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1973 Winter The Rev. Wayne Anderson, then Minister to Students at Boston’s
Park Street Church, developed a vision, with the advice and
encouragement of Songtime’s Rev. John DeBrine and EANE’s Rev. Donald
Gill, to plant a church in the western suburbs of Boston that would be
innovative and that would appeal to a diverse group of people.
1974
October A group of young adults from Park Street Church met at the invitation of Wayne Anderson to pursue the vision of planting a church and also to plan for the smooth transition of leadership in the ministry to students and young adults at Park Street. December Wayne Anderson submitted his resignation, effective May 1, 1975, as
Minister to Students at Park St. Church.
1975
March A group of thirty young adults from Park St. Church met under the leadership of Wayne Anderson to commit themselves to pray and plan together as the nucleus of a soon-to-be new church. Various meeting sites for the church were discussed and pursued, including the Motor Lodge in Needham, Curry College in Milton, and various other schools. April Regis College in Weston granted permission for the use of their facilities for Sunday services and activities, beginning in June. May The core group of young adults left Park St. Church with Wayne Anderson and began meeting for weekly worship in various homes. David Montzingo, a long-time associate of Wayne’s in ministry at Park St., graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with an M.Div. and was ordained into Christian ministry. The name "Westgate Church" was adopted for the new church. Wayne Anderson and David Montzingo assumed leadership of an already on-going Bible study that was meeting in the Weston home of Dr. Harry and Carol Azadian. June Westgate Church held its first public worship service at Regis College in Weston on June 1, 1975. There were also Christian education classes for all age groups. Youth and young adult ministries began under the leadership of:
Those who held part-time, unpaid staff positions included:
A Sunday evening meeting, called Family Life, was begun for an informal time of singing, sharing and prayer. Westgate Church began as a non-profit corporation with the following
people serving on the Board of Directors for three years until June
1978:
The office of Westgate Church was located on Washington Street in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. September Sam and Esther Hollo, dorm parents at Regis College, began attending Westgate. December The following people became paid staff of Westgate Church:
The position of treasurer was relinquished by David Montzingo and assumed by Steve Plotner. A Christmas party was held at the Mocklers’ in Wayland in the form of
a pot-luck dinner and program. This was to become an annual tradition.
1976
January The tradition of having a "Week of Waiting" was instituted for the church to have a focused time of reflection, prayer and planning. June The first annual summer picnic was held at the Mocklers’ home in Wayland. Some adults were baptized in the swimming pool. The church office was moved to 544 Boston Post Road, Weston. September The Sunday services and activities were moved to Meadowbrook School in Weston. Christian education classes were moved to the time period after the Sunday morning worship service. A "task force" was formed to consider Westgate’s purpose, and to pursue long-range plans and goals. Several of the original young adults who began the church were commissioned and sent out to various short and long-term missions and various Christian vocations as they were led by God. October The Couples Club was started under the leadership of James and Jane
Peluso. Annual events included a Valentine’s Day dinner, and evening at
the Boston Pops, and Fall weekends.
1977
January The first group of church leaders to emerge from the congregation, called "Enablers," was commissioned and began functioning. May The first annual Missions Conference week was instituted. For the first time a portion of the church budget was allocated to missions with the hope of increasing the percentage each year. September A group for singles, called SALT, was begun. A Prayer Fellowship, later to become the Prayer Chain, was begun.
1978
March Small group home Bible studies, called Growth Groups, were begun in Weston, Wellesley and Newton. A task force of several Enablers was formed for the purpose of drafting a proposal for an interim Board of Trustees and a proposal for congregational membership and policy. May Dennis Gill graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with an M.Div. degree and was ordained into the Christian ministry. June On June 18, all believers over the age of 18 years, who were regular attendees of Westgate Church, were voted in as the official members of the church. July On July 1, an Interim Board of Trustees was voted into office to lead the church for an 11-month period under a five-article set of by-laws. The Francis Schaeffer film series, "How Should We Then Live," was shown on Sunday evenings through the summer with discussion and sharing groups following each film. September Christian education classes were moved back into the time period before the Sunday morning worship service. A choir was formed and began weekly rehearsals. October A fall kick-off dinner was held. The speaker was John Smyth, the place kicker for the New England Patriots football team. Dennis Gill left Westgate to take up his own pastorate at a church in
Holland, Massachusetts.
