Walt Wagener, introducing himself in the October 1972 church newsletter (Town Crier), told of his previous appointment. It was in Whitewater as a campus minister and at Garrett Theological Seminary where he was the Director of Admissions. Our church was totally different from his previous surroundings, Wagener saw Brooklyn’s small-town atmosphere and its closeness to Madison a very appealing combination. His wife, Mary and two children, John and Ann welcomed the change, as well.
An additional note the “Town Crier” went to the 255 members, 19 friends (33 were youth). Becoming in charge of the monthly newsletter, Wagener chose to rename it to “The Methodist Missile.” He was told of a coming change within the church, a new office would be located beneath the altar area, hopefully by November 1st. Attending the South- Central District Conference, Wagener wrote of Randy Krause becoming the chairman of the District of Ministries and himself, the District Representative to the Annual Conference Council on Ministries.
Happenings within the church: Twenty-eight people gathered at the church for the purpose of starting an elderly housing project in Brooklyn (Genesis). Randy Krause and his sister, Sharon Miller presented a musical cantata at the church.
1974-The old parsonage (the first) was being rented. Wagener was studying service for our aging. A new committee, the Brooklyn Citizen Advisory was created- their project was “to create a community recreation program.” Four new members were added to the church (36 were dependent youth). The church received over $40,000 from a member, Bertha Adamson estate which was invested. Two years later, Archie Lyon former principal and teacher of the Brooklyn Schools, gave over $50,000 with stipulations.
1975- 20 Chinese students from Wisconsin UW, majoring in engineering were our guests for a day. Beginning with a potluck at the church, they played a short ballgame at the park. Then, they toured Martinson’s Implement and Ken Ellis’ Treasurers Limited. Their day ended at the Melvin Sanner farm.
1976- Luther Jose returned to speak at a UMW meeting to show pictures of his family, then living in the Philippines. A new member, Edie Grossen was asked to be our financial secretary.
1977- Our District had a new Superintendent, David Henshaw. The following year, Wagener requested a sabbatical to Seattle for his education. Rev. Ellen Shaw fulfilled his duties here. Membership was 206 (15 are students). 12 members were lost by transfer or death, thirteen were confirmed.
During his assignment here, Wagener preached at the Peace Church too (1972-1973). He left Brooklyn in 1978 to Oshkosh. His last sermon here was June 3, 1979. He retired in 1998.
Born in California, Martin Nolet served two years in the Air Force in Germany. There, he became influenced by two Methodist chaplains to follow the ministry. Returning to the states, he made this decision at St. Luke’s Church in LaCrosse in 1974. He was offered to serve at the Willow Valley Church. It was a rural country church in Ethica, near Sextonville. His second charge was Brooklyn (1979-1984). Accompanying Marty to Brooklyn were his wife, Pat and two sons, Jason and Christopher. While at Brooklyn, Pastor Marty received his Master of Divinity Degree in May 1981.
The UMW invited interesting people to entertain the public at their Mother/Daughter Banquets. In May 1981, they invited Mary McBride. Heard on the radio, she wrote comedy material for magazines and newspapers, McBride’s humorous skits were used by Joan River, Phyllis Diller and others. In 1984, the UMW invited a woman from Stoughton to display and talk about her collection of dolls. Also active in the community, Marty coached in his son’s fifth grade class at Brooklyn and assisted in the Scout program here. Marty served in our local fire department also.
During these years, our sanctuary was painted and the floor was finished. A chair lift was installed on our front steps, offering access to the handicapped and elderly. The outside fireplace was repaired which was eventually removed.
Marty was transferred to Bloomer and retired from the ministry in 2009.
Mary Council Austin came to our church in 1984, the first African/American woman welcomed in the Wisconsin Conference Clergy. One of ten children, her parents were ministers in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in North Carolina. Her history of education, travel, awards and life experience is very extensive and impressive. Achieving awards in voice (speaking and singing), Rev. Mary was well-liked and remembered here.
Taking time to visit our seniors, confined in their homes, Mozelle Staley is remembered. Following Mozelle’s death, Mary sent a message to her family, stating, “I’ll miss our coffee times and admiring her flowers. My life is richer, that has touched me in her own special way. So long, Mozelle.”
Secretary Marian Anderson recorded in the February, 1986’s administrative minutes of Pastor Mary’s concernabout our Sunday School surviving and pleaded “not to neglect our responsibility to our leaders to communicate more.” The following month, our pastor sent a plea to the local school board to refrain from scheduling activities for Holy Week.
