The Presbyterian Nail

by Jane O'Leary

September 2006

I am a nail. I am imaginary, so everything about me in this story is imaginary. Everything else is documented, so probably is fact. My place here is right over there, high on that wall, just inside the woodwork. I'm not a perfect nail. I am bent. But I've been here since the beginning, and I've seen many things.

Mr. Lodge brought me here from Iowa. He was on a mission trip, and brought some supplies to this new little community of Wayne. Those supplies included a small box of nails. In fact, he used me in his first sermon in September, 1881, to show that God loves and uses even those who are not perfect. I think he used a nail because most of the people that attended church that day were men, and they were all busy building houses and stores while their wives (or future wives) waited in more settled places.

In December of that very year, three families organized a Presbyterian Church. During the winter, the little group met once a month in the chapel of the Lutheran Church. In the spring, they invited Mr. Lodge back to Wayne as supply pastor and began plans for a new building.

When the building began, I waited to be used, but the builders would look me over and then throw me back into the box. I don't know how many times that happened between October, when the foundation was laid and January 1892 when the building was dedicated.

Oh, how I would loved to have been a part of that building. You see, it was both a church and a school, so there was lots of activity! There were children and adults spelling, counting, singing, gospel reading, and listening to God's Word. I had to listen from my box under an old plank in the back of the room. Mr. Lodge was called to be the full-time pastor in 1885, so I did hear his familiar voice for two more years.

Reverend Baker was pastor from 1887 until 1891. One Sunday morning, in the middle of the sermon, I started tingling because I heard the fire bell ring. The pastor looked out, and the barn belonging to a member of our church was burning across the street. Reverend Baker jumped across the chairs, through the window and was one of the first to arrive at the fire.

Reverend Ernst was here from 1892 until 1895. Reverend Wight was pastor for the next two years. In 1897, the year he left, the growing congregation purchased a manse for $1800.

The church grew so much that in 1898, a cornerstone was laid for a new church building. I was so worried because the old church dismantled and I was afraid I’d go with it. but no one even remembered me. Then one day, after being many times cast aside because I was bent, someone finally decided to try nailing me into a wall post. I was just an "extra nail," one for good measure, someone said. I think I was exactly what was needed, and even though I was crooked, I went all the way through the board and stuck out on the other side. And that was when I learned to sing! A song of joy or a shout of punctuation from the preacher would tickle me and that part of me that was free would vibrate and tingle with praise.

The new church had glorious electric lights that sparkled from the flowered and colorful dome in the ceiling to the balcony, to the pulpit. From my vantage point, I could be part of both the worship services and the fellowship gatherings in the adjoining room. People entered the church at both of the doors on the South, many climbing the beautiful stairway to the balcony. I can see almost all of the beautiful windows in the church, but I can't see the ones in the stairway. I hear they are a wonderful sight! I’ve had hours – 1 million, 95 thousand and 750 to be exact - to contemplate the beauty of a church!

I heard the Word of God from many Christians, both pastors and church members that became familiar to me over the years. I shared Sunday School classes with the children, and Bible Study and Prayer with everyone. Reverend Montgomery became the new pastor, serving until 1901 when he left for the Philippines to be a School Superintendent. He died in October 1902, the victim of seven men who said they believed him to be a corrupt official in the Philippine Province, in spite of the fact that the payroll he was carrying for the schools was gone.

There were ladies and more children in this new church. The Ladies’ Aid, later the Women’s Mission Society looked for a variety of ways to raise money for the church. When it was dedicated, there was $4000 remaining to pay on the cost of the church, and all but about $150.00 was pledged on the day of dedication.

The Ladies' Aid pledged $500. I heard someone say they did it one quarter at a time. Some of the projects included catering dinners, and having fundraisers that were not fully explained but were called "experiences." One year, they each were given a quarter out of the Ladies' Aid treasury, and 6 mos. later they returned the quarter with the additional money they had made using that quarter, just like the servants with talents in the Bible! They held an annual chicken pie supper to raise money (with considerable debate about what to charge from time to time, and they sold handwork and quilts. A pieced quilt was sold for a dollar, a sunbonnet for 50¢ and an apron for 40¢. Dues were $1.00 a year. They made clothing and blankets to give to those who needed. Once they bought a cream can for a man who had lost his and had no way to sell cream!

Reverend Peter Birrel was pastor from 1902 until 1904, and he was followed by Reverend Thomas Osborne. At that time, a new manse was built, and it stood between the church and the hospital (now city offices).

You know what else happened when Reverend Osborne was here? I joined a kind of choir! There had been a lot of commotion in the church for a while, and then kind of a big box was moved in, and a lot of chairs and woodwork was added to the pulpit area. I wasn't sure what it was, but I enjoyed the activity.

One night, during a thunderstorm, I tingled from the sound of the thunder, and made a noise, ever so quietly, that I thought only I could hear. But on the next crash of thunder....DING! and then HMMMM! It wasn't me! What was it? It was a brand new organ, and there was a choir loft too! My singing no longer was lonely. During a storm, it's as if we're answering God. During church services, the organ would resound, and I would quiver and ting in excitement. I buzzed with the choir. I could now join in the music and have continued for over a century. The town itself has become noisier so, even when there’s no one in church, we sometimes sing.

