Dedication of the Education Wing-Towery
1969

The history of the Congregational Church of Austin, Texas had its beginning when twelve charter members of the Methodist Church of Austin signed Articles of Incorporation on March 21, 1901, and filed them with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas on April 2. 1901.

The Congregational Church of Austin

Service of Dedication for the New Educational Wing

For Thought: "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
..... -Winston Churchill

The Prelude: "Eva" ..................................................................................Massenet

Introit ......................................................................................................The Choir

*The Hymn of Praise (*Congregation stands) .............................................. No. 1

*Invocation (Unison) ............................................The Reverend Bruno Schroeder

Eternal Father of us all who did reveal the way of love in man through the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazereth, grant that we too may use our lives and our possessions to continue his work in seeking justice and conveying love in this community and the world. Be with us now as we pray the prayer that Jesus taught: [The Lord's Prayer (debts and debtors)]

Scripture: Isaiah 9:8-17 _ _ The Reverend Merle G. Franke

"OF BRICK AND STONE" .............. THE REVEREND ARTHUR G. SWARTZ

"Come, Christians, Join to Sing," Carl Mueller .......................................The Choir

The Service of the Offering
Offertory Sentences
"Prayer, " ...............Frank
*The Doxology-No. 5 1 5
*Dedication of Gifts

Acknowledgements and Announcements ...................................................The Pastor

The Congregations Purpose ...........................................Mr. Richard Proctor Swallow

The Covenant of the Congregation (Unison)

We, free people in the presence of God, pledge with Him and each other to conduct ourselves in Christ's way as revealed in the Bible, conveyed in the history and tradition of the Church, discovered through the laws of nature, heard in the outcry of human need, or spoken in the "inner voice." We seek fervently for the additional light which God gives to those who are ready to see, and we rejoice in the opportunity to give of our living for the worthy purposes laid before us.

Exit to Courtyard, weather permitting

A Responsive Act of Dedication

Pastor: We gather in this new courtyard filled with pride as we rejoice in these new facilities. Let us, like builders with new tools and methods of construction, search for improved programs of development for people and service to our community.

People: You know our human temptations, O Father, in feeling pride in possessions. We are glad that this new building is a joy to the eye, for it brings new meaning to our entire church. Kindle within us not only joy at physical beauty but fill us with a burning desire to use what we have for the good of all.

Pastor: We have been and are tempted, O Lord, to reduce our giving for the work of Christ in Texas, the United States, and the world in order to be responsible in paying for this building erected in Your Name.
May the spirit of concern grow and develop within ourselves, our children, and those with whom we work, guiding our actions in the coming months and years.

People: We would remember that we enjoy these new possibilities because of the time and talents of others no longer with us. Even as we remember their generosity grant that we may ourselves be dedicated to bear witness to economic and social needs. Gifts of money are important but of even greater value is the lived example in our midst.

Pastor: You know our incompleteness both as people and building. We have aspirations to finish the tasks which You have set before us even as we are aware of our weakness and our mixed allegiances. You know that You can not only give us courage and deeper faith in the midst of all of life’s conditions but can also lead us to actions not now seen by us.

People: We thank You for our heritage which has been fulfilled in our sight and pray for Your continued presence as we walk in the ways of our Fathers through Christ by the power of His Spirit.

Benediction ........................................................................ The Reverend Curtis A. Johnson

The Reverend John C. Towery, Minister
Mr. Earl Cornwell, Violinist
Miss Laura Johnson, Pianist

Announcements
It is good to have you with us as we rejoice in our new educational wing and pledge ourselves to dedicate it to God’s purposes both known and to be made known. We invite you to inspect the property and to partake of refreshments made available by the ladies of the church.

We are glad to have with us members and ministers of churches of our area of Austin, the Religious Workers of our city, and members and pastors of the Brazos Association of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Our thanks to the Reverend Merle G. Franke, pastor of First English Lutheran Church and Vice-President of the Greater Austin Council of Churches, for joining with us on behalf of fellow Christians in Austin.

