Covenant News
Weekend Activities Mark 100th PSWC Anniversary
CONCORD, CA (February 25, 2002) - The feeling of Covenant "togetherness" that characterized mission meetings during the early days of the Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) was evident during three heritage centennial celebrations February 22-24.More than 700 participants attended three gatherings hosted by some of the conference's oldest churches.
Three California Covenant churches - Colony Covenant Church in Kingsburg, Pasadena Covenant Church in Pasadena and First Covenant Church in Oakland - hosted special events. Glenn R. Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), was a special guest at two of the events.
Palmberg and Conference Supt. Evelyn M.R. Johnson presented certificates of recognition to First Covenant Church in San Francisco, First Covenant in Oakland and First Covenant in San Jose. These were three of the founding churches of the conference. The accompanying photo shows Dennis Anderson, pastor of First Covenant in San Francisco, receiving a certificate from Palmberg and Johnson. San Francisco is the oldest church in the conference, dating to 1877.
The first PSWC heritage celebration was observed on the anniversary date of February 22 (and in the same location - Colony Covenant Church in Kingsburg) of the organizational meeting 100 years ago for the Swedish Evangelical Missionary Association of California (now the PSWC). Participants sang praises to God during an "Old Brown Hymnal" event led by Robert C. Dvorak, superintendent of the East Coast Conference.
Both the Kingsburg Colony Church and Fresno's First Mission Covenant Church were recognized for their role in the founding of the conference. Colony Covenant Church, Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church and First Mission Covenant made presentations to the PSWC in appreciation for the partnership shared during these years.
Luverne Sands, PSWC superintendent from 1977 to 1985, offered the prayer of thanksgiving. During a time of remembrance, recognition was given to individuals with special linkages to the formative years. This group included two granddaughters of Rev. Andrew Hallner, pioneer pastor who gave the land on which the Kingsburg Colony Covenant Church was built more than 100 years ago. Two great grandsons of Rev. J.F. Gilberg, the organizing pastor of Colony Covenant, were also present. One of them, pastor Rob Satterberg of Community Covenant Church in San Andreas, helped lead a portion of the hymn sing.
One of the highlights of the event was the singing of "Children of the Heavenly Father" accompanied by Rev. Dvorak playing the original pump organ purchased in 1894 before the Kingsburg Colony church building was erected. Charlene Johnson of the Colony Covenant Church and Julie Anderson of First Covenant Church in San Francisco played a stirring piano/organ duet during the prelude and postlude. Johnson has served as organist for the Kingsburg church for more than 50 years. The mother-daughter duets began in this church when Julie was only 12 years old. Colony Covenant member Irina Johnson of the California Opera Association was guest soloist for the evening.
The Pasadena Covenant Church celebration February 23 included greetings from Palmberg and a prayer of thanksgiving by John Notehelfer, PSWC superintendent from 1987 to 2000. Guest artists from Pasadena Covenant provided special music and there were displays from four congregations in southern California that joined the California Association during its first 25 years - First Covenant Church in Los Angeles (the mother church) and churches in San Pedro, San Diego (Clairemont Covenant) and Pasadena. First Covenant in Los Angeles and the Covenant church in San Pedro no longer exist, but in their closure they helped birth other congregations and ministries.
The grand finale for the heritage celebrations was at First Covenant in Oakland on February 24, an event attracting nearly 500. President Palmberg noted in his greeting that the decision of seven people 100 years ago began a ministry that has significantly influenced many throughout California and now Arizona and Hawaii. This celebration featured recognition of the mother church for all PSWC congregations, First Covenant Church in San Francisco, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Also recognized were First Covenant in Oakland, which began its ministry in 1887, and First Covenant in San Jose, which was founded in 1892. Clarence Winstedt, who was PSWC superintendent from 1985 to 1987, offered the prayer of thanksgiving and First Covenant of Oakland offered special musical selections by a chamber singers group, men's Quartet and handbell soloist Pam Grove.
The PSWC will formally celebrate its centennial during the PSWC Celebration 2002 April 25-27 at Newsong Community Church in Irvine, California. For more information about the conference's annual meeting, call 925-677-2140.
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