ROCHELLE — Rochelle United Methodist Church will celebrate 180 years in Rochelle on Sunday, Nov. 10. It was the first organized church in Rochelle in 1844 and held services in log cabins and a railroad car in its early days. 

Rochelle UMC has been in its current 709 4th Ave. location since it was consecrated in 1951. The celebration Nov. 10 will include a worship service at 9 a.m. celebrating marks in the life of the congregation and looking forward to the future, the singing of hymns, and then a walk down memory lane at Hicks Hall with a quiz on Rochelle UMC’s past and a ham dinner with scalloped potatoes at 11 a.m.

After meeting in log cabins in 1844, RUMC held church services in a railroad car starting in 1854. After the current church was consecrated in 1951, Hicks Hall was constructed. RUMC tore down its old stone two-story church in 1972 and started a radio broadcast of its services. In 1981, the Sanctuary and Hicks Hall were combined with offices and Macy Room. RUMC started bell choirs in 1983 and a television ministry in 1994. It underwent a chancel area renovation in 1995 and a kitchen renovation in 2018. 

“This congregation started in a log cabin, moved to a railroad car and then had its first wooden building,” RUMC Rev. Dr. Katherine Paisley said. “When a building burned, they met at Central School. It's had kind of a fluid history. 180 years is a long time. I think we were the first church in Rochelle, of course it wasn't called Rochelle then. It was the first organized group, which was made possible by the methodist system.”

Paisley said there is a broad spectrum of beliefs within the church, but those in the congregation are united by their commitment to helping others. The Methodist Church has two emphases, personal spiritual life and living spiritually in the community. 

The Salvation Army distributes funds in the area through RUMC and its case-managed approach to people in need. The church also works with other organizations to help those in need. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1 of this year, RUMC provided over $10,000 worth of assistance to neighbors in need and the Salvation Army provided almost $14,000 that RUMC helped with, including rent, food assistance, electric bills and medication.

“We do things like help people after fires,” Paisley said. “That's always been a part of the Methodist tradition, helping neighbors in need. We're one of the first churches that groups reach out to if they need a building for an event. We have Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Brownies that meet here. There's no contribution required from those groups. Kishwaukee College teaches English as a Second Language classes here. GRACE, the homeschooling network, meets here on Fridays and pretty much takes over the whole building. Those two organizations do help us out with the bills for what they consume. We want to make sure hospitality is offered to any group who needs it. I can't think of a time we've said no. The building gets used quite a bit.” 

RUMC’s programs also include donating to missions locally and overseas. During the first year of the Ukraine War, it sent over $27,000 through its mission agency and recently donated to those suffering from flooding stateside. RUMC has also worked with Central Elementary School across the street since 2016 on projects like school supplies wish lists for teachers and giving every third grader a unique pillowcase and new pillow. 

Paisley said reaching 180 years will be a celebration of the past, and a legacy that RUMC carries into the future. The church is looking at how it can best serve its congregation and the community moving forward. 

“We have a portion of our congregation that's aging who have been the lifeblood of our volunteer efforts in the past that can't do it anymore,” Paisley said. “We also have young people and newer people. We'll have five new members this month. It's exciting to see a church with such a rich tradition that is moving forward and not just resting on its laurels.”

RUMC has families that have been a part of its congregation for generations, and some families that have been with it for less than a year. Paisley thanked all of those that have helped the church to fulfill its mission over 180 years. 

“Part of the Methodist system is the pastors come and go and the congregation holds things together,” Paisley said. “It's those people who make this place strong, not the pastor or leadership.”

RUMC is currently making efforts to return its pre-COVID-19 offerings such as free breakfasts, lunches and ham dinners. 

“We're looking at what more we can do to continue our long tradition of helping,” Paisley said. “The first thing I was told when I came was from someone in the community that said, 'That's the church that really helps people in town.' I can't even say what an honor and privilege it is to be a pastor of a church with that reputation. This church loves the community. It wants to do everything it can to serve the community. Everyone is welcome here.”