Community United Church of Christ,
Lake Park, Florida

501 Park Avenue
Lake Park, FL 33403

(561) 848-3003

lpfucc@att.net


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Our Church History

The Community United Church of Christ began as a Sunday School in 1918, under Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McLaren. As the area developed and the population grew, the need for a regular church became apparent. The Community Church of Kelsey City was organized in June of 1925. On February 7, 1926, the Articles of Agreement were accepted and a Board of Directors selected by the congregation. There were thirty-five charter members. Dr. J.C Calhoun. Who was the acting pastor of the Sunday School since March 1, 1924, was called as the pastor of the Community Church. Mr. Harry S. Kelsey, founder of Kelsey City (which later became Lake Park), donated a house as a parsonage.

 In 1928, The Great Hurricane devastated the area and as a result many members moved away and new membership declined. The congregation persevered, however, and on February 12, 1929, the Kelsey City Community Church was incorporated as a legal entity in the State of Florida. In June 1929, arrangements were made to rent the Community Club Building for church services. In 1938, the church acquired the Community Club and converted the building into a church. At that time there was no regular pastor and the church was used by the Sunday School. Christian Endeavor and the Ladies Aid Society. In August of 1940, arrangements were made for a Sunday preacher.

The church struggled through the war years. The pastor resigned and the church services were temporally abandoned. Sunday School services and the Ladies Aid Society met each Sunday. Church services were conducted occasionally, but regular church activities were at ebb. In 1947, a new Board of Directors was elected, and they pursued changing the By-laws, acquiring a pastor, reviving membership, and initiating church activities. On October 26, 1947, the church membership voted to affiliate with the Congregational Christian Church.

Ground was broken for Fellowship Hall in 1948. At the end of that year, the Community Church voted to approve the merger of all the Congregational Churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The church finally obtained a permanent pastor, Rev. Charles Meeker, in September, 1949. Once again in 1949, a hurricane damaged the church building. Once again, the congregation repaired and redecorated the church.

In 1950, the congregation began building a parsonage. On November 2, 1950, the church celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The Parsonage was completed and dedicated on September 16, 1951. In 1958, the Educational wing was added to Fellowship Hall. In 1965, the congregation adopted a new constitution and changed the name to the "Community United Church of Christ", Lake Park, Florida. Through a gift from Swanee Kurtz, the Carillon was added to the church building in 1979. In 1982, Fellowship Hall was modeled into a room for meetings, dinners, etc. the Narthex was added to the Sanctuary and stained glass windows were donated. A gift from Thelma Smith in 1984, allowed the church to purchase a van with a wheelchair lift, and the Van Ministry was started. The west side rooms of the church were renovated in 1991, to provide small meeting areas.

Through the years, the church has held various services and activities. The Sunday School, which formed CUCC's foundation, continues. Adult Bible classes are held weekly. Activities for teenagers such as camping trips and dances are held with Gold Coast Mission Council groups. Support for missionary work is carried out through contributions to OCWM and other special collections throughout the year. The congregation packages and delivers Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts for less fortunate families, and participates in the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program. The Women's Fellowship sponsors and annual Christmas Bazaar and Rummage Sale. Friendship Sundays have been initiated to attract new members.

The strength of the church continues to be the congregation. We have had and continue to have a high percentage of our members serving on boards or as officers or volunteering in other ways. The Community United Church of Christ continues the tradition of serving our Lord and community.



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