Walt Wagener, introducing himself in the October 1972 church newsletter (Town Crier), told of his previous appointment. It was in Whitewater as a campus minister and at Garrett Theological
Seminary where he was the Director of Admissions. Our church was totally different from his previous surroundings, Wagener saw Brooklyn’s small-town atmosphere and its closeness to Madison a very appealing combination. His wife, Mary and two children, John and Ann welcomed the change, as well.

An additional note the “Town Crier” went to the 255 members, 19 friends (33 were youth). Becoming in charge of the monthly newsletter, Wagener chose to rename it to “The Methodist Missile.” He was told of a coming change within the church, a new office would be located beneath the altar area, hopefully by November 1st. Attending the South- Central District Conference, Wagener wrote of Randy Krause becoming the chairman of the District of Ministries and himself, the District Representative to the Annual Conference Council on Ministries.

Happenings within the church: Twenty-eight people gathered at the church for the purpose of starting an elderly housing project in Brooklyn (Genesis). Randy Krause and his sister, Sharon Miller
presented a musical cantata at the church.

1974-The old parsonage (the first) was being rented. Wagener was studying service for our aging. A new committee, the Brooklyn Citizen Advisory was created- their project was “to create a community recreation program.” Four new members were added to the church (36 were dependent youth). The church received over $40,000 from a member, Bertha Adamson estate which was invested. Two years later, Archie Lyon former principal and teacher of the Brooklyn Schools, gave over $50,000 with stipulations.

1975- 20 Chinese students from Wisconsin UW, majoring in engineering were our guests for a day. Beginning with a potluck at the church, they played a short ballgame at the park. Then, they toured Martinson’s Implement and Ken Ellis’ Treasurers Limited. Their day ended at the Melvin Sanner farm.
1976- Luther Jose returned to speak at a UMW meeting to show pictures of his family, then living in the Philippines. A new member, Edie Grossen was asked to be our financial secretary.
1977- Our District had a new Superintendent, David Henshaw. The following year, Wagener requested a sabbatical to Seattle for his education. Rev. Ellen Shaw fulfilled his duties here.  Membership was 206 (15 are students). 12 members were lost by transfer or death, thirteen were confirmed.

During his assignment here, Wagener preached at the Peace Church too (1972-1973). He left Brooklyn in 1978 to Oshkosh. His last sermon here was June 3, 1979. He retired in 1998.

Born in California, Martin Nolet served two years in the Air Force in Germany. There, he became influenced by two Methodist chaplains to follow the ministry. Returning to the states, he made this decision at St. Luke’s Church in LaCrosse in 1974. He was offered to serve at the Willow Valley Church. It was a rural country church in Ethica, near Sextonville. His second charge was Brooklyn (1979-1984). Accompanying Marty to Brooklyn were his wife, Pat and two sons, Jason and Christopher. While at Brooklyn, Pastor Marty received his Master of Divinity Degree in May 1981.

The UMW invited interesting people to entertain the public at their Mother/Daughter Banquets. In May 1981, they invited Mary McBride. Heard on the radio, she wrote comedy material for magazines and newspapers, McBride’s humorous skits were used by Joan River, Phyllis Diller and others. In 1984, the UMW invited a
woman from Stoughton to display and talk about her collection of dolls. Also active in the community, Marty coached in his son’s fifth grade class at Brooklyn and assisted in the Scout program here. Marty served in our local fire department also.

During these years, our sanctuary was painted and the floor was finished. A chair lift was installed on our front steps, offering access to the handicapped and elderly. The outside fireplace was repaired which was eventually removed.

Marty was transferred to Bloomer and retired from the ministry in 2009.

Mary Council Austin came to our church in 1984, the first African/American woman welcomed in the Wisconsin Conference Clergy. One of ten children, her parents were ministers in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in North Carolina. Her history of education, travel, awards and life experience is very extensive and impressive. Achieving awards in voice (speaking and singing), Rev. Mary was well-liked and remembered here.

Taking time to visit our seniors, confined in their homes, Mozelle Staley is remembered. Following Mozelle’s death, Mary sent a message to her family, stating, “I’ll miss our coffee times and admiring her flowers. My life is richer, that has touched me in her own special way. So long, Mozelle.”

Secretary Marian Anderson recorded in the February, 1986’s administrative minutes of Pastor Mary’s concernabout our Sunday  School surviving and pleaded “not to neglect our responsibility to our leaders to communicate more.” The following month, our pastor sent a plea to the local school board to refrain from scheduling activities for Holy Week.

Leaving before Easter in 1986, a farewell pot-luck was planned following Palm Sunday service.

Pastor Mary and her husband moved back to Washington D.C., where she was elected Associate General Secretary for the General Board of Church & Society at the Council level for the seventy-four UMC conferences.

Already involved in her new assignment at Camp Lucerne and at Chicago, recruiting other ministers, Pastor Mary’s absence in January was filled by Rev. Harvey Schweppe. Following Mary’s last appearance here on Easter Sunday, Rev. Paul Smith finished her term here.

Marrying Clarence Austin in 1981, their move to Milwaukee brought them to Wisconsin. Working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 43 years, Clarence was assigned to the Natural Resources Conservation Services in our state. Following Clarence’s  death in 2014, Mary continued her work as Associate General
Secretary for Field Service until her own retirement, the following year.

Pastor Mary was active in recruiting people for the ministry. In her absence, others stood in our pulpit, Rev. Edwin Foster (Chaplain at Mendota Institute), Joan Strahm (currently a ministry candidate from Monroe and the retired Rev. Harvey Schweppe. Preceding Cheri Awtry’s assignment here in June of 1986, Rev. Paul Smith
and Cassandra Beckman officiated.

Pastor Cheri Autry commented on her apprehension of expense, work and activity of the church, “Miraculous, we are blessed to have volunteers making things happen.” During Cheri’s time here: The UMW pledged $500 to the new Methodist Hispanic Ministry in Madison to be used towards the purchase of a van (known as the
Gospel Van). We donated funds towards Oregon’s Food Pantry. The Ham & Swedish Meatball Supper served 187 people. Membership was 181.

1987- news from Rev. Mary- she and husband, Clarence, were with the General Board of Church and Society in Washington D.C. She was serving as Associate General Secretary for Field Service and spoke at the national conference on Faith and Justice for Today’s World in St. Louis. They purchased their first home in Springfield, Virginia.

Eighty-five attended the Father/Son Banquet to hear Col. John Bennish of Highland talk about his covered wagon trip through Death Valley. The menu was roast beef and pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered rolls, coffee, milk and pies for dessert. Their small profit was put into savings at the bank, designated to take
some underprivileged boys to a Milwaukee baseball game. Ten turkeys were prepared for the November Turkey Supper, 300 were served. Rev. Stevens spoke at the UMW meeting about his 1000 Bibles, 800 were foreign, many from 1600, and the oldest was “Isaiah” from Dead Sea Scroll, dating back to the 1st century. 100
of them were signed (three were by Pat Boone, Pope Paul 1st, and President Reagan). He was donating them to Kenosha.