Worship & Sunday School 10:00 AM

About Us

Photo of many of the members of First Presbyterian Church

May we introduce ourselves?

Our Staff helps us to live our Ministry into the community.

Rev. Katie Styrt began serving as First Presbyterian's Pastor in March 2021. She grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, where her father still lives. She went to college in Chicago, where she met her husband, Philip. After a year of service through the Presbyterian Church's Young Adult Volunteer Program, she went to seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She served churches in Rochester, NY before moving to the Quad Cities in 2018. Before coming to Milan, she served as an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Davenport. Milan is the fourth First Presbyterian Church she's worked at!

Philip and Katie welcomed their daughter Helen to the family in 2019. So far Helen's hobbies include reading board books and dropping food on their elderly chihuahua, Ruby. Philip teaches English at St. Ambrose University. The family enjoys baking and playing board games together.

Katie is in the office Monday-Thursday, and can be reached at katiestyrt@gmail.com or (309) 787-4661.

 

Administrative Assistant, Mary answers our phones, prepares bulletins, edits and compiles our newsletter and so much more.  Office hours will find her at the church: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon and 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM.  Mary can also be reached at 309-787-4661 or firstpresmilan@gmail.com.

 

 

Music Director Wanted! We are currently hiring for a part-time Music Director. Please contact Rev. Katie (katiestyrt@gmail.com) for an application.

Sunday School Coordinator, Laurie Lyon is responsible to direct our children's Christian Education, directing teachers, arranging for fun opportunities to learn the stories of faith and providing a few celebrations and parties along the way.

 

 

 

 

Custodians of our building are Kent and Colleen.  This hardworking duo keeps our structure neat and tidy. They work hard to make sure we have what we need for our ministry efforts. 

 

 

How is our congregation organized?

Presbyterians see the power and wisdom of God as the gift of the Holy Spirit that arises when committed disciples gather to seek Christ’s discernment.  Therefore our leadership is by “committee”.  Our governing board is called the “Session.” Session is composed of “Elders” who are elected by the congregation to staggered, 2 year terms of office. The pastor is the moderator of session with equal vote to  other members. Session meets monthly to take care of the business of the congregation. Each Elder has responsibilities on committees that are composed of members and attendees of our congregation. Together they direct the various ministries of our congregation.

Deacons are the outreaching, nurturing arm of our congregation. Our Board of Deacons are elected by the congregation. They prepare the table for Holy Communion each month, visit our shut ins, take flowers, or reminders of our care to those in need, as well as serving funeral lunches to grieving families.  This remarkable group is always quick to offer their assistance in the many events of our congregation that helps to lift others into God’s remarkable love. The Deacons also fund our participation in the Milan Assistance Fund, an effort of multiple churches in the Milan community that offers care to those in need. This fund is administered by the Blackhawk Township Office. 

We are a congregation of Great Rivers Presbytery and Lincoln Trails Synod. The Presbyterian Church USA is our parent denomination.

Spring Forward Learning Center is an important part of our Milan on the Move Van Ministry.  First Presbyterian Church is an enthusiastic member of Churches United of the Quad Cities. We support these joint ministries that seek to offer nutrition, care and the hope of Christ into our community.

A few words about our history.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized in Camden, Illinois (which later became Milan) on April 5, 1845. There were fifteen founding members. This congregation was the vision of one man, Elder William Dickson who arrived here from Erie, Pennsylvania. He laid out the town in 1843, and constructed the first church building by himself. It was completed in 1846. By 1868 the congregation had outgrown the building so Mr. Dickson donated the land for the second church to be built in downtown Milan, two blocks away from the original site.

In the mid-1960s  a third church was erected on a frontage road off Highway 67 in Milan, Illinois. The move to this, our present church, took place in September 1967. They opened the Sunday worship in the old church, and moved as a caravan to the new building to finish the worship service. The Dickson family presented a 600 pound bell in 1868 which still rings in front of our church today. A pipe organ was added in 1894, and finally wore out in 1989. An electronic organ replaced it, but the pipes from the original organ still stand at the back of our sanctuary today.