MIDDLETON COMMUNITY CHURCH HISTORY
 

1935  A community Sunday School was organized to meet the needs of Christians in Middleton who were not Catholic or Lutheran.  It met in the Village Hall.  It hired Rev. George Beery and began holding worship services at the Little White Church on the Hillside.
 

1936    Community Church was formally organized.  34 people signed the covenant.
 

1937 The Little White Church on the Hillside was purchased and remodeling began.
 

1939 The church building was re-dedicated.  Rev. Beery resigned, writing: "Most of the church activities were carried on without the active direction of the pastor."  He also wrote: "Members were more interested in hearing how practical Christianity must be made effective than in hearing a doctrinal dissertation."
 

1940    Membership had grown to 60.
 

1948    Membership was over 150.  The congregation felt it could afford a resident pastor, and one from the Evangelical and Reformed Church was called.
 

1952     A parsonage was built.
 

1953     Rev. Reed Forbush, a Congregational minister, was called.
 

1956    The building on Elmwood Avenue was built.  Camp Balsams was donated to the congregation.
 

1960    The education wing was added.
 

1962    Stained glass windows were added in the sanctuary.
 

1963    Membership was at 600.  Rev. Forbush resigned.  Rev. Earle Hochwald was called.
 

1967    A carillon was added.
 

1968    MCC voted to end its non-denominational status and join the United Church of Christ.  This decision was driven primarily to extend the church's reach in mission and ministry both locally and globally.
 

1969    Rev. Hochwald retired.  Rev. John Bissett was called.
 

1970    Women began serving communion.
 

1973    Lay members began participating in worship.
 

1974    Two worship services were offered for one year.
 

1980    Rev. Bissett resigned.  
 

1981    The sanctuary, narthex, and entryway were renovated and the parsonage was redecorated.  Membership stood at 355.  Revs. John and Mickie Drummond are called as co-pastors.  They resigned later that year.
 

1982    Rev. John Bell was called.
 

1983    A Christian Education Director was hired.  MCC had 370 members.
 

1987    Membership stood to 400.
 

1988    Rev. Bell resigned.
 

1989    Rev. Joanne Thomson was called as pastor.
 

1990    A Growth Committee was formed to look at issues of growth and ministry.  This committee gave way to several others, leading eventually to the recommendation that MCC build a new building at a new site.

1992    The parsonage was used by Transitional Housing, Inc.
 

1993    First mission trip to Jamaica.
 

1994    A second worship service was begun, offering worship in a more contemporary style.
 

1995  A single worship service that blended traditional and contemporary elements was begun.
 

1996    The congregation directed the Facilities Committee to find a suitable site for a new building.
 

1998   The congregation voted to purchase land on Old Sauk Road.  Gail O'Neal, a member of MCC, was ordained.
 

1999    Building plans were approved.  Rev. Joanne Thompsen resigned as pastor.
 

2000    MCC began using the workshop rotation model for Sunday School.
 

2001     Rev. Jim Iliff was called to be the pastor of MCC.
 

2002     MCC reactivated building project.
 

2003    An offer to sell the Elmwood Ave. building was received and accepted.  Plans for the construction of the new building on Old Sauk Road were finalized.
 

2004    MCC held it final worship service on February 1 in its building on Elmwood Ave. and began using Middleton Alternative High School as its site for worship, education,  and leadership meetings.  MCC uses space at Middleton Outreach Ministry for weekday office activities.
 
Groundbreaking ceremony, May 16.  Construction began in June.
 

2005    Building completed in February. Water main extension completed in early May. First worship service in new sanctuary, May 15.
 
Dedication service, September 11.  Ron Buford, Coordinator of UCC "Still Speaking" Initiative, preached.

             Open and Affirming Steering Team organized in late fall.

             Team COMMA (Cyclists of Middleton-Madison Area) formed with Saturday morning rides through the SW Wisconsin countryside starting from the church

2006    Tree planting project initiated by Brian Michaels to beautify our grounds and to support his Eagle Scout Award.

            Rev. Jim Iliff takes a much deserved summer sabbatical to celebrate his 5th year of ministry at MCC.

          MCC hosts the bluegrass and gospel group True North which launches a new concert ministry.

2007    A new Good Friday worship experience is developed called "A Walk to Calvary" featuring interactive scenes from Jesus' last days.

             Tuesday Night Fellowship debuts as a mid-week education and fellowship opportunity for young and old.

             In December, the MCC Council approves placing a resolution to become an "Open and Affirming" (ONA) church on the agenda for the 2008 Annual Meeting.

2008    On January 27, 2008, members of Middleton Community UCC vote unanimously to become an ONA church.  This vote was the culmination of a two-year congregational dialogue on the inclusion of all people in the life and ministry of the church.