Leaving before Easter in 1986, a farewell pot-luck was planned following Palm Sunday service.
Pastor Mary and her husband moved back to Washington D.C., where she was elected Associate General Secretary for the General Board of Church & Society at the Council level for the seventy-four UMC conferences.
Already involved in her new assignment at Camp Lucerne and at Chicago, recruiting other ministers, Pastor Mary’s absence in January was filled by Rev. Harvey Schweppe. Following Mary’s last appearance here on Easter Sunday, Rev. Paul Smith finished her term here.
Marrying Clarence Austin in 1981, their move to Milwaukee brought them to Wisconsin. Working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 43 years, Clarence was assigned to the Natural Resources Conservation Services in our state. Following Clarence’s death in 2014, Mary continued her work as Associate General
Secretary for Field Service until her own retirement, the following year.
Pastor Mary was active in recruiting people for the ministry. In her absence, others stood in our pulpit, Rev. Edwin Foster (Chaplain at Mendota Institute), Joan Strahm (currently a ministry candidate from Monroe and the retired Rev. Harvey Schweppe.
Preceding Cheri Awtry’s assignment here in June of 1986, Rev. Paul Smith and Cassandra Beckman officiated.
Pastor Cheri Autry commented on her apprehension of expense, work and activity of the church, “Miraculous, we are blessed to have volunteers making things happen.” During Cheri’s time here: The UMW pledged $500 to the new Methodist Hispanic Ministry in Madison to be used towards the purchase of a van (known as the Gospel Van). We donated funds towards Oregon’s Food Pantry. The Ham & Swedish Meatball Supper served 187 people. Membership was 181.
1987- news from Rev. Mary- she and husband, Clarence, were with the General Board of Church and Society in Washington D.C. She was serving as Associate General Secretary for Field Service and spoke at the national conference on Faith and Justice for Today’s World in St. Louis. They purchased their first home in Springfield, Virginia.
Eighty-five attended the Father/Son Banquet to hear Col. John Bennish of Highland talk about his covered wagon trip through Death Valley. The menu was roast beef and pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered rolls, coffee, milk and pies for dessert. Their small profit was put into savings at the bank, designated to take some underprivileged boys to a Milwaukee baseball game. Ten turkeys were prepared for the November Turkey Supper, 300 were served. Rev. Stevens spoke at the UMW meeting about his 1000 Bibles, 800 were foreign, many from 1600, and the oldest was “Isaiah” from Dead Sea Scroll, dating back to the 1st century. 100 of them were signed (three were by Pat Boone, Pope Paul 1st, and President Reagan). He was donating them to Kenosha.
Beginning her first assignment, Seung-Eun (Grace) Lee moved into the parsonage August 1, 1991 with her husband, David and their son, Danny. In her first message, she told of her family in Korea. She sang at the army bases, hospitals and nursing homes. Seeing much suffering, the urge to help others grew within. Coming to America in 1977, the doctors found a tumor in her throat. Praying to God, she was happy when she learned the tumor was gone. Gracious to God, this experience built her desire to help others that are seeking God’s help in understanding, “He is there for You.”
She was ordained with 18 others in 1992 at the seminary in California. While there, she experienced an earthquake and her parents were injured in an auto accident, hit by a drunk driver.
Acquainting us with her native diet, she served Japchae, Sushi and egg rolls at a potluck that followed worship. Her husband showed a video of their homeland. Hosting, Grace, dressed in her native attire, served rice tea with some Korean desserts afterward.
Of course, the women of the church (men too) did their share of cooking too for our annual Turkey Supper. Preparations began in member’s ovens for the different committees, formed for the annual big community meal. The reward profit was $2,500 which went towards the tuck-pointing on our church. Trying something different, the Mission Committee hosted a “Friday Fish Fry.” This event didn’t prove as successful as our turkey suppers.
In 1994, an outside stone fireplace was dismantled. Erected on the church yard in 1950 it honored 14 year-old-David Larsen’s demise from polio. A gift from his parents, Harold and Dorothy Larsen, allowed many cook-outs for the youth and others. Existing over forty years, the structure had deteriorated. The stones came from the Wallace Crocker farm.