1979
January Senior Pastor Wayne Anderson took a 3-month sabbatical which had been granted by the Interim Board of Trustees. June David Montzingo, our associate pastor, was ordained into the United Church of Christ denomination. On June 24, the first official meeting of the members of Westgate Church was convened. A comprehensive set of by-laws was adopted that provided for a single Board of Elders and a Nominating Committee, both of which would have a slate of nominees to be voted into office at the first Annual Meeting, to be convened on February 6, 1980, the first Wednesday of February. The Interim Board of Trustees continued with their leadership of Westgate until that Annual Meeting. November David Montzingo tendered his resignation as associate pastor, to be effective in December. The Interim Board of Trustees appointed an Interim Nominating Committee to draw up a slate of nominees for the Board of Elders and Nominating Committee to be voted into office at the first Annual Meeting in February of 1980. December David Montzingo’s resignation became effective. He and his family
left Westgate so that he could become the senior pastor of the First
Federated Church in Everett, Massachusetts.
1980
January Sam Hollo, a member of Westgate Church and a student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, accepted Westgate’s invitation to become the associate pastor of the church. This followed his eight-year ministry and association with Campus Crusade for Christ in the Athletes In Action program, ministering to professional athletes in the Boston area. February On February 6, the first Annual Meeting of the members of Westgate Church was convened, where a Board of Elders and a Nominating Committee were voted into office, giving Westgate a truly congregational form of government. March On March 19, a Special Needs Group was formed to assess and meet the physical and financial needs within the congregation from a Special Needs Fund. April A Missions Committee was formed with Meredith Clark as the chairperson. June On June 13, Westgate held its 5th Year Anniversary Dinner, with Rev. John DeBrine as special speaker. The Westgate men’s softball team was started. An active search was begun in the Weston area for available land on which to build a permanent facility or for an existing facility into which the church could expand. September A Building Committee was formed, under the leadership of Gary Emmer, which assumed the responsibility for the land search. On September 14, a Special Meeting of members was convened for the
purpose of sharing a vision for Westgate’s new facility.
1981
June Sam Hollo, our Associate Pastor, was ordained into the Christian ministry. Wayne Anderson tendered his resignation as Senior Pastor, to be effective the end of July. July Wayne Anderson’s resignation became effective. He left Westgate and eventually began a ministry of his own called "Centering Ministries," in California. August Pam Greaves became the church secretary. Sam Hollo was appointed Interim Pastor of Westgate while a Pastoral
Search Committee was formed to search for a new senior pastor.
1982
April Sam Hollo accepted Westgate’s call and was installed as the Senior Pastor. June Many Westgaters helped in preparations for the upcoming Billy Graham Crusade held in Boston. November The members voted to purchase 4.3 acres of land at 100 Winter St. in
Weston, Mass., and to take out a three-year mortgage with the family of
the landowner.
1983
May A Design Committee was formed to begin planning for a church building and to search for an architect. October A change in the by-laws was adopted whereby the Board of Elders was
divided into a Pastoral Committee and an Administrative Committee.
1984
June Judy Plotner resigned as Music Director. Valerie Stark became the new Music Director. September Our first annual all-church retreat was held at Sandy Island on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire. October A change in the by-laws was adopted whereby two separate leadership
boards were formed. The Board of Elders and the Board of Deacons would
bring the government of Westgate Church, more in line with that of the
first century church.
1985
Spring The present Building Committee was formed and Dick Greaves was appointed chairman. December Valerie Stark resigned as Music Director.
1986
February The Building Committee selected Robert Kennedy as the architect of the new church building. Spring Laurel Coolbaugh became the church secretary after Pam Greaves resigned. Summer Mark Crooks became the Associate Pastor/Youth Director of Westgate. Fall Men’s and women’s ministries were organized and begun. November Judy Plotner resumed the position of Music Director. Mark Crooks was
the worship leader.
1987
March A new church plan and concept by Spencer Andrews, designer/builder, was presented and accepted. May The Building Fund Drive began with a banquet and entertainment program. August Eva Panzera became the church secretary following Laurel Coolbaugh’s
resignation in June.
1988
March Mark Crooks tendered his resignation as Associate Pastor, effective in June. An Easter Cantata was presented by the choir. This began the tradition of an Easter and Christmas cantata. June A reception was held for Mark and Kris Crooks who were leaving to be missionaries in Venezuela. September Eva Panzera resigned as church secretary. November A change in the by-laws was adopted whereby the roles and responsibilities of the Elders and Deacons were further clarified. The members voted to accept into membership the members of the
Trinity Alliance Church in Wellesley, Mass.
