Today is the church’s 50th anniversary as an organized congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church!
Heralded as the Admission Day service, on Thursday, May 13, 1971 at 8 pm, the Novato Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially constituted after a year of conducting services as a church plant. The service was held in our normal meeting location at the Novato Adventist facility at 495 San Marin Drive. At this Admission Day service, the Rev. Robert H. Graham was installed as the pastor, and the church’s first two elders was ordained and installed, namely, Jerry P. Cantwell, and Bob Williams. The pastor of the planting Berkeley congregation, the Rev. Richard M. Lewis, preached and the Rev. Thomas S. Champness gave a charge to the pastor, ruling elders, and congregation. The moderator of the presbytery and long time ruling elder of the Berkeley church, David “Scottie” L. Neilands presided. Rev. Graham gave the closing benediction.
The bulletin for the Admission Day service offered this prayer for the new church: “That we may ever faithfully proclaim to a world of sinners, salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our God and Savior.” Amen. May God grant us the grace to continue on in this gospel proclamation!
