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 A
Presbyterian Church was started in Tawas in 1869 but
was dissolved in 1933. The church returned to the Tawas
area in 1986 after an absence of 53 years. Dr. William
Bos, a retired Presbyterian minister, moved to East
Twas from Florence, OR and started a summer worship
program. Arrangements were made to rent the Odd Fellows
Lodge, located in East Tawas, as a place to conduct
worship. Services began May 4, 1986 with 18 people.
 Dr.
Bos had to leave in May of 1987, to return to the church
he founded in Florence. The Rev. Janice Pestrue was
appointed by the Presbytery of Lake Huron to be coordinator
on a part-time basis. Interest in the church grew and
on May 31, 1988 the Presbytery voted funds to support
a full time pastor. The Rev. Pestrue was called to fill
that position. Through her leadership the church grew
to more than 80 members. The church was chartered by
the Presbytery on October 27, 1991. The First Presbyterian
Church of Bay City is fondly looked upon as our ‘mother
church' because of the support they have given over
the years.
 Property
for a building project was purchased in 1991 and construction
on a new $490,000 sanctuary began early in 1993. Members
voted to build an octagon shaped facility that would seat
approximately 300 and have space for fellowship and Christian
education. The first worship service was held in the new
sanctuary on Sunday, December 19, 1993. The church property
extends in an ‘L' shape from US-23 to Aulerich Road.
The addition of a new Foyer, Parlor, Pavilion, Memorial
Garden and Columbarium was completed in 2007.
 The
Rev. Pestrue was called to another congregation in 1999
and the Rev. Kenneth Tousley became the Interim Pastor
during the search for a new pastor. The Rev. G. Richard
(Rick) Vogeley was called by the congregation to be
the 2nd full time installed pastor on September 24,
2000.
T.A.P.C.
is part of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. denomination.
The local church is governed by a Session made up of
12 Elders elected from the congregation, which conduct
all the corporate and ecclesiastical business of the
church.A Board of Deacons, consisting of 14 members,
focus on service and mission.
Since
1986 the Tawas Area Presbyterian Church has grown in spirit
and body. Today nearly 200 active and dedicated members
and friends are involved in the life of this church, serving
a large area (50 mile radius) along the coast of Lake
Huron, the "Sunrise Side" of northeastern Michigan's
lower peninsula. |
