Greenwood Zion UCC Confirmation (1950)

Greenwood Zion UCC Confirmation (1950)

L>R: Joyce Meyer, Jean Braun, Shirley Checky, Beverly Checky, Mike Hoehne, Ronald Abel & Lester Abel.

My brother, Ronnie, attended confirmation classes at Zion in the late 1940's. Two years later, and just a short time before confirmation, Rev. Friezenberg discussed with my parents the fact that I should be confirmed. I was three years than Ronnie and had never attended confirmation classes. My dad used to say it was because I went ice skating instead of confirmation. I remember it as being because he kept me home to help with chores. Anyway, it was decided I would study a few of the basic Christian lessons and I would be confirmed with my brother. That class also included Mike Hoehne, Jean Braun, Shirley and Beverly Checkie and another gal named Joyce Meyer. This last girl, Joyce Meyer, was not happy that this big guy could come in and be confirmed after just a few lessons and on the confirmation picture, she stood on one end and I on the other.
It took me a long time to convince her that as a Christian we should practice forgiveness and that I should be forgiven for taking the shortcut. I am not sure if she forgave me, but she did turn the other cheek and we were married in this same church in 1956. Now, as Paul Harvey would say, "You know the Rest of the Story."

Lester Abel
(Story told at the last service ever held at Zion Church-- January 6, 2002)