is different from the challenge of walking through the doors,” explained the local pastor.

Beth Carpenter, who said she has been attending the local church for 64 years, recalling her parents Vern and Louise Hoyt started taking her to the local church when she was five years old, said Brown has introduced some new ideas into the worship service the congregation has embraced.

She said one new idea that has turned into a popular tradition is during the Christmas season the congregation decorates the church Christmas tree around a special Christmas service in song and telling the Christmas story.

“It’s really cool because it involves everybody from little people that can barely walk to older folks. It’s something that you really look forward to, because everybody is involved and it’s decorating the church for Christmas time,” said Carpenter, who resides in Galesburg.

Brown’s qualities have left a positive impression on her congregation.

Carpenter feels the pastor is good at making sure children are a part of worship services and activities and feels Brown is inclusive of all people. She adds Brown is good at interacting with the congregation and making sure visitors feel like they are a part of the service.

The long time Galesburg resident said Brown can perform a funeral service for someone she doesn’t know, however after speaking with the family and delivering her service, she leaves the impression she has known the person her entire life.

“We’ve never had a minister that I can remember that could do that and she’s that way with weddings too. She’s got a really special touch when it comes to funerals and weddings,” said Carpenter.

Longtime Galesburg resident Fran Bell also feels Brown has many great qualities and is appreciated and loved.

“She’s done a great job and she works hard. We just want to do the best for her. We’ve all been very pleased with her and we hope she will be there for another long time,” said Bell, who said he and his wife Eleanor have attended the local church for many years.

During the August 11 service, Carpenter will review some notable and funny events that have taken place at the church during the 30 years Brown has been at the church.


According to a Centennial book detailing the history of the church, the earliest records of the First Congregational Church in Galesburg indicate that this congregation has been at worship continuously since 1835 when it was chartered. Brown said the church began as a house church, with worshipers meeting in the living rooms at various locations in the area.

The Centennial booklet detailing the history of the church said the present church was gathered officially in 1832.

The current church was built in Galesburg in 1861 and is registered with the State of Michigan as a historical site. (the first building was lost in a fire)

Reverend Hunt is the first acknowledged pastor at the Galesburg church.

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