1955 -- First gathering of Methodists in
Derby. Sunday school held on the porch of the parsonage with service in the basement.
1956 -- First adult choir rehearsal. Church building (now the
Youth
Center) completed.
1958 -- Membership passes 200.
1963 -- Groundbreaking for main church building. First worship service in new building held in July.
1964 -- Groundbreaking for education wing.
1965 -- Fire gutted much of Fellowship Hall (now
Youth
Center). Decision made to rebuild with insurance money and volunteer labor.
1969 -- Three-Cross memorial constructed on corner of Woodlawn and Kay streets.
1974 -- Preschool program (now Jack & Jill Preschool) begins.
1982 -- Groundbreaking for Re-Creation Hall (gym). .
1983 -- Woodlawn's Thrift Shop opens.
1985 -- Profits from the first dinner theater production ("Working) are sent to to help earthquake victims. Woodlawn is recognized for its commitment to the Boy Scout program.
1990 -- Children's Worship begins.
1994 -- Church Charge Conference approved procedure of new building program.
1995 -- Remembering the vision of those who first met to build a
Methodist
Church in 1955, Woodlawn celebrated 40 years of worship, fellowship and service.
1998 -- Church held worship service on April 19, 1998, to consecrate the addition of new classrooms, remodeled office and kitchen space and storage facilities.
Our Previous Pastors
-
J. Karl Jones (1955-60) retired from active ministry in 1988.
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Forrest Robinson (1960-64) retired from active ministry in 1990.
-
Henry Murray (1964-66) retired from active ministry in 1985.
-
Jay B. Schwartz (1966-71) retired from active ministry in 1985 and is now deceased.
-
Don Kessler (1971-74) retired from active ministry in 1988 and is now deceased.
-
Bruce Blake (1974-84) served as Bishop of the
Dallas
Area
United
Methodist
Church in
Dallas, Texas and in
Oklahoma and is now retired.
-
Paul Morris (Associate, 1978-84) is a pastor at Peachtree Road UMC in
Atlanta.
-
Michael Marion (Associate, 1984-90) is pastor of First UMC in
McPherson, Kansas.
-
Jim Reed (1984-92) was pastor at First UMC in
Manhattan, Kansas, after serving as District Superintendent in the Hutchinson District and retired in 2007.
-
Jim Mardock (Associate, 1990-93) is pastor of Colby UMC in
Colby, Kansas.
-
Craig Hauschild (Associate, 1994-2000) is pastor of Andover UMC in
Andover, Kansas.
-
Alan Lindal (Sr. Pastor 1992-2001) Chaplain for Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, KS.
-
Joe Cobb (Associate, 2000-2001) is now serving as Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
-
Mike Rose (Associate, 2001-2006 ) is now serving as Pastor of University United Methodist Church, Salina, Kansas.
-
Tim Harlan (Associate, 2006-2009) is now serving as Pastor of Lucas-Luray-Amherst United Methodist Churches in Kansas.