Maintaining an old tradition, members of the First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor have been raising money to help pay for the education of seminarians in Chiapas, Mexico.

They say that the Reformed Church in Mexico has grown in recent years and is in need of ministers to serve congregations. So far, $36,000 have have been raised for tuition.

The fund-raiser is part of the church’s centennial celebration. It’s hardly a new concept. Some church members were in a similar situation 100 years ago when large numbers of Dutch speaking farmers lived in the area but had no one to communicate with them in their native language.

The First Reformed Church started in 1903 with 26 members and 64 non-communicants — many of whom were farmers.

These farmers typically came from the farms of the Midweststates, such as North Dakota, Iowa and Michigan. Many learned of the island through Dutch-language newspapers that documented Whidbey’s fertile land and mild climate.

Kay Schlamm, who is a member the the church’s Heritage Committee, said the early members had three things in common: they were dirt poor, Dutch and all of the same faith.

“It was very important for them to get together and worship together,” Schlamm said.

One problem the early community had was that there wasn’t a pastor available.

Schlamm said many of the Dutch farmers worshipped at the local Presbyterian Church — the denomination closest to their reformed background. However, the Presbyterians didn’t have Dutch-speaking pastor. Plans were eventually made for the Dutch-speaking people to form their own congregation.

The original First Reformed Church and parsonage was on the corner of Highway 20 and Pioneer Way.

The church paid $700 for the building and remained there until 1929.

Several senior citizens who worshipped at the church for most of their lives remember the church in the 1920s when Berend Vander Woude became pastor of the church.

Known as a disciplinarian, several members remember Vander Woude emphasized the Reformed Church’s teachings.

“The early church is very strong on the catechism,” said Jesse Eerkes, who was born in 1913 and has worshipped at the First Reformed Church ever since.

Children were graded on the work in their classes and the best students were given Bibles, said Jim Ronhaar.

Vander Woude was pastor of the First Reformed Church from 1926 to 1945.

Some remember that the last service he did was one of his hardest as it was the funeral of his daughter who died at Deception Pass.

“He was tough but had a heart of gold,” said Bud Zylstra.

Those who remember the ‘20s recall services were held at the Clover Valley school because a portion of the congregation had farms where the Naval Air Station stands today.

When the air station was built, many of the farmers relocated to Mount Vernon or into Whatcom County.

In 1929, the congregation grew enough to where they moved into a new building located on the corner of Eighth and Midway where the current Presbyterian is housed.

As the Naval Air Station was built, the farmers who were lost were replaced by families in the military. The arrival of the air station brought some economic prosperity to the church and the mortgage for its building was paid off in 1942.

In 1963, the first reformed church moved into its current building on 3rd Avenue.

Folks who have been at the church since the 1920’s remember the changes.

“The first thing that happened was dropping the Dutch service,” said Bud Zylstra, who has worshipped at First Reformed Church for most of his life.

The Dutch service disappeared from the church in the ‘20s.

Schlamm said that the church has gotten away from teaching its catechism in favor of more Bible studies.

She noted that the church added a contemporary service in the ‘90s which catered to a younger crowd, while she still attends a more traditional service.

The community is invited to a centennial open house from 2 – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 29. There will be centennial exhibits, including a timeline of church and community events and includes a wall of memories and memorabilia. A commemoration communion service will be conducted by Reverend Arvin Wester (chrch pastor from 1973 – 1990), at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 30.”That will be the cap stone,” Ronhaar said.

100 years of highlights

1903: The Reformed Church of Oak Harbor is formed with 26 members and 64 baptized non-communicants and purchases its first church and parsonage that is located on what is now Highway 20 and Pioneer Way.

1905: John Vander Beek becomes the first pastor of the First Reformed Church. Originally from Greenleafton, Minn., Vander Beek gives the congregation a pastor who could minister to them in their native Dutch.

1926: Berend Vander Woude becomes pastor. He bring in a more structured approach to religious education classes by organizing age-level classes from elementary school through high school.

1929: With the congregation reaching 60 families, a new church is built on the corner of Eighth and Midway. The cost for the building was $14,000.

1945: After 19 years of service, Pastor Vander Woude leaves the church. His final days are marked with tragedy as his daughter dies in an accident at Deception Pass.

1953: The First Reformed Church celebrates its 50-year anniversary.

1963: To keep up with the needs of the congregation, the First Reformed Church builds a new facility as the membership reached 130 families. To cut costs, volunteers help with construction.

1970s: The church becomes involved in helping displaced people from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos by collecting used clothing. In 1980, the church also sponsored a family from Laos.

1983: Ross Rettig is named Minister of Youth and Evangelism. He eventually went on to become the church’s 11th pastor.

1993: To minister to the needs of younger members of the congregation, the First Reformed Church initiates a contemporary service for those who prefer a less formal atmosphere. A more traditional service continues to be offered.

2003: In celebrating its centennial, the First Reformed Church celebrate its century of service to the community.