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Forward

After One Hundred Years might sound like a misnomer to some. For upon scanning the pages of this little volume some might say: "Your church body has been in existence for the past 100 years and you aren't any bigger than this? What have you been doing all these years?"

So even though our Synod's 100th birthday has past, perhaps the title ought to have been qualified in this way:

"After One Hundred Years -
and two disastrous doctrinal controversies which robbed us of hundreds of churches and thousands of members."

That's a brief history of our Synod. And it's the resultant church body that we have to show you in the next pages - and may the sight of this make you rejoice in the knowledge that God the Holy Spirit does move and work in His Church. Without that Spirit moving in faithful pastors and laymen, there would have been no anniversary to celebrate in 1953. But there was. And there will be others, God helping us.

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Psalm 90, 17.

Scarville and Center

The history of the present Center Lutheran Church goes back to 1918, when those who would not join the Merger left the North Prairie congregation and former their own congregation. In 1919 their new church was finished and dedicated. The first pastor was Emil Hansen.

The history of the Scarville Lutheran congregation is much the same. In 1918 this congregation was organized, and a church built and dedicated the following year. In 1947 the interior of the church was extensively redecorated.

The Center congregation has a membership of 145 souls, while the Scarville congregation numbers 95. The Center congregation is located south of Scarville, both congregations being served by Theodore Aaberg, who resides in Scarville. These congregations were also served by Justin A. Petersen for many years.

In 1944 the Center congregation celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 1953 the Scarville congregation celebrated its 35th anniversary.

(All text from the ELS publication, After One Hundred Years)