About First United Presbyterian Church
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This congregation serves a community or neighborhood which encompasses an area within 15-25 miles of the church.
The ecumenical spirit of the church has always existed. In the early history of the church, the building was "used by everybody - Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, the Lyceum, singing schools, agricultural lectures and even by concert troupes". Today our church is used for AA meetings, sorority meetings, counseling and occasionally other activities. The church is also fully handicap accessible and all are welcome to join our spiritual family.
Two major issues concerning every church are the recruitment of new members, including youth and adult, and the maintaining of finances adequate to support the church. Rev. Marylin Rauch is helping to lead the way with our membership and the finalcial well-being of the church.
Dr. M. James Gardiner, our immediate past pastor, retired in March of 1999. He was very much respected and loved by the community and our congregation. We are working hard and developing a similar relationship with our new pastor.
Pana is a small town in central Illinois surrounded by beautiful farmland. Most of our members live within a 15-25 mile radius of the church. We are located approximately 45 miles from Springfield, the state capitol; 30 miles from Decatur, a town of 90,000 population; and 90 miles from St. Louis, Missouri.
Our own community offers excellent schools, which include a new high school completed in the Fall of 2000; a hospital which added on a mordern emergency room; numerous local physicians plus local access to visiting specialists; two ambulance services; a community arts council, which includes art, choir and drama; recreational facilities including two golf courses, an all-weather track, nearby lakes and state parks, three city parks, one with a swimming pool; a Carnegie library; and many service organizations. Within our expanded community of 50 miles, we have three major universities, three junior colleges, several business schools, major medical facilities which include a school of medicine; and many opportunities to participate in cultural events.
