Center Lutheran Church: Fiftieth Anniversary

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works , lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9.

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jn. 8:31-32.

Prelude – Mrs. Theodore A. Aaberg, Organist
Opening Prayer – Theodore A. Aaberg, Pastor
Hymn, No. 41 – “We Love the Place, O God” (3 verses)
Altar Service – The Confession of sin, the Kyrie, the Absolution; The Gloria; The Collect, the Sixth Sunday after Trinity; The Epistle, Romans 6:3-11
Hymn – “Now Thank We All Our God” (The Children – Mrs. Roger Hill, Director)
Altar Service – The Gospel, Matthew 5:20-26; The Confession of faith
Hymn, No 88 – “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” (4 verses)
The Sermon – The Rev. Raymond M. Branstad –“Your Promise for the Future,” Text: Matthew 28:20b.
Hymn, No. 212 – “O God Our Help in Ages Past” (6 verses)
The Offering – For the new ELS mission in Lima, Peru
The Collect for the Word, the Benediction
Hymn, No. 137 – “God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage”
The Closing Prayer
Announcements
Postlude

Prelude – Mrs. Theodore A. Aaberg, Organist
Hymn, No. 132 – “Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand” (6 verses)
The Scripture Reading, Psalm 103
Hymn – “Children of the Heavenly Father” (Children – Mrs. Roger Hill, Director)
The Anniversary Address – The Rev. Paul G. Petersen – “A God-Pleasing Anniversary Observance,” Text: Psalm 116:12-14
Hymn, No. 257 – “Jesus, Master, whose I am” (6 verses)
The Offering
Greetings
Hymn – “The Church’s One Foundation” (Girls’ and Ladies’ Group)
Greetings
Piano Solo – “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” J. S. Bach (Miss Sarah Aaberg)
Anniversary Prayer and the Benediction
Hymn, No. 655 (The Lutheran Hymnal) – “I Pray Thee, dear Lord Jesus”
Announcements
Postlude

A warm and hearty welcome to one and all on this festive day in Center Congregation’s history! Will all, visitors and members, please sign the guest book today. The Ladies Aid is serving dinner this noon, and coffee this afternoon. They ask you to be their guest. “Vaer saa godt!”

Our sincere thanks to the festival speakers today, Pastors R. M. Branstad and Paul G. Petersen. Thanks also to all others taking part.

A picture display has been arranged in the church parlors. Weather permitting, a picture will be taken of the assembly after the morning service. Orders for a copy will be taken at desk in entry. Price: $1.50. Size: 5½ by 14, black and white.

It is hoped that the book, “A City Set on a Hill,” written by your pastor for the 50th Anniversary of the ELS, will be available today. If not, it may be ordered today. The regular price will be $5.95, but may be ordered through the congregation for $5.00. Luther Okland will take charge of the sale of the book.

In observance of the Synod’s 50th Anniversary the congregation has participated in a five-year Golden Anniversary Thankoffering, and to date has contributed nearly $6,000. The offering continues to the end of this year. A total of $254,000 has been given to the Synod so far towards the goal of $300,000. In preparation for its own anniversary, the congregation has completely remodeled its church parlors, with new heat ducts, lighting, walls, ceiling, and carpeting. The kitchen has also been extensively remodeled.

Committees involved in anniversary preparation are: Remodeling: Ralph Brighton, Clifford Olson, Wallace Cox, Marlin Olson. Ladies Aid Remodeling: Mrs. Gorden Anderson, Mrs. Russell Oulman, Mrs. Ray Hylland, Mrs. Grant Langfald. Arrangements: Luther Okland, Grant Langfald, Herbert Hanson, Sewell Nelson. History: Lester Storby, Elmer Branstad, Palmer Olson, Nels Hylland. ELS Golden Anniversary Thankoffering: Emil G. Petersen, Wallace Cox, Luther Okland, Arlin Zingg. Ladies Aid Officers and Social Committee: Mrs. Arlin Zingg, Mrs. Gorden Anderson, Mrs. Ray Hylland, Mrs. Emil Petersen, Mrs. Clifford Olson, Mrs. Russell Oulman, Mrs. Donald Casler, Miss Selma Okland, Mrs. Laurence Hylland.Picture Display: Mrs. Charles Cox, Mrs. Wallace Cox, Mrs. Gilmen Anderson. Memorial Book: Mrs. Melvin Olson, Mrs. Ray Hylland.

