Covenant News

Turlock (CA) Church Continues Centennial Celebration

TURLOCK, CA (April 1, 2003) - John Notehelfer, retired superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference and the current interim executive minister of the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church, preached at last Sunday's morning worship service as Turlock Covenant Church continued its centennial celebration.

A son of the church, William Notehelfer, spoke and sang at a Saturday night banquet that drew 250 people. He also led a Sunday evening service of music for about 300 as the congregation culminated the weekend festivities.

Turlock Covenant Church began 100th anniversary celebration events last December with a special historical pageant by Margaret Grant and Sunday worship led by Jim Hawkinson, retired executive director emeritus of the Department of Communication. The mid-December event coincided with the official founding of the church on December 18, 1902.

According to a 1968 article in the California Covenanter, Turlock Covenant had its first worship service the Sunday after Christmas (December 28) in 1902. Then called Svenska Evangelical Missions Forsamlingen (Swedish Evangelical Mission Church), the church formally joined the denomination in 1903 under interim pastor Andrew Hallner. The church built its first church building in 1906 and secured its first full-time pastor, E.M. Carlson, in 1908.

From 1911-1919, August Delbon served as pastor as the church more than tripled in attendance. He also helped in the founding of the Covenant's Emanuel Hospital in Turlock.

By 1921, the church had more than 500 members and the congregation began to consider a building project under pastor Paul Rood (1922-33). In 1925, the church bought property from the previous high school and began construction of the Beulah Tabernacle in the Beulah Park area of Turlock. The new building was located at the site of the town's previous high school. It was dedicated December 2, 1928. Along with helping the church in its building project, Rood also assisted the California Conference as it constructed Bethany Home, a home for the elderly.

In 1935, the church became known as Beulah Covenant Church and during the next stage of development Walfred Westlind (1934-44) and C. Victor Nyquist (1945-53) were key catalysts of change. Nyquist was instrumental in helping with a church radio ministry that began in 1949 and produced 1,900 broadcasts on a local station during a period of more than four decades.

Turlock Covenant, under pastor Jeff Woods, now has an average worship attendance of more than 200. The church will hold a Homecoming event May 24-25 as it concludes its centennial celebration. Stanley Henderson, a former superintendent of the Northwest Conference, will be the guest preacher for the worship service.

For more information about the church, its ministries and celebration, call 209-667-1191.

Printable version of this page.