Our appreciation to the Reverend Curtis A. Johnson, Director of Lutheran Campus Ministry and President of Religious Workers Association, for participating in behalf of University ministry.

The Reverend Bruno Schroeder, pastor of St. John’s UCC in Burton and President of the Brazos Association symbolizes the South Central Conference and the United Church of Christ with us.

The Reverend Arthur G. Swartz, minister of Central Congregational Church of Dallas and former President of the South Central Conference of the United Church, has been a friend of our church for many years. We are glad to have him celebrate with us.

Credits
Every member of the Congregation was invited to participate in this project and most responded. Leadership was provided by the Executive Building Committee with the following membership: Mr. Francis Barrow and Mr. Weldon Scheel, chairmen; Mr. Van C. Walton, Mr. William Warren, Dr. Mathis Blackstock, Dr. Clark Hubbs, Mrs. James W. Brown, Mr. Doyal Pinkard, Dr. Victor Appel, and Mrs. Marie Clark.

Design and Construction
Associated Architects:
Richard Proctor Swallow, AIA, Program Development, Design and Co-ordination
Day and Newman, AIA, Sanford L. Newman, P.E., Contract Documents, Structural Engineering, Bidding, and Supervision

Mechanical Engineers:
Zumwalt and Vinther, Consulting Engineers
William C. Walcutt, P.E., Resident Engineer in Austin, Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Design, Contract Documents and Supervision

General Contractor:
A.W. Bryant Construction Company
Leonard M. Price, ]r.
Gene Davis, Superintendent

Financial Assistance by
Austin National Bank
Franklin Federal Savings and Loan Association

History of the Congregational Church of Austin

Our church was founded in the spring of 1901 by the Reverend Ritchie J. Briggs, D. D., as the Methodist Church of Austin, an independent church with a membership of 56. The first worship service was held on Sunday morning, April 7, 1901, in the Odd Fellows Hall at Ninth Street and Congress Avenue. Acceding to many requests, the Austin Statesman published Dr. Briggs’s first sermon in full in its issue of April 15.

In the Spring of 1904 the church changed its name to First Congregational Church of Austin and joined the Texas Conference of Congregational Churches. In 1906, it built a sanctuary and education building at the southwest corner of Ninth and Colorado Streets. A. O. Watson, a charter member of the church, was the architect.

In the winter of 1922-23, the church decided to move to the University area, and purchased the present site at Twenty-third and San Antonio Streets. The building at Ninth and Colorado Streets was sold to the Bradford Paint Company. The older portion of the present building, of which the late Hugo F. Kuehne, Sr., a member of the church, was architect, was dedicated Sunday, December 9, 1925. The Reverend Almon O. Stevens was minister.

In 1939, the church changed its name to University Community Church, retaining its Congregational affiliation. In 1951, it again changed its name to The Congregational Church of Austin.

Because of the pressing need for better facilities, particularly for the Church School, the annual meeting in January, 1964, authorized a study of program to determine potential building usage and recommend solutions. At a subsequent meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed a Planning Committee to carry out the instructions of the church. A congregational meeting was held October 18, 1964, at which the report of the Planning Committee was presented and adopted with minor changes.

A new committee alignment was also authorized, headed by an Executive Building Committee with three study committees: Worship, Education and Fellowship, and Finance. Every local member of the church was assigned to one of these committees.

Reports of these committees were presented to the Annual Meeting, January 17, 1965, and approved. This meeting authorized a Capital Funds Project to canvass the membership for three-year pledges with $25,000 as the goal. The Board of Trustees was also authorized to contract for the services of Richard Proctor Swallow, a member of the church, as architect. The Capital Funds Canvass took place Sunday, May 25, 1965, and was over-subscribed in excess of $4,000.

Plans included a new three-story educational wing and remodeling and renovating the old building. The key to the financing of the project was the disposal of a piece of business property bequeathed to the church by the late Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Krohn, both members. Delays of various kinds followed by extremely high bids on the first call in May, 1967, made restudy necessary. The decision to undertake only the new construction resulted in an acceptable bid in the summer of 1968. Construction began that fall.