Memorials given at the 50th Anniversary include: Altarware, cross, candelabra, lighter, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Holstad and Hazel Holstad, and Miss Bolette Nerness and Knute Nerness, from family and relatives. Sacristy chair and piano lamp, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Haugen, from their daughters and sons-in-law. Memorial book and six hymnbooks, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Haugen, from their grandchildren.

For the first twenty years of its existence the congregation used the summer, or parochial, school as the agency by which it sought to instruct the children in its midst, apart from confirmation instruction.

On October 17, 1983 the Sunday School was started. The first teachers were Melvin Olson, Mrs. Melvin Olson, Bernice Branstad, and Loraine Hanson. The summer school was also retained, but the length of sessions was reduced somewhat. In 1950, for example, summer school was conducted for four weeks, full days.

When the Scarville congregation reopened its Christian Day School in 1958 a number of children from Center congregation attended also. At one time there were as many as eight from the Center congregation in the Scarville Lutheran School. At the present time there are none. This is to be regretted very much.

In shortening the summer school term from eight to six weeks in 1923, the congregation’s school board made this statement, pertinent also in 1968:

“ ...The congregation is nevertheless convinced that this is altogether too little and in view of this pleads with the parents who have children of school age that they daily conduct a short lesson for their children in their books, have them memorize their lesson, and also hear their lesson. The congregation is convinced this will prove to be a great blessing both for the children and parents and for the entire congregation. For God has promised that His Word shall not return void. The Apostle Paul’s word to the Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 4: ‘And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord’ is also to be remembered.”

There have been two major organizations in Center congregation the past fifty years, the Ladies Aid, and the Young People’s Society. Both of these groups have been a distinct blessing to the congregation.

The Ladies Aid has been an active organization from the beginning. A book found in the possessions of Mrs. K. J. Holstad provides this interesting account of the first meeting of the Aid: “The ladies belonging to the minority of Scarville and North Prairie met at the parsonage July 10, 1918. They decided to organize again, and continue the work as before. They decided to meet on Sunday afternoons for awhile at least. The following officers were elected: Pres. Mrs. Ole Albertson, V. Pres. Bolette Nerness, Sec. Mrs. Knute Holstad, Treas. Mrs. Lyon Storby. The proceeds of this meeting were $10.60, half of which goes to the Scarville Aid. Proceeds for North Prairie, $5.30.”

The meetings of the Aid have afforded an opportunity for spiritual growth through the devotions which have been conducted, as well as for spiritual fellowship. In addition, the ladies have been able to gather enough money to render substantial aid to the congregation in the purchase of items for the church, as well as in assisting in redecorating and remodeling the church building at various times. They undertook a substantial part of the remodeling of the church parlors in anticipation of the congregation’s 50th anniversary.

The Young People’s Society was organized soon after the congregation was formed. Minutes of the society from 1920 have been preserved. These minutes show that the basic pattern of the meetings was to present a program for the entire congregation. This program usually consisted of several hymns, often a reading by one of the young people, perhaps a musical selection or two by others of the young people, and then a speaker. Lunch was served. The price set was 15 cents, and if ice cream was served it went up to 20 cents. Somewhere along the line the custom developed that the bachelors in the congregation should donate the ice cream. The young people took on several ambitious projects, the chief one being the purchase of a bell for the church. This became their project already in 1920, but it was not until 1931 that the bell was purchased. It was dedicated on Sept. 20, 1931, with former Pastor Emil Hansen preaching the Norwegian sermon, and Pastor Justin Petersen the English sermon. Other projects indicated by the minutes include a rug for the church in 1939, lights in 1940, and an electric clock in 1945.

In the 1950’s, with the conducting of services every Sunday, and changing conditions otherwise, the young people began to meet as a group by themselves, with only an occasional event being for the entire congregation. They have also for some years met jointly with the young people from the Scarville congregation and this has afforded them good fellowship within the entire parish. The young people have taken an active part in both the circuit and synod-wide youth associations.

Other organizations in the congregation include the Bethany Auxiliary which belongs to the North Iowa Bethany Auxiliary and twice yearly makes substantial contributions to a project at Bethany College in Mankato, and a circle which, while not meeting on a permanent basis, has met during the winter months on occasion.

("Christian Education" and "Church Organizations" written by the
Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg in 1968 for Center's 50th anniversary)

"The pastor reported for the Anniversary Planning Committee. At a meeting together with the Center committee, the goal of the 50th Anniversary was set as: Praise and thanks to God with renewed appreciation of the Gospel. All special activities for the 50th Anniversary are for the worship and praise of God; honor to those who have labored and gone on before; and promotion and extension of the congregation's present day interests."