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Messiah Lutheran Church 1881-1931

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[Page 49] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

REV. CARL E. LUNDGREN
1914-1922

Pastor. A. B., Bethany College, 1902; B. D., Augustana Theological Seminary, 1905; ordained Lutheran ministry, 1905. Pastor Geneseo, Illinois, 1905-1908; Waukegan, Ill., 1908-1914; Marquette, Michigan, 1914-1922; Mariadahl church, Cleburne, Kansas, 1922-1925; Chariton. Iowa, 1925-1928; Sheffield and Ludlow, Penna., 1928-. Edited Minnes Album, 50th Anniversary of church in Geneseo, Illinois, 1906.

Present address, Sheffield, Pa.

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church [Page 50]

MEMORIES FROM 1914-1922

Rev. and Mrs. Lundgren and sons Russell and Vincent arrived in Marquette from Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 1914. A reception was held on the evening of the following day. Revs. J. E. Swanbom, C. E. Lindquist and Fred Wyman and their families were also present.

At a congregational meeting, Nov. 13 next, it was decided to introduce the single envelope system for contributions. Marquette was the first congregation in the conference to make this venture. A congregational meeting was held on the evening of Thanksgiving Day to explain the merits and the use of the envelopes.

Installation Services were held Wednesday evening, Dec. 2. Rev. A. T. Fant of Iron Mountain, the conference president, officiated, assisted by Revs. F. Wyman, C. E. Lindquist and A. E. Monell. Student L. J. Sodergren, serving Munising-Scandia, was also present.

The parish paper, under the new name, "Budbäraren", again appeared in the first part of 1915 and continued for three years. Financially, at least, it was not a failure, but the difficulty in getting a financial manager caused it to discontinue.

The Wennerberg Chorus of Augustana College and Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., sang April 8, 1915, to an audience that packed the church.

Gustaf Holmquist and Emil Larson gave a concert Nov. 24, 1915.

Ingathering of money for the building of the contemplated Old Peoples' Home in Marinette, Wis., was done in the spring and summer of 1916. Rev. Wyman did this work in Marquette. The home was dedicated July 22, 1917.

The Church Choir sang an Easter Cantata at the prison, April 4, 1918.

Those were years of great upheavals in the world.

Our country declared itself at war with The Central Powers in Europe April 6, 1917. This happened to be on good Friday that year.

The flu epidemic began to rage in 1918 and in many places took its big toll of life. Things were done then that we would have thought impossible during ordinary times. From Oct. 17 to Dec. 29, 1918, we had no Sunday services, no Sunday School and no society meetings. The Confirmation class could meet, but in two groups. There were two Christmas morning services Dec. 25, one at 4 o'clock and the other at 5:30. Some who could have come to the first overslept, and did not think that they would be permitted to come to the second. That year

[Page 51] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

we had no Sunday School Christmas Festival. The flu ban was on again from Jan. 18, 1919, to Feb. 19, during which time we had neither services nor Sunday School. Sunday, April 20th, we had no Sunday School and the attendance at the morning services could be only one- half the seating capacity.

But fortunately there were not many deaths among our people when the epidemic was at its worst throughout the land. Some of our families there are, though, who will remember its ravages.

Sunday, July 30, 1916, we had services, but no Sunday School, because of the heat. It was 105 degrees in the shade.

The Conference was entertained in Marquette May 3-7, 1922. The value of such meetings is considered so great that the congregation is anxious to have, as her guests again, the pastors and lay-delegates of the Conference to rejoice with her over what God has done for her during the past fifty years.

Mrs. Lundgren and the sons left Marquette July 20, 1922. Rev. Lundgren left Aug. 21. Since then the pleasant memories from the church work in Marquette have been a help to continue to do the Lord's work in other fields.

The nearly eight years that were spent in Marquette and in the Superior Conference are among the most pleasant and most profitable years in our ministry. In some ways they were a post-graduate course in practical and theoretical theology. The pastor's family cherishes the most pleasant memories and considers that among its many true friends in churches that have been served, the church in Marquette supplies its good share.

