Covenant News

Galesburg (IL) Celebrates 135 Years

GALESBURG, IL (August 14, 2003) - Glenn R. Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, was the guest preacher on Sunday as the Covenant Church of Galesburg celebrated its 135th anniversary last weekend.

The Covenant Church of Galesburg is the longest continually running congregation in the Covenant. According to a previous archivist at the church, Stu Hawkinson, the church officially began in August 1868. A devout group of young people gathered to pray and talk about organizing their own church. The next day, Sunday, they met again in the home of Truls and Cherstie Swenson . . . 31 people signed a commitment to charter membership . . ."

Palmberg was aided during the worship service by James Sandberg, a son of the church who now serves as senior pastor of Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Palmberg's appearance was one of many special aspects of Sunday's celebration. Following morning worship, the congregation hosted a luncheon and then invited past and present confirmands for a reunion service that afternoon. James Ecklund, a former pastor of the church, gave the keynote address. Pastor emeritus G. Harold Ahlberg and Richard Peterson, a son of the church and a pastor, also participated. About 200 attended the event.

A previous pastor at the church, Richard Swanson, was the guest speaker at a Saturday night banquet at nearby Lake Storey Pavilion. A total of 240 attended, said Ken Maurizi, a member of the church. A number of musical groups participated in various ways during the weekend and memorabilia was on display throughout with the help of the church's archivist, Linda Maurizi.

The Covenant Church of Galesburg, under pastor Tom Ek, has nearly 200 in average worship attendance. It is one of five congregations assisting a church plant in the Quad Cities area bordering Illinois and Iowa. For more information about the Galesburg church and its ministries, call 309-344-1711.

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