The Rockham United Methodist Church congregation gathered for the final time on Sunday, June 14 with full pews, special music, and a slide show pictures from the church’s history.

During the opening of the service, Pastor Julie Nygaard spoke of the mixed feelings many were having that day and encouraged all in attendance to remember, “There are roots that have formed as a result of the ministry of this church and they have gone so deep, we gather here today not in sadness but in a “Celebration of the Ministry” of this church and those who have worshipped here.”

Reverend Gregory Kroger, District Superintendent for the Glacial Lakes District, Dakotas Conference, The United Methodist Church was also present at the service and gave a sermon on “The Journey Continues” also reminding those in attendance the strength of the spiritual foundation the church has provided and how they now continue to build on that foundation in other churches.

Special music filled the air as the Rockham choir sang and in the music chosen to accompany the slide show of memory pictures. The Crisis Center and Good Samaritan Food Pantry will share the final tithes and offerings from the service. Gwen Jackson told of the church’s history beginning with the start of the two separate churches, The German Methodist Church, which began in the fall of 1883, and the English Methodist Church, which was begun in 1906. Both held services separately until 1926 when Reverend Lane successfully merged the two congregations. At that time the two churches were literally joined when the English Methodist Church was remodeled and the German church was added to the structure, a side entrance built and the seating arrangement changed.

Finally it was time, Reverend Kroger made the Declaration of Deconsecration for the church and the land and as the recessional played, children gathered to ring the bell for the final time.