Pastor gives final holiday sermon

A retiring Aurora church pastor gave his final message on Christmas Day before returning home to his native Pittsburgh.

The Rev. David Eichelberger led a 10 a.m. prayer service, with "Rejoice" as his meditation topic. The minister, 62, announced his retirement as pastor of Fourth Street United Methodist Church, 551 S. Fourth St., Aurora, last month.

He led the near East Side church for almost eight years, his longest tenure in his ministerial career.

The pastor was honored at a reception held after Dec. 20 worship services. Paul Eggert and David Brandt, co-chairs of the church's staff-parish relations committee, presented a cash gift in donations from congregation members.

Deanna Facemeyer, UMC district superintendent, in brief remarks during Sunday's worship service, praised Eichelberger for his service to college students, hospital patients and homebound congregants.

During Sunday's services, the pastor received a framed certificate of appreciation from representatives of Shalom Ministries, a near East Side community outreach organization sponsored by Aurora UMC churches that he formerly headed as president.

The Rev. Sam Smith, Shalom president, and Donna Mora, coordinator of Shalom's Kids Club, made the presentation. Held Wednesday evenings at Fourth Street UMC, the club is a recreation and education program that serves up to 75 neighborhood youth weekly.

Before coming to Aurora, Eichelberger served as pastor of Crystal Lake UMC and was a Methodist campus minister at University of Illinois-Chicago, College of DuPage and Waubonsee Community College.

Eichelberger said he took retirement to be near his parents in Pennsylvania and to pursue options including teaching, part-time pastoring and travel.

In his "Notes from the Pastor" column in the church's December newsletter, Rev. Eichelberger said, "I will take with me many wonderful memories of our times of shared ministry.

"We have accomplished much in that time to renew and restore the church, and its sense of a close fellowship called to service. I have been blessed by my time here in Aurora and I hope you feel the same," he said.

Eichelberger's replacement, the Rev. Alfred Patten of South Elgin and retired pastor of Baker Memorial UMC in St. Charles is interim pastor.