Pastor Grace’s last Sunday here was on Fathers’ Day in 1994. Her following assignment took her to Hudson in the Northwest District to help the many Korean families living there.
Here for three years and nine months (1994-98), Pastor Becky Kindschi told our congregation of her coming assignment to the churches at Algoma and West Kewaunee in Door County. Despite the snow-covered streets within the village, seventy-four people attended her last service. The planned farewell potluck was postponed to the following night.
The decision was hard for Becky, developing ties with all, but realized she was needed elsewhere. Brooklyn was her third assignment. A scrapbook was presented to her of past events, pictures and personal remembrances. Pastor Becky invited all to attend her ordination to become an Elder in May. During Pastor Becky’s time here, she enjoyed time with the children within the “Kids Klub” and many baptisms. A memorable baptism, she is seen holding the Dillman twin boys, both arms full. And the fourteen children wearing white capes, singing in the Christmas Pageant. Occasionally you would see a hand wave directed to Mom and Dad. And remember the “Sound Censuses” quartet singing at various events at the church? The late Bruce Wittenwyler brought three other friends to entertain us.
And preparing the annual Turkey Supper, baking and carving 16 turkeys, 180 pounds of potatoes, 220 pounds of squash, and 115 pounds cabbage for slaw; serving 600 people.
Settling at her new residence, a message came from Pastor Becky. Arriving, the retired minister asked her to preside over a Friday evening funeral, her first assignment there. She informed us that she kept her shoes on all day. On Sunday here, you would often see her kicking off her shoes. Again, she expressed thanks, learning different ways of ministering, working together.
Completing Becky Kindschi’s assignment here in 1998 was Pastor Amos Shimko. He was already retired, living at Brodhead. Acquainted with Brooklyn, he spoke here during Pastor Samuel Godfrey’s absence in February of 1990. Shimko was also familiar with Mary Austin and Donald Frank, two other past pastors. Assigned to Spooner in 1979, Shimko met Austin when she spoke there and Shimko attended classes in his younger days with Frank.
Activity with other groups in the community, our church welcomed the Scouts within. A special Sunday was designated to honor the Scouts. Two young cub scouts delivered our national flag and their scout flag, accompanied by their leaders. A time was taken to give thanks and honor those who fought for our country. The Pledge of Allegiance opened our worship.
Another outreach was participating with the communities of Green County, celebrating Depot Days (1997-1998). Our beginnings were retold with many stories about life within our community and church.
Only here for two months, Pastor Amos always made attempts to assist others. Finding me washing windows, he made the task more enjoyable, allowing time to pass quickly. He emphasized, “in whatever you do for the church, don’t skimp, go for quality.” During this time, the former Mission Committee funded the outside Methodist Symbol (cross and flame) that shines to the on-going traffic.
It was in the month of June, 1998, during our state’s 150th birthday that Pastor Fred Surrett was appointed to our church. He possessed a voice that reached those hard of hearing. Raised in a Catholic family, his religion changed to Methodist through his wife, Terri. After the passing of his parents, he drifted away from the Catholic beliefs. Soon after, Surrett had been accepted as a night Chaplin at Meriter Hospital at Madison. Sometimes, his sermons included incidents from his own life. “Can We Talk” told of his poor relations with his father. Formerly a chaplain at the Milwaukee County House of Corrections, his message was “The One Who Dies With The Most Toys Win?” Using the story of Solomon and his riches, he told of inmates making money, illegally. Ending, Surrett concluded, “just don’t forget others that need our help.”
In 1999- It became time to develop plans to utilize funds from the Lyons Trust. Stipulating in his will, Archie Lyons had a trust established designated towards the youth of our community. Not having children of his own, the late principal and teacher of our former high school and a dedicated member of our church, desired to continue to reach-out to children. His death came in November of 1975. To achieve his request, a committee was formed. Meeting the challenge of not having enough funds in the Lyon’s Trust to build an entire new building, it was decided to remodel the southeast corner of our existing church to meet health and accessibility requirements. Consulting with the probate judge and
then an architect, the change began. Moving the site of the bathrooms away from the kitchen, allowing ground entrance, and an elevator. Making more room, the inside stairway was eliminated to allow storage. We used the new entrance and revised basement for a child care center for a number of years.
Exposing the inside of the outer walls revealed that the foundation of building the church was revealed. Years ago stones were gathered from neighboring farms to provide the “needed strength” to support our “house of worship.”