In the outer and visible respects we think that there were many things to rejoice over and to thank God for. But we want to think that those years shall also be remembered by many for the spiritual blessings which God, in mercy and love, wanted to give.

For the things done that should not have been done, and for the things omitted that should have been done, we implore the grace and mercy of God.

And with the congregation, her present members, her former members, her other pastors' families and her present pastor and his family, we rejoice and thank God for His abundant blessings. That God has been so good and patient as to have permitted his work to continue, with but few interruptions, these fifty years, makes it evident that our God is a merciful God and that we can trust Him for the future and we implore His continued grace and goodness upon us.

Carl E. Lundgren.

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran. Church [Page 52]

REV. CARL H. NELSON
1923-1928

Pastor. A. B., Augustana College 1904. Graduated Augustana Theological Seminary, 1907. Ordained Lutheran Ministry, 1907. Post Graduate work, Yale University, for one semester. Pastor Union Creek and Natanael, S. Dakota, 1907-1913; New Haven, Conn., 1913-1923; Marquette, Mich., 1923-1928; West Haven and Ansonia, Conn., 1928

Camp pastor at Newport News, Va., and Montgomery, Ala., 1918. Has been a member of New England Conference Mission Board and Upsala College Board, and Board for the Augustana Home for the Aged at Brooklyn, N. Y. Has also been Secretary and Vice-President of the Superior Conference. Represented Augustana College at installation of James Roland Angell as president of Yale University, 1921. At present, member of Board for the New England Conference Old People's Home at Worcester, Mass.

Present address, Ansonia, Connecticut.

[Page 53] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

REMINISCENCES FROM MESSIAH CHURCH

Fifty years of church work lies behind in the history of the Messiah Church, a tenth part of which I was privileged to lead the work as pastor: from 1923-1928.

In the Fall of 1922, the Rev. Carl E. Lundgren, who had been the pastor for 8 years, terminated his pastorate here. During the vacancy the church was supplied by the Rev. Dr. Gustav Fletwood, now of Muskegon, Mich. The undersigned took up the work on April fifteenth, 1923. It took some time to become acclimated and accustomed to the western ways after having been in the East for 10 years. The change, however, was not unpleasant, and soon we felt at home with our new friends.

The material advancement during the period was not so great, yet worthy of mention. The garage and drive-way was built; the church building was repaired as to the exterior walls and the entrance widened out. The interior was redecorated, new lighting fixtures put in, and the whole church re-wired. New carpets were laid in the church auditorium, altar and pulpit hangings in green were procured, the altar supplied with cross, vases and book rest. The choirs were vested, making the church services more dignified and churchly. Electric stoves were placed in the parsonage and in the church kitchens and various other smaller things supplied to make the social part of the church work more efficient. A small piano was bought for the Dorcas room. 200 copies of the new Hymnal with music were placed in the pews of the church.

A change was made in the Sunday School when the two divisions were united into one using the English language, altho there were yet a few classes using the Swedish. The Brotherhood was re-organized June 24, 1924, and became the most outstanding organization of its kind in the conference. The Junior Brotherhood was organized Nov. 15, 1926, and the boys of the confirmation classes of 1924, 1925 and 1926, were the charter members.

The transition from Swedish into English in our church work had begun during the time of my predecessor and continued during my

(Continued on Page 77)

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church [Page 54]

REV. O. H. BOSTROM, Ph.D.
1928 -

Pastor. A. B., Augustana College, 1910; Studied New Testament and Semitics, University of Wisconsin, 1910-1913; Teaching fellowship at University of Wisconsin, 1912-1913; A. M., University of Wisconsin, 1912; Ph. D. in Semitics. Yale University, 1916; graduated Augustana Theological Seminary, 1918; ordained Lutheran ministry, 1918. Pastor Grand View Church, Des Moines, Ia., 1918-1920; teacher N. T. Greek Grand View College (Danish Lutheran), Des Moines, Ia., 1918-1920; Professor Christianity, Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., 1920-1928; Pastor Messiah Lutheran Church, Marquette, Michigan, 1928-. Author: Alternative Readings in the Hebrew of the Books of Samuel. Present address, 112 West Ridge Street, Marquette, Michigan.

