This issue kicks off a year of celebrating the 175th anniversary of Messenger magazine. The anniversary is coming up in April 2026, since the first issue of the Gospel Visitor, forerunner to Messenger, was published in April 1851.
While anniversaries were on my mind, I happened onto a booklet celebrating the Golden Jubilee (1899-1949) of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren. The congregation was founded shortly after the Brethren Publishing House moved to Elgin, Ill. The first church service was held in the “southeast room” of the publishing house.
In those years, denominational staff all worshiped at Highland Avenue, and this commemorative booklet contains many names from Church of the Brethren history. The opening letter—on Gospel Messenger letterhead—is written by Desmond Bittinger, who in 1949 was both editor of the magazine and moderator of the congregation. (Later, in 1951 and 1958, he served as moderator of Annual Conference.)
In the brief entries for each year, one sees that the congregation responded to World Wars and the Great Depression, submitted queries to Annual Conference, called women to leadership, sent members around the world as missionaries and denominational staff, and encouraged ecumenical relationships both locally and nationally.
Between larger matters are small activities—some listed below—that speak to the everyday life of the church. Perhaps these notes will inspire you to dig into your own congregation’s history to see what treasures the historical record holds.
1900: “The Thanksgiving offering was used in sending the Gospel Messenger to the poor.”
1907: “Decided that the advertising fans be withdrawn from the church and each one bring their own fan if they so desire.”
1909: Decided to “instruct the trustees to look into the advisability of putting up sheds for sheltering horses.”
1912: “The first piano made its furtive appearance in the prayer meeting room under the shadow of night.”
1916: “The trustees were asked to arrange a cabinet to be used by the sisters for their prayer veils.”
1922: “The basketball team led the 12 team church league with 10 wins and 1 loss.”
1932: “The church voted to incorporate under the name First Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Illinois.”
1933: “The Church authorized the purchase of a used grand piano at the cost of $545.00.”
1936: “It was decided to have the cleaning of the inside woodwork done and not ask the women to do it.”
1938: On the question of robes for the choir, “a vote of sentiment was taken evenly divided for, against, and neutral.”
1945: “Robes were purchased for the choir . . . and the minister began wearing a Geneva robe.”
1945: “The children of the church bought a heifer proudly named ‘Lady Elgin,’ and sent her to Puerto Rico.”
1949: “Voted that the church purchase an organ.”
Wendy McFadden is publisher of Brethren Press and executive director of communications for the Church of the Brethren.