1989
February Ken Carr became the Associate Pastor/Youth Director on February 1st. Judith Alksnitis became the church secretary on February 27th.
1990
April The Building Committee obtained the Building Permit from the Town of Weston for the construction of our church building. May The pastors and elders called a special meeting of the members and attendees for the purpose of discussing the church’s purpose, and the goals and objectives associated with that purpose. This was to become the first Spiritual Annual Meeting, which follows by several months the Annual Business Meeting in February. August A vote was taken at a special meeting to proceed with the first phase of sitework and building construction at 100 Winter St., Weston. September A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the building site after the
Sunday worship service.
1991
April A cornerstone-laying ceremony was held at the building site after the Sunday worship service. July Sam Hollo began continuing education courses in a Doctor of Ministry
program at Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colorado.
1992
May A Victory Celebration Dinner was held to commemorate the fact that the new building was about two-thirds complete. Many members and friends contributed cash and/or one-year pledges to the final effort, and the members then voted to secure a mortgage from the Wellesley Cooperative Bank. Ken Carr, our Associate Pastor, was married to Priscilla Leaper on May 23, in Chicago. December Began moving office furniture from 544 Boston Post Road, Weston, to 100 Winter Street !! December 20th - Our first worship service in the new building. Judy
Plotner directed the choir in their presentation of the annual Christmas
Cantata.
1993
February Service of Dedication of our new building, with special speaker, Steve Macchia, President of EANE (Evangelistic Association of New England, now known as Vision New England); this was followed by a reception in fellowship hall. Westgate Missions Work Team spend a week at S.I.M. headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. October Judy Plotner tenders her resignation as Music Director, effective December 20. December Special recognition of Steve and Judy Plotner. Music program now under the direction and David Gilmore in
cooperation with a team of musicians/artists.
1994
February At the Annual Business Meeting the members voted to refinance our mortgage and secure the money necessary to complete our "building." (landscaping, kitchen, parking lot, etc.) May Associate Pastor Ken Carr tenders his resignation, effective June 27th, so that he can begin as senior pastor of the First Congregational Church in Parkersburg, Iowa. June Wednesday evening services begin, to continue through September, when Sunday evening services resumed. First Men’s Retreat at Sandy Island, led by Sam Hollo. Reception for Ken and Priscilla Carr on the 19th. November Rev. James Benson began as Associate Pastor of Westgate Church.
1995
September Scott Egan began as Youth Director. Westgate Christian Academy began with an enrollment of six students,
pre-school through grade 3, with Mary Rideout as Principal and teacher,
Polly Burnett and Janet Manley as teachers.
1996
March Scott Egan ended his six months as youth director. April Don Wiley began as Interim Youth Director, to serve until permanent director is found, or until Don and family left for Ireland (they were missionary candidates with Greater Europe Mission) to minister to the youth of that country. September Tom VanAntwerp began as full-time Youth Director. Westgate Christian Academy began its second year with 30 students enrolled in pre-school through grade six!! Julie VanAntwerp began as a part-time teach of Spanish and Music. Mary Rideout continued as Principal as well as teacher of upper elementary grades. Polly Burnett continued with pre-school, and Shannon Goode, a recent graduate of Wheaton College (Illinois), began as teacher of lower elementary students. Andre Kole, Christian illusionist under Campus Crusade for Christ, performed at Natick High School. This major evangelistic event is sponsored by Westgate Church. October Playground was installed by many willing folks at Westgate. December On the 8th, we had a special dedication of our playground, which is
in memory of Sarah Colpitts, daughter of Rick and Marilee Colpitts.
Sarah went to be with the Lord at the tender age of 15 months. All the
Colpitts family were here for the dedication.
1997
March After several meetings in 1996, during which the members of Westgate Church voted to make application for affiliation with the Evangelical Free Church of America, the members voted on March 12, 1997, to amend our by-laws to reflect affiliation with the Evangelical Free Church of America pending their acceptance of our application. On March 14, 1997, at the New England District Association Conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America, Westgate Church was voted into affiliation with Evangelical Free Church of America. Our by-laws were therefore amended as voted on March 12th. We are now officially affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. |