[Page 55] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

THE PRESENT OUTLOOK
1928-

In considering the events that led to my coming to the Messiah Lutheran Church as pastor, I clearly see the guidance of the hand of God. There were personal reasons why a change of position for me was welcome. But far more important, I was put in a position, by personal contact, during two summers spent in serving the Messiah Lutheran Church, to survey the field and become acquainted with both the problems and the possibilities here. The church happened to be vacant toward the close of the summer of 1928, and the congregation, by a large and unanimous vote, nominated and elected me pastor, early in September.

In order to insure a spirit and policy of progress in the work, I presented to the congregation at the time of the nomination an outline of a progressive policy that I proposed to follow if I should become the pastor of this church. This outline was read both at the time of the nomination and at the election, and it was understood that the election involved not only the pastor but also the policy. The policy was unanimously adopted, and it was with pleasure and anticipation that I accepted the call, rejoicing over the assurance of so whole-hearted cooperation. The outline of the policy follows:

THE PROGRESSIVE POLICY

As Outlined by the Present Pastor at the Time of His Nomination, Aug. 21, 1928, and Adopted by the Congregation.

1. An effort, put forth and sustained by the whole congregation, to increase attendance at services by:

  1. Personal effort, information, endorsement, invitation.
  2. Making the service truly attractive to the worshippers. (1) the church, (2) the music, (3) the ushers, (4) the spirit, etc.

2. An effort to increase membership.

  1. By making special effort to assimilate all newly acquired members.
  2. By striving to regain those that have been dropped.
  3. c. By winning new members of whatever nationality they may be.

3. Change the name of the church, so as not to limit its field of work by an exclusive name.

4. Arrange a service in the language of the land every Sunday

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church [Page 56]

morning; always, however, providing services in Swedish as long as there is a reasonable demand for such.

5. To expect results from this policy, and to be prepared to accept and make use of such results.

  1. By adopting and following a budget system for the finances of the church. This budget to include, every year, a cumulative sinking fund of at least 10% of the total yearly expenditure of the church. This budget to be raised, in its entirety, by subscriptions in the every member canvass each year.
  2. By conducting the affairs of the church in such a way and laying such plans as will lead to the erection, when the needs shall require it, of a new and up to date plant.

As a result of this policy, I believe I can say truly that the Lord has blessed our work. The attendance at the services is very gratifying and a larger group than ever before have begun to feel that Messiah Lutheran is reaching out for them and inviting them to the Saviour.

The musical resources of this church, which are unusually large and rich on account of good training by former pastors and organists, have been employed to the full, with much blessing to the church at large.

The publicity of the church has been stressed. Direct mail, news paper items, bulletin board, monthly parish paper and weekly bulletins are some of the agencies employed in getting the facts to the constituents.

The financial status of the church is better than ever before. All the dues to Conference and Synod have been paid promptly and in full. The weekly pledges are taking care of the running expenses. And a Reserve Fund has been built up without special subscription, which now amounts to over three thousand dollars.

The organizations are all working well under capable and faithful leadership, and their activities are spoken of in their respective articles.

The same old gospel is still preached in Messiah Lutheran, and it is gratifying to notice that our people love that gospel. Eager listeners throng into our church every Sunday, and the Spirit of God is active in many a heart.

Who knows what the future may have in store? Only God knows. But a considerable number among us are peering into the future with the eye of faith, and we see a rising congregation. A church of sanctified believers rising higher and higher in faith and Christian living. We see generations of children and young people rising as they grow, to

(Continued on Page 81)

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Messiah Lutheran Church 1881-1931

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