Rev. Corkey, pastor of our church from 1910 to 1914, brought a great number of visitors to our church because he was a nationally-known author. He accepted a call at an Illinois university, but then his wife became ill, so he was reinstated as pastor here. Unfortunately, he died of an illness soon after. It was the end of October, 1914. I heard the memorial service here, and the funeral was held in the Sioux City Presbyterian Church. It was attended by over 100 people from Wayne. Session members were pall bearers. I heard that an extra train car was added to the morning train for the funeral.

Following Reverend Corkey was Reverend Cross, then Reverend Beard and Reverend Jones. In 1925, there was more building in the church. The fellowship hall was enlarged, with a new kitchen and more Sunday School room on the second floor. You know what? I like to think there's another bent nail in the former outside wall that's now in the middle of fellowship hall. Every once in a while I hear a little tiny sound like mine!

Reverend Davies and Reverend Dierking were pastors here through the depression years up through the beginning of World War II.

Then Pastor Proett served the congregation for 20 years. I will admit, however, that some Sunday mornings in the summer just didn't have the attendance of the past, but then I found out that additional services were held at the Drive-In theatre. I hear that there were sometimes even tractors in that congregation! While Pastor Proett was here, chime pipes were added to the organ and a new console was built. The front of the sanctuary was remodeled and the organ was moved up to the stage area. Later church offices, a new stairway and an enlarged narthex were added.

Reverend Voth followed Pastor Proett, and in 1964, a new manse was purchased a few blocks away from the church. That same year our church elected its first woman to the Session. The old manse was sold and moved, requiring great deal of effort while provided a few days of entertainment for the town. Reverend Russel followed Pastor Voth, and Reverend Haas was pastor of our church from 1972 until 1986. Reverend Orin Graff served in the interim until John Mitchell was installed as pastor in 1987. He served our church through April 1992. Reverend Hugh Miller served as pastor in the interim until a permanent pastor was installed.

In the fall of 1993, Reverend Craig Holstedt was installed as pastor and served in that capacity until 2002. While Pastor Holstedt was here, our church moved into the information age! Computers were purchased for the church, an updated speaker system, and the organ was renovated because the old leather connections had worn out. It was moved back off of the stage again.

Noteworthy events that took place within our church in the last 25 years included the expansion of mission of mission to include service to the community and larger region. We donated service and support to a new gospel mission in Norfolk. The First Presbyterian Church of Wayne became the "bank" for the local food pantry, a service that continues. The church also began the Wayne Coat Closet, and has provided needed warmth to hundreds of people over the years.

Not only do we now have a number of women serving in church roles once reserved for males, our own church as at least two "mother boards" (one in the computer that now generates all of our information, and one in the organ).

Some of our young men and women, and many loved ones of our congregation, have served our country, in World Wars I and II, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm and now in Iraq. We have been challenged by a new group of people in the region who need us, our help, and our praise and worship of God.

When Craig Holstedt and family moved to Kansas City, Reverend John Gradwohl served our congregation as interim. Reverend Ray McCalla was installed as pastor in 2005.

You know, I’m just a nail. I don’t understand humans. But, informally our church has responded to the needs of the "larger" community, allowing such groups as weight watchers and jazzercise to meet in our meeting rooms and basement. In our sanctuary, we have removed some pews and re-spaced those remaining to accommodate the taller and wider Nebraskans of the new century.

The price of everything has gone up. I’m wondering what one nail costs now. The congregation purchased this very lot for the sum of $200, and the building was built at a cost of $1200. The present church was built at a cost of $12,000 - ten times that of the first building. The first manse was purchased for $1800. The second manse was built at a cost of $4800. The new organ in 1905 cost twice as much as the building of the first church and half as much as the new manse. 50 years later in the nineteen fifties, more improvements to the organ cost several thousand dollars, and the most recent refurbishing of the organ was 10 times the cost of the original organ.

And now, guess what! There are bells! What a wonderful sound! Both children and adults play bells! Once a little nail in a box, I keep receiving more and more opportunities to join in songs of praise. But you know something? The bells cost about the same as this entire building in 1899.

There are many names I could recite – session members, musicians, choir members, confirmads, volunteers, and children. Many people in the church are important for what they gave, and many people are important for what they received.

I have watched baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals in this church. I have heard bickering and harsh words, but then loving words that have felt the forgiveness of God. Even though I am a part of this building, I know that it is the people who are this church. In spite of conflict, resolution, hardships and goodness, they live in God's Love. The steeple of our church still points toward heaven, toward God, the same God that watched the pioneers trudging westward;　the same God that blessed the building of a frame church at 3rd and Lincoln;　the same God that has held us in his loving hands when we mourned; the same God that reveals the further aspects of truth that our pioneer founders could never have imagined.

Can you imagine that I am part of this church! A little nail - and a bent one at that! A nail, which once represented the crucifixion of Christ, is now a part of the celebration of his life. The children of God have been granted the love and celebration of God. Perhaps I, this little bent nail, am an example to the people of this church of the forgiveness, love and celebration that God gives to all of his people. Can you hear me sing at the possibility?

So, may the people who comprise this church go forward together into the next 125 years under the Spirit of our everlasting God.