11/21/12 First United Church of Christ, Plymouth, and Grace United Church of Christ, Culver, are pleased to announce the Service of Ordination and Installation on Sunday afternoon, November 25th at 3:00 p.m. for Pastor AnnMarie Kneebone. The celebration will be held at Grace UCC in Culver, 307 North Plymouth Street. The public is invited.
During the ceremony, AnnMarie will be ordained as a minister in the denomination by the Northwest Association of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ. Following ordination, the Rev. AnnMarie Kneebone will be installed as the called pastor serving both Plymouth and Culver congregations.
Growing up in the Roman Catholic faith tradition, AnnMarie felt a call from God at an early age. A gifted dramatist and musician, AnnMarie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Writing for the Arts from Western Michigan University and a Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Prior to ordained ministry, AnnMarie worked in both church and secular organizations to reach out to those who are suffering. From stage-managing the City of Chicago’s celebration for World AIDS Day, to joining Katrina Hurricane Relief, to training Christian Peacemaker teams, or to serving as a voice for those whom society has marginalized, Pastor AnnMarie has poured out God’s gifts in her life as a balm for those in need. As a pastor she has worked with small churches in transition, served as pastoral counselor for hospice care, ministered to teens and young adults, led worship and children’s church in Chicago area nondenominational, United Methodist, and American Baptist churches, and served on UCC denominational committees.
Born and raised in Michigan, AnnMarie comes from Elkhart, Indiana, where she was a member of First Congregational Church (UCC). Her former pastor, the Reverend Anne Cubbage will present the message in the afternoon service.
The Reverend Dr. Eva Buthy, Chair of the Northwest Association’s Committee on Ministry and the Reverend Dan Barnum-Steggerda will participate in leading the service of ordination along with other area UCC clergy. Pastor Emeritus of First United Church of Christ, and former interim pastor at Culver Grace UCC, the Reverend Dr. Ronald W. Liechty will also participate in the service of ordination.
Following the ceremonies, participants are welcome to share in a meal held in Zion Hall in Grace Church. For further information about the celebration call 842-2331. Sunday morning services at Grace Church begin at 9:45 a.m. with education classes following; Education classes at First UCC begin at 9:30 a.m. with worship at 10:45, broadcast live over WTCA